Evolving creatively is a key goal for any artist, especially for songwriters. Being able to tap into the vein of shared experiences by way of a personalized point of view is a gift the best songwriters are able to build upon from song to song and album to album. Only the best of them are able to transition from being a soother one minute to a soothsayer the next with relative ease, confidence, and expertise.
And that’s exactly what Toronto-based singer/songwriter Julian Taylor has done with the eight deeply intimate songs that comprise his striking new solo effort, The Ridge. Co-produced by Taylor and longtime collaborator Saam Hashemi, mixed by Hashemi, and mastered by Noah Mintz, The Ridge was recorded at The Woodshed, a Toronto-area studio owned by a Canadian alt-country stalwarts Blue Rodeo. The Ridge — set for release on CD, vinyl, and via most digital platforms on September 25, 2020 from Howling Turtle, Inc. — is the aural result of a songwriter clearly embracing his prime.
Musically and lyrically, the album brings to mind artists like Bruce Springsteen (especially his countrified recent solo album), Jason Isbell, and country-oriented troubadours like Joe Ely. The songs on The Ridge deal with themes that are especially poignant at this unbelievable time in history as Taylor draws from love, loss, and a yearning desire for the human race to prevail against numerous hardships. Musically, the album straddles the line between Americana, country and sweeping Heartland rock, but its lyrics and subsequent messages connect in a universal way. Yet, he has a remarkable gift for relaying tenderness, vulnerability, and heartfelt emotion.
Recently, Taylor took the time to chat with us about how he is getting through this pandemic as an artist, what he sees for the future, and his new album The Ridge.
You are in the midst promoting a forthcoming album in a new-to-you genre (Americana) and trying to get everything ready for its release later this year. How has the current COVID-19 scenario impeded you, and/or how has it made your plans shift or change?
To be honest, I feel a lot of uncertainty right now. Uncertainty about life in general. I have never witnessed anything like this, and neither has anyone else. I do worry about the world. I always have, and right now I am worrying even more, just like so many of us. The biggest shift is the obvious one, and that is performing live and selling tickets and merchandise at shows. It’s impossible to do that right now, and people are scrambling. The music industry is in big turmoil right now. The whole planet is in turmoil right now, and they say that we’re in the early stages. I am really worried for the livelihood of my peers, and everyone in every industry across the globe.
Is it hard to promote your music in the time of COVID-19? Does it feel weird? How does that all work?
I am doing everything I can to promote my music, just like I always have. The only difference is that now I am having to learn more about technology than ever before, because it’s the only medium to connect to people with right now. I don’t want to over-promote myself either, because this isn’t the time to do that. In these times, artists will be called upon for more than comfort and entertainment. The whole human race will be called upon to do more for one another, and personally I think that’s the main thing to focus on — is what you’re putting out into the world helping others?
What is it like having a day job you now do from home in addition to your job as an artist?
It’s interesting, and I am getting used to it. Most of my loved ones have lost their jobs or they don’t have any work because they’re self-employed, so we’re trying to navigate through that. I am so grateful and have been very fortunate thus far. When this story broke, I was doing the afternoon drive show on ELMNT FM here in Toronto, and I still am, just from home. I have been working remotely doing basic voice tracks until they are able to set up all the on-air personnel with better equipped tools. I think that people in the media world are so important right now. This isn’t easy news to break and hard on the soul, but people need to know and people need comforting voices and faces to tell them what is happening in the world. Now more than ever.
How has all of this made you introspective about your art, about your music in the grand scheme of things?
I am trying to look at as many silver linings as possible. I’ve seen news articles about Mother Earth repairing herself. How the smog in the sky is clearing and how dolphins are now swimming in the canals in Italy. I am seeing most people show others more kindness wherever I look. That’s inspiring, and I hope that the human race will look at this and learn to love one another more and treat nature better. We are one, and we’re all in this together. My music has always spoken to that oneness that the universe shares, and I hope that the messages that are within the songs I write help bring joy and solace to peoples’ hearts. After all, when you break down the word “universe” (uni-verse) it means “one song.”
What is helping you get by, day-to-day? Are you finding yourself more emotional? Writing more? Feeling detached? Is music helping you cope?
I find this all so surreal and I have good days and not so good days. As a parent, I am doing my best to remain calm and in control because that’s what children need right now. You can tell them the truth about what is happening, and I think that’s an important thing to do, but what they really need to hear is that we, as adults, will protect them. You have to tell children right now that “I got this.” Those are the three most important words next to “I love you.”
How have the fans helped you out? How are you connecting with them?
I feel very lucky to have a group of people who love and support me. I am connecting with people over social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Can you imagine how much more helpless and lonely we’d all feel without those platforms right now? I don’t always like social media because I find it somewhat exhausting and an attack on the human mind at times, but I do admit that right now being able to check on friends across the whole world is reassuring and comforting.
Are you staying home? What is it like so far? What are things like in Toronto right now?
Yes. I am staying home. I do leave the house to go for long walks and listen to audiobooks or music. There is a ravine close to my home, and it’s beautiful. I find that being in nature is helping me and my loved ones cope with the changes happening in the world. Nature is my go-to when I need to relax or contemplate. You see, the thing about nature is that it just is. It’s still, yet always moving and changing and growing and dying all at the same time, which is how life should be lived. It’s a constant cycle, and when we, as humans, learn to be still and appreciate that, we will grow with nature, not against it.
Has the current situation led to or inspired more songwriting?
So far, I haven’t written any new music, but I am writing poetry. There’s a book that many have heard of called “The Artist’s Way,” and one of the practices that it teaches is called “the morning papers.” Essentially, before you do anything, when you wake up you should write something down in a journal. That’s what I have been doing. It is therapeutic and meditative as well, and I am certain that many new songs will flow from this practice.
A lot of artists are performing online since they can’t tour right now. Do you have plans to do that?
I ended up starting a Patreon profile which is something that I never thought I would do. It’s where I have been posting some live videos where I perform in my living room. I am very grateful to have some loyal fans who have supported me. People can subscribe for the cost of a cup of coffee, and I share stories about the songs that I have written. The Downie Wenjack Fund actually emailed me, and I will be doing a live online broadcast with them soon.
For more music and info visit juliantaylormusic.ca.
Photo credit: Lisa MacIntosh
