Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher

Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher (born September 30, 1993), known professionally as Tyler Reese, is an American record producer, songwriter, musician and composer from Richland, Washington. He first became known as one half of the music production duo The Donuts, which he formed with Sergiu Gherman. Working closely with their mentor Bēkon, The Donuts produced for notable names such as SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Hozier, H.E.R. and Joji, among others. Beginning his solo career in 2022, Reese has since produced two songs on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX ("wacced out murals" & "man at the garden") and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for The Color Purple.

Musical career Reese discovered music production while attending Berklee College of Music where he studied Contemporary Writing and Production, and trumpet, focusing on jazz improvisation. Dropping out after two years due to being rejected from the school's Electronic Production and Design program, he began interning at The Bridge Sound & Stage in Cambridge where he learned the fundamentals of studio recording.

In 2016, Reese moved to Los Angeles and began interning for DJ Kahlil where he met Sergiu Gherman and Bekon. In 2017, Reese and Gherman formed The Donuts and co-produced "Garden (Say It Like Dat)" by SZA with their mentor Bekon. The song would receive 2× platinum certification from the RIAA, and the album, Ctrl, received a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

In 2019, Reese produced "Fate" and "Lord is Coming" by H.E.R. on her album I Used to Know Her, earning him a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2020 Grammy Awards and a Gold certification from the RIAA.

In 2022, Reese produced "Auntie Diaries" and "Mirror" for Kendrick Lamar on his album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. The album received a nomination for Album of the Year and won in the Best Rap Album category at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

In 2024, Reese co-wrote "Too Sweet" by Hozier which spent several weeks at number one on various charts, including Billboard Hot 100, marking Hozier's first number one in the United States, while also topping the Adult Alternative Airplay chart for a significant period.

In 2024, Reese also produced "wacced out murals" and "man at the garden" on Kendrick Lamar's sixth studio album GNX.

Awards and nominations

Production and songwriting credits 12 – US Independent Albums (Billboard)

1 – Canadian Albums (Billboard)

1 – Australian Albums (ARIA)

1 – UK Singles (OCC)

1 – UK Albums (OCC) 1 – Canadian Albums (Billboard)

1 – Australian Albums (ARIA)"man at the garden"Jessie Murph"Blue Strips"2025SingleBig L"Stretch & Bob Freestyle ('98) Intro"Harlem's Finest: Return of the King"Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle ('98)"