Introducing Taylor Rae
Photo by Jeremy Ryan - filter by Squarespace
Hey Taylor, how the heck are you?
You know Max, I have never been better!
So set the scene... where are you right now, and what are you up to today?
I am in Austin, Texas. It is a gorgeous autumn day. I am going to play music with a friend outside and then I am playing a mini-set tonight at Radio Coffee & Beer!
Introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a singer/songwriter from Santa Cruz, CA. I am 27 years old and have been playing/writing music my whole life, but six years as a full-time career. I just released an album called Mad Twenties' that I am over the moon about!
I’ve got to ask because I got a little confused on Google… is it a bit annoying that there’s another Taylor Rae who’s a singer-songwriter? Or is it more annoying that I’ve asked that question???
Ha! Yes, it is an SEO nightmare. And no, it is not annoying you asked - I am just glad you found the right one - we have very different styles.
You just released your new album Mad Twenties, what can you tell me about it in two sentences?
Mad Twenties is a journey through the turbulent years of my twenties. The music spans multiple genres - it’s just as dynamic as those years were.
What was your studio set-up like?
I worked with my producer, Will Gawley, and we recorded it in Nashville at OmniSound Studios. We had incredible studio musicians and a really talented engineer on the team as well. The mics, instruments and console were top of the line - we captured some beautiful sounds.
What’s the reality of making your debut album been like versus the dreams that you must have had about it?
It has been so much better than I could have ever imagined. I conceptualized this album at 21 years old and always had an intuitive feeling that the opportunity to create it would present itself when I was ready. I had to be very patient. The year leading up to this experience (2020) was the hardest of my life - as it was for many people. I feel like the album has been a huge release and reward for making it through that.
‘Fixer Upper’ is a beautiful song, what can you tell me about it?
I wrote ‘Fixer Upper’ about my partner. We had been together for five years at that point but I went back in time to tell the story of how we fell in love in Los Angeles, CA years before. We are not together anymore but this song will always be an incredibly special memento for that time in my life.
I read that the video for ‘Fixer Upper’ was the first you’d ever shot. Is making a video as glamorous as it sounds or is it hard work?
It was both glamorous and hard work. The team that I had working with me really knew what they were doing. They gave me such good direction, so for me it was easy to get into a flow that day, even though I was a bit nervous at first.
The song and the video for ‘Home On The Road’ are really great showcases for part of what makes America America, what do you think makes people so fascinated with “small town USA”?
The sense of community in ‘small town USA’ stands out to me the most. There is a feeling of togetherness - especially when meeting other people who are on the road. It always restores my faith in humanity when strangers go out of their way to help out, because we are all humans and we need each other sometimes. That concept can get lost in big city life.
‘5:25’ has quite a different vibe to it from those two, how did that song come about?
The content of ‘5:25’ strays from the love story side of things. I wrote it at a time when I was getting back in touch with my inner child at 25 years old. So in the lyric “I’m trying to find five in twenty-five,” I am referring to my age.
You wrote all of the songs on the album, how do you approach songwriting? Is it always the same way or does it depend on how the songs come to you?
It is different every time. I try to write from a subconscious state - if I try too hard then I find my content is ingenuine. I don’t like to box myself into any formula or genre.
Which song on the album have you not had much chance to talk about?
“Wait and See” is the one I am asked about least. It is the newest song on the album - I finished it last fall (2020). It was around when things were starting to round a brighter corner. It comes second to last on the album as a beacon of hope for better days. I feel that this song best represents my truest self - stylistically. Grace Potter and Bonnie Raitt were my influences for the sound here.
You’re from California originally, what can you tell me about Ben Lomond? Worth a visit?
Ben Lomond is a really special place. It is in the middle of the redwood forest. I think if fairies exist, they live there. Definitely worth a visit.
You’re in Austin, Texas now, how come you moved there?
Other than the amazing live music scene here, I’ve been drawn to this state since I was a kid - for reasons unknown. I was kind of obsessed and I always had a gut feeling I would end up in Texas somehow. As I got into my teenage years I started listening to a lot of indie artists - most of which were from or based out of Austin. Everytime I heard about this city it just always sounded like a dream environment. Conveniently enough, my brother accepted a job in Austin in 2015 and moved his whole family out here. He has kids, so then my parents and sister followed. I moved about a year after that and now we are all here! I am so grateful for that.
What are you up to for the rest of 2021?
Right now I am gearing up for my big record release party in my hometown of Santa Cruz next month (November). After that, I am taking the rest of the year to focus on gathering all of the assets needed to start our radio campaign and tour early next year. Things tend to slow down around the holidays in the music industry, so I am going to take full advantage of resting and enjoying the present moment as much as possible. I want to take time to let the blessings and achievements of this year really soak in before jumping into the next phase of the Mad Twenties roll out.
Social media; love it or hate it?
It is a necessary evil that I resisted for a long time. I have to constantly set boundaries with it. Over this last year I’ve changed to using it as a business marketing tool and a way to connect with fans and other artists - more so than just personal entertainment.
What’s the most embarrassing song/album on your favourite playlist?
Some of my guilty pleasures are Justin Beiber, Bad Bunny, and T Swift. I am definitely not ashamed though! There is a right time and place for this vibe.
If you could recommend one artist to hear this week, who would it be?
NAT LEFTKOFF - He is a musical acquaintance of mine from California. His album Heavy Lifting was just released and it has literally been on repeat in my car, apartment and headphones. The vocals and the lyrics are so incredibly raw and striking. He is currently on tour and he is about to blow up - so hop on that train.
What’s the question we should have asked you today but haven’t?
I don’t know if “should” is how I would put it - I think these questions have been perfect - but I guess another thing to mention is what I like to do in my free time! I have a mini-dachshund, Winnie, and she is my world. I have been enjoying reading a lot this year - my TV broke. I practice yoga and meditation daily. I love being outside surrounded by friends.
Finally, how do you take your coffee?
I take my coffee black - but I recently stopped drinking it! For no reason in particular, I just like to switch things up sometimes. I always like to keep my dependency on substances in check.
To find out more about Taylor you can check out her website. You can also see what Taylor’s up to on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Her album, Mad Twenties is available now from everywhere.
