SONG PREMIERE: Julian Taylor Finds Hope and Redemption in Everyman Americana-Folk Tune “Wide Awake”

Photo credit: Lisa MacIntosh

How do you follow-up a career high point? If you’re Julian Taylor — the Toronto-based singer/songwriter who garnered widespread acclaim for his intimate June 2020 solo album, The Ridge — you double down on upping your game by striving to exceed the creative fruits that have already blossomed from the artistic spark that got you there in the first place.

No pressure, right?

“No pressure at all!” Taylor agrees with a laugh. “Actually, I didn’t put pressure on myself when I was writing this new album. I knew the pressure was there — it’s sort of invisible, in a way — but I didn’t go into the process thinking about the pressure of writing great songs. I was doing the best I possibly could, and I just tried to do it better than I did the last time.”

Indeed, Taylor has succeeded in surpassing both his and our expectations quite handily with the nine profoundly interpersonal songs found on his stunning new solo effort, Beyond the Reservoir. Co-produced by Taylor and longtime production partner/collaborator Saam Hashemi, mixed by Hashemi, and mastered by Noah Mintz, Beyond the Reservoir was recorded at three studio locations — Canterbury, The Fireside Studio, and The Woodshed. The latter locale is a Toronto-area studio owned by Canadian alt-country aces Blue Rodeo — a locale that also happens to be where The Ridge, the album that garnered Taylor a prestigious Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of the Year in 2021, came to be.

Beyond the Reservoir — set for release on CD, vinyl, and via most digital platforms on October 14th from Howling Turtle, Inc. — is further evidence of a songwriter pushing the very boundaries of his creativity. “It was a daunting task, but I really wanted to get past The Ridge by telling a story with Beyond the Reservoir that would broaden the horizons a bit,” Taylor admits. “I wanted the lyrics on this particular record to really hit hard from the get-go — and I think they do. In my personal opinion, Beyond the Reservoir is a much better lyrically written record than The Ridge.”

Today Glide is excited to premiere “Wide Awake,” (PRE-ORDER) a song that examines the forward-looking reverie of embracing one’s ingrained familial experiences. The song finds Taylor’s penchant for crafting tasteful and wise roots rock and folk tunes fully in-tact. His relaxed vocals convey the emotion in the lyrical tale being told. The combination of twangy steel guitar, simple acoustic strumming, and subtle but enchanting harmonies give the song a straightforward that feels familiar in the way of an old Springsteen track while also presenting a new perspective. The chorus is also infectious, lingering with you long after listening. The theme of finding strength, beauty, and transcendence from family difficulties is also one that resonates with all of us.

Listen to the track and read our chat with Taylor below…

What is the story behind this song?  Did something in particular provide the “aha” moment to spur you to write it?

A lot was going on in my mind at the time. We were stuck in another lockdown, and I was dealing with writer’s block. I was feeling a bit self-conscious about myself, my music, and about my own life and existence.

There was some turmoil going on in my family and that was troubling me, too, mostly because I felt like it could have easily been avoided, and, at the same time, a few people close to me and some that I used to be close with were going through some huge losses in their lives. I could feel their pain but wasn’t able to be there in person. So that was weighing heavily on my mind. I was going through a lot of changes and losses, too, and they couldn’t be there for me, either.

There was also a part of me that was really struggling with my own identity, and even though I know who I am, I found myself having to defend myself against others’ comments and thoughts, and that was really hurting me as well.

I decided that I needed to try and stop these thoughts of self-pity and wake myself up, so I began to think about all the things that were a part of my life and this life that we all live that I am so grateful for. My family and those closest to me are the most important thing in my life; without them, I wouldn’t have anything to write about to begin with. In fact, I would even exist. At times in my life, I have gotten lost, and sometimes I have forgotten that. This song is a reminder to myself to believe in that, and as soon as I do that, my life begins to align itself with that beauty.

What was the songwriting process like?  How did the song come together?

The song started in my family room. There was fire going, and I was staring outside at the lake. The first few verses and the chorus came effortlessly. It was really special and really beautiful. It completely knocked me out of my writer’s block. I almost left the song as it was recorded that way on my phone. That’s how special I felt it was. That whole day, I just went for walks with the dog and listened to it. I should share that version one day. It stayed that way for about a week, when suddenly the second verse appeared in my head early in the morning while I was hatching. The idea of sitting with my mother talking about life was so simple and normal. I just wanted to share that similar experience with others. I often write my lyrics in my head while I am hatching in the morning just lying in bed.  

When you went into the studio, you probably had an idea of what you wanted this song to sound like. How did the final version differ from that and/or how is it the same?

I recorded this song twice. There are two studio versions of the song, and I didn’t use the first one on the record. I always have a vision of how I’d like things to sound. It can take some time to get things where they need to be, and I base most of my decisions on feeling and whether the music is helping to guide the narrative. That’s the most important thing to me. Is the supporting cast supporting the voice, the lyrics, and the acoustic guitar? That’s the question I always return to, because essentially every song that I have ever written can be translated properly with just those elements. The first version of the song was good, and I am sure that we could have used it, but I wanted to keep trying to find that beautiful open space that would connect hearts and minds with the first listen. One thing that producer Saam Hashemi and I did, though, was actually mix in some of the overhead drums into the second version of the song. So both drums from both versions are in there, which is kind of neat. You can barely hear it ’cause it’s almost naked to the human ear, but it’s in there.

What do you hope this song’s message is to people who hear it?

There is a universal message of hope and redemption that flows through this song. The line leading up to the chorus says it all really: “There is an abundance of hope that lies within the oceans of time. There’s nothing singular about it yet it can clearly be defined.” I believe that the universe speaks to us all, and that it is unfolding exactly how it should be. It’s rather insidious of us to believe that we can control it. Rather than try to control, I believe that we are all so fortunate to be given the opportunity to follow the path that has been chosen for us by us.

How does this song fit into the overall vibe and tone of the album?  What do you think it contributes to the album?

I think that this song is the turning point in the album. I wrote each and every song with extreme care, detail, and purpose. The beginning of the record is supposed to be troubling and quite sad as I remember a time in my life that was filled with inner turmoil. As a teenager, I rebelled like many do, but at the time I didn’t realize how dangerous my decisions and my life had become. It had become so dangerous that many friends of mine didn’t make it out alive. I got lucky. This song focuses on that, and it focuses on why I got so lucky. Music and family really did save my life.

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