A Conversation with Lily Taylor

What initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in the arts for those who may
not be familiar with your background?

I have always been drawn to music and singing. I attended College of Santa Fe in New Mexico majoring in Contemporary Music and focusing on vocal studies, and I have been performing and teaching voice lessons ever since! I made it out to California and met Karina Denike, ended up joining her band which is under her name, as well as developing my solo music with a keyboard and looping pedal, performing at traditional and nontraditional venues like underground art spaces. In North Texas, I have been involved in various soundscape, noise, and experimental Jazz projects as well as releasing the album Amphora (Lily Taylor Music) and The Ride featuring original songs. I host a radio show called BandwidthTX on KUZU LP 92.9FM Denton, TX, teach voice lessons, and perform with various acts including my own material.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest single? What themes or emotions are explored in this song?

My last single was ‘EVER NEW’ off of Amphora (Lily Taylor Music). I co-wrote this song with Black Taffy (Leaving Records) and we recorded it at Elmwood Recording in Oak Cliff with Alex Bhore. We’ve received a lot of positive feedback about this track for its ambient quality and slow sense of drama. I hope listeners enjoy slowing down for a moment in time in this busy world.

The album, Amphora is named after an ancient vessel that carried precious cargo; this album is a collection of songs from the dreamworld. I was inspired by the idea of a vessel as an object and as a metaphor. How artists channel and organize ideas, how we express and package them, how those ideas, sounds, and lines we create bend, morph, and sometimes break. I am the vessel, as well as the song. The track « Ever New » specifically evokes imagery of a sunrise, and touches on themes in life like avoiding fools, self confidence, and the ever churning cycles over a lifetime.

What can listeners expect to experience or feel when they listen to this track?

I hope listeners will enjoy the imagery in the lyrics and instrumentation, the music video by Brian Tomerlin, and the overall chill vibe of the track.

How does this single fit into the larger narrative of your music career or your upcoming
projects?

Slowing down, focusing on one thing at a time, step by step by step… these things seem antithetical in the modern world, but we all know we need more rest and more reflective time in general as humans. The track « Ever New » on Amphora is a helpful reminder to myself as a creative that change is inevitable and re-sets are necessary and natural as a sunrise.

Could you describe the creative process behind this single, from concept to production?

Musician and producer Black Taffy and I collaborated together to create this track. We wanted to capture a sense of vastness like an expansive view, an awakening, something invigorating yet comforting. For the vocal line, I used themes in the melody of the music to create a sense of gentle repetition, through the cycles of each musical phrase, much like the tides of the ocean or the cycles of day and night. We recorded at Elmwood Recording in Oak Cliff in just a few takes. « Ever New » is the first track on side B in LP and cassette format. At the midpoint of the album, there are still different stories, composition styles, and sonic landscapes to explore before the collection is complete, as each song on the album is a journey into a different world.

Are there any interesting stories or anecdotes from the recording or writing of this album
that you’d like to share?
The album Amphora is a collection of songs that were written over a long period of time. I have been performing some of these songs for years in various cities and art scenes, allowing the songs to unfold in their own way before capturing them into a studio version. An important aspect of my creative journey has been free improvisation, vocally and using soundscapes, so finding that sweet spot of developing a piece of music that is consistently performed, yet also has a breathable quality to it is a tricky thing. It’s like anything aesthetic, when you see or hear it, you know when you’ve captured something special and unique. Working with Black Taffy and Alex Bhore helped me solidify ideas and push the project into the next phase, from a set list for performance into a completed studio album.

As an artist, can you identify three key traits that define you?
Three key traits that define me as an artist are versatility of voice, ethereal quality to the songs, and the ability to play with genre.

What can we anticipate in terms of your upcoming projects?

I perform in various groups and projects. LOCATIONS is an audio / video art project I am a part of with video artist and educator, Sean Miller. This is an ever-evolving project, focusing on live performance. I am also working with the Dennis Gonzalez Legacy Band with Stefan and Aaron Gonzalez among others, as well as a Jazz ensemble with Gerard Beniks. My radio show, BandwidthTX is every second and fourth Tuesday on KUZU LP 92.9FM / www.kuzu.fm.

Where can our readers find additional information about you and your work?
www.lilytaylormusic.com
Follow for the latest updates on concerts and more: @lilytaylormusic