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INTERVIEW: Taylor Robert

rjovine 3 months ago

Hi Taylor, welcome to Tune Flickers! How’s life been treating you so far?

Life has been great! Just Rollin N Soulin through it all. The past few years have been a journey that’s for sure. But my music and songwriting has helped me navigate and keep a positive outlook through it all.

So you’re back with a new record Brighter Day – from my understanding there’s maybe a sort of irony to the title as this was written during a trying time in your life? What led you to go with the title?

Yes, the new album Brighter Day is a mixed bag of emotive elements. I went through a situation about 2 years ago that made me have to reframe my entire life. The energy of the songs have the ups and downs of my experiences. After all the songs were finished and I was ready to release the album, I realized that the underlying theme is to always look on the bright side. Even the title track “Brighter Day” it states no matter where I am at, deep in the sadness or on top of the world, if you will, I still have love in my heart, fire in my soul and even when you come back down, you gotta hope for a brighter day! That outlook has sustained me, not only in my musical endeavors, but navigating my way through this stage of my life.

What aspects of your life served as an inspiration for the lyrics in this record?

Most of the lyrics are an introspective look at my view of the world and how I relate to it. Each song is almost a diary entry as to what I was feeling that day or week. I had a few experiences with specific people along the way that inspired me. To not get into too much detail, my love life and the heartbreak that came with it at times are very prevalent in the moods of this album. There aren’t many standard “love songs” on this album. It’s more of a vibe that someone can relate to if they are getting over and moving on from a certain experience that shaped them. There is a fun loving song that is sort of an outlier from the rest of the mood called “Jeep Truck” that tells the whole story of buying your dream car. I hope this album can get someone else through a hard time as it did for me in writing it.

Was it easy for you to open yourself this way?

I have always drawn off life experience when it comes to my music. At times, it feels almost too raw and real for me. There have been full albums and songs that have never seen the light of day because I felt they were too personal. It is sometimes difficult to open up my heart and share these things with the rest of the world when releasing it to the public. I still have doubts that some of it should even be out there, but in the end, I feel that if it helps even one person to feel a certain way or get them through something or even just feel okay for a few minutes, then it’s all worth it.

So it’s fair to say this was a cathartic experience?

To say it was cathartic is putting it a bit lightly. The whole experience was almost like a therapy session every time I sat in front of my keyboard, guitar or microphone to finish a song or record a part for the album. Some people say music saves. It has definitely saved me from bottling everything up inside and just getting the feelings out in a creative way.

How was the recording process for the album?

It was pretty unique. Some of these songs were just meant to be demos, but as I got into it, I realized I wanted full production on every track. Most of this album was done with the magic of the internet with my band and session players recording their parts in their own studios and sending my the sessions back. I am so happy to have built a home studio that I can lay down an idea in whenever I am feeling inspired. That way the vocals and emotions are fresh. Most of the lead vocals are the first time I had sung the melody and lyrics. I liked it that way because the feelings are exactly how I was feeling it at the time.

You got to explore some different sounds on this record – based on what did you learn towards a specific genre? Like a song’s theme made you think a rock or soul sound would be more suitable?

I have always leaned towards the Soulful sounds when it comes to my original music. Hence why I call my music- ‘Roll N Soul’. The vintage Wurlitzer keyboard sound was the base for most of the songs in the Soul style and everything was built on that sound. Those songs have a 70s Soul type feel to me. There are some other genres that I explore, and as a singer/songwriter I feel it gives me the freedom to write in the style that I feel the song fits. The Country sounds in “Jeep Truck” stand out to me as well. I really had to find the right players to commit to that style. My Guitar and Dobro/Harmonica player on that track really make it what it is. Every album I make has diverse styles throughout, but I feel that this album is the most cohesive of my work to date.

You’ve had experience touring and playing with some other folks – what have you learned from these experiences?

I come from a choral/a cappella background. Early on in my career, I joined up with a vocal a cappella band named InPulse. They were made up of some of the best lead singers/harmony guys that I have ever known. They certainly taught about life on the road as touring musicians and a lot about the music business. One of my other greatest musical experiences was working with Michael Bland (longtime drummer for Prince) in the studio and on live gigs. Under his musical direction I was able to really see what it took to get a stellar musical product on stage and in the studio. All my experiences touring and playing with others really helped me shape me and helped me realize how I can be my own boss when it comes to my original music. It is a unique experience to be the lead singer/songwriter/producer/musical director/booking agent/promoter to name a few all on your own. I wouldn’t have it any other way at this point in my career.

What else is there in store for you?

Great question! After this big release venture, I am trying to figure out what’s next. Besides focusing on being the best father and friend I can be, I am excited to continue writing songs and making music with this newer positive outlook that I have adopted through the process!

Website: taylorrobert.com
Facebook: facebook.com/taylorrobertmusic
Instagram: instagram.com/rollnsoul
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2VUVljuquBvRif5NO1jeoW?si=_pdNr5yTROylvwxFyUa6yQ
YouTube: YouTube.com/taylorrobertrollnsoul
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/taylor-robert/473879536
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/Taylorrobert

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