Taylor Robert is a prolific musician with a rock n roll bluesy sound. His last album, Man with a Mission, is an intentionally more positive look at the world than many of us had taken over the past few years. It will lift your mood and tap your toe. He plays kj’s hideaway on May 28!
Tell us about your musical background – from church choir to touring artist?
I started singing from an early age in church, eventually joined the MN Boychoir and various choirs through High School and College. I started writing songs in High School to process my emotions and eventually after intense vocal study, musical theater and opera, I found I felt more like myself when singing and playing my own songs. After playing and touring with some cover bands in my early 20s, I decided to pursue a solo singer/songwriter career with original music at the core. I met some notable musicians and producers that took me under their wing and helped me get my career off the ground locally and I have been making albums and gigging ever since.
In 2020, you put out a single (Burn It All Down), the latest album is decidedly more positive with Keep the Light On, We Can Change the World and Man on a Mission. Does the music follow or lead the mood?
I made a conscious choice to be more positive and uplifting with this album than some of my past releases. We all struggle with ups and downs, but the fact that you keep going and pushing through is what this album is all about. The music follows this message throughout.
You have played with notable musicians in the past, but this album is a lot of you: your songs and you play many of the instruments. How was that process – freeing, lonely, exhausting…? Does it feel like a Bet on Yourself?
The process of doing most of this on my own was freeing, because it was exactly how I wanted it to be. I wasn’t taking direction from anyone, so that gave me the freedom to find my true voice and style, which varies depending on the track, but I loved working on the album with little help or direction from others. I definitely did have to Bet on Myself.
Did you get a Jeep Truck?
I still have not gotten a Jeep Truck, maybe someday!
Tell us about the upcoming release show.
This coming Sunday, May 28th at kj’s hideaway in St. Paul will feature my full Roll N Soul band with a set of all original music and some tracks off the new album. My friend Jared McCloud will be opening the night at 7pm and me and my band will go on around 8pm. I can’t wait to celebrate the release of this album!
Mostly Minnesota 