Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your musical journey and background?
Hello, my name is Lily Taylor. I have never known a time that I wasn’t drawn to creating music and singing. After graduating from College of Santa Fe’s Contemporary Music Program, I began performing and teaching voice lessons in New Mexico and then California, making a name for myself one performance at a time and helping people discover the power of their own voice through voice lessons. I moved to North Texas to be part of the vibrant music cultures here, producing shows for myself as well as countless others in traditional and nontraditional venues over the past decade. I released the album, The Ride at the end of 2014, and I released the album, Amphora in 2023. Both albums received critical acclaim and sparked discussions about how my music defies genre classification; I think it’s best to allow the listener to decide. In addition to my solo work and collaborating with various musicians, I host a bi-monthly freeform radio program called BandwidthTX on KUZU LP 92.9FM Denton, TX, and I volunteer with the charity event Rock Lottery in Denton, and the art event Cedars Open Studios in Dallas, and was recently awarded « Best Experimental Act » by the Dallas Entertainment Awards, Jan 2024.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and style?
My vocal coach at College of Santa Fe is vocalist Mirabai Daniels, and I attended Vocal Master Classes with both Mirabai and Joan LaBarbara. More recently, I was able to take an online workshop with Jay Clayton before she retired, through the California Jazz Conservatory. My influences are vast, but these teachers made an immeasurable impact on how I approach my main instrument, my voice. Everyone I’ve collaborated with has had a musical impact on me in some way, from Karina Denike to Gil Trythall to Black Taffy to the Dennis Gonzalez Legacy Band, and beyond.
Can you share a specific artist or album that has had a significant impact on your music?
I feel that everything that I listen to has shaped my music in one way or another! Choosing just one album that has had an impact on me as a creative is a difficult question for me to answer because for my radio show, I am constantly looking for new music to share as well as highlighting music I think should get more radio airplay. I want to be a sponge, soaking up all the sounds. I answer this question differently every time, today, I chose Hejira by Joni Mitchell, but tomorrow it could be Music For 18 Musicians by Steve Reich or Umm Kulthum or Billie Holiday, Laurie Anderson, etc…
What’s your creative process like when you’re composing or writing a new song?
Writing a song can come about from different angles. The equipment or instrument I use to inspire a song can have a huge impact on what I can come up with. Sometimes, I play with a specific chord progression for ages until it finally tells me it’s finished, other times I am experimenting with soundscapes and pulling melodies out of the textures I hear. I enjoy collaborating with people and learning from their methods as well.
Among all the songs you’ve created, do you have a personal favorite? If so, what makes it special to you?
Can you share the story or inspiration behind that particular song?
I have a special connection to all of my songs; how could I not!? I can focus on the track GIANT SEALS from my latest album, AMPHORA. This song was written many years ago when I had a studio in San Francisco in the basement of our building, built in 1912. It has been a joy to experience this song change and settle over time by performing it so many times in so many different contexts. Making a final studio version was very meaningful, to capture all full sound and the dynamic vibe of the track that I had always envisioned it being. The song is about facing fears and that sometimes those fears are gifts.
Let’s talk about your latest song. What is the title, and the story or message behind it?
The title of my latest single is EVER NEW off of the album AMPHORA (Lily Taylor Music), released with critical acclaim from music blogs and press.
We wanted to produce something meditative that captured the spirit of an expanding idea, something like the feeling of being on a rooftop and seeing a new perspective. I started the story with a walk on the beach at sunrise, being the most grounding imaginal space I could think of. The swells of the tide, the inhalation and exhalation of breath, the pattern of the sun, we tend to take these rhythms for granted in our everyday life. My hope is that while listening to this song, people feel a sense of calm and grounding. With each step that we take, we have the possibility to gain perspective, remember where we’ve been, and be inspired by the possibilities of where we will go.
The album, Amphora, takes its name from the ancient vessel, the amphora, which served as a container for precious liquids. In this case, I, the artist, is the vessel, delivering a musical experience that is both powerful and delicate. The themes of duality, time, and introspection run throughout the album, creating a deeply personal and introspective atmosphere.
Available on collectable LP format, custom made at Gotta Groove Records in random colors.
Amphora is also available on cassette and download code. You can order physical media through bandcamp or stream world wide.
Share a memorable or unique experience from one of your live performances.
Almost a decade ago, I was performing a song at Club Deluxe in San Francisco, CA in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. In the middle of my song, I realized that Tracy Chapman was sitting on the side of the stage by the kitchen door that also served as the door to « backstage ».
It took everything I had to focus on remembering my lyrics! After the show, the club was buzzing with conversation that such a respected musician had been to see the small-club show! I was a kid in Boston when Tracy Chapman’s first album came out, and I remember being so excited when her songs came on the radio. Being able to perform for her was a very special experience. I hope she enjoyed the show!
Beyond music, do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about? How do they influence your music?
I have a passion for history; why is this that way, and why is that this way? Who wrote down what story or document and why? I like to understand how things operate the way they do, and why. I feel that my interest in history has influenced my perspective on my music journey, as I try to learn and understand where certain musical traditions come from, how traditions are implemented in song and performance, and why there is so much classism between genres of music.
Is there a dream collaboration you’d like to pursue in the future?
I am currently collaborating with incredible musicians. I had always hoped that I would find myself in this set of circumstances – to be working on multiple projects with people I admire. I have an audio / visual project with Sean Miller called LOCATIONS; I am a vocalist in the Dennis Gonzalez Legacy Band with Stefan and Aaron Gonzalez and a rotating cast of talent; I collaborate with Karina Denike; with Black Taffy; and I am working with Gerard Bendicks, Nigel Newton, Willie Wrinkle, and Wes Case in Bendicks’ ensemble.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
Advice I would give someone just starting out in their music journey is to allow ideas to flow through you, rather than forcing an idea into a songwriting or recording session. Everyone’s best work are the songs or pieces that seem to collaborate with you as they come into being in this physical realm. The second thing I will say is that everyone will have an opinion; the challenge is to stay true to your own ideas and not bend to what you think other people want to hear or see. This is very challenging! However, an individual’s unique perspectives and qualities are going to be what people connect with the most.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or new music you have in the works? What can your fans and listeners look forward to from you in the near future?
As mentioned before, I have several collaborations happening. I also host a radio show called BandwidthTX on KUZU LP 92.9FM Denton, TX that airs every second and fourth Tuesday, 7-8pm, CST. You can follow me on social media for updates about all the music happenings @lilytaylormusic.