Can you take us back to the beginning? What are your earliest memories, and how do you think
they’ve shaped who you are today?
My earliest memory is being carried into a grocery store and watching my mother choose an avocado; I don’t think I could speak yet. I have another very early 80s memory of playing with other kids in the backyard of our apartment complex in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood, MA, USA, staring at what I was sure was a fallen star in the corner of the yard. The light ended up being the sun reflecting off of a hair that was covering my eyes; I didn’t understand depth perception, apparently. It was this day, I was told I was a redhead. Being a redhead positioned me early in childhood to be aware that everyone has differences, differences to be celebrated.
As you reflect on your life, are there any key moments or turning points that stand out to you?
What made them significant?
I have had an eventful life already! Reminiscing back on previous years, a few moments come up to the surface: one being meeting my life partner at art school in Santa Fe, NM. That was a special chance that turned into the next 24 years. I’ve moved several times and have lived in many different states in the US. Observing cultural differences has made a huge impact on my life and creative work from Massachusetts, to Texas, New Mexico, California, and back to Texas. The death of my mother changed my soul forever; I nearly lost myself in the greif. It was music that helped me crawl out of that space. Other turning points for me are performance opportunities that have secured my understanding of the importance of music and creativity in the world and in my personal life. The Outsound New Music Festival in Berkeley, CA and the Luggage Store in SF, CA. My time performing at The Stud and CounterPULSE in the early aughts. Meeting Karina Denike and then joining her band in San Francisco, CA. Outward Bound Mixtape Sessions and Hailey’s Fan Club music series at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton, TX. Being invited to perform at the Houston Contemporary Museum and in Austin at Volstead and the Museum of Human Achievement or the Kessler Theater in Dallas, TX.
Who were the most influential people in your life, and how have they impacted your journey and
development?
My teachers made a huge impact on my perception of art and life. My life-partner and our journey together has greatly impacted my creative journey, collaborators I’ve had the pleasure of working with in various ways over the years, and being inspired by other artists are all significantly impactful elements in my life. One major way is teaching me other perspectives, and the other is generating opportunities for me to stretch my creative talents in context with others.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
I’ve experienced enough long-term trauma and disrespect to learn that I don’t need to bother with what I can not control when it comes to being accepted by others. The older I get, the more clear this becomes. I can not control how other people perceive my art or me. What I can do is be true to my artistic ideas and myself, up there on the stage or in the studio.
If you were to pick a theme or a lesson that runs through your life story, what would it be?
A recurring theme in my life is about being in between, in between cultures, ideas, perspectives. The lesson is to listen, to suspend opinion as well as enjoying your own points of view, to ask and answer questions, to be respectful of others who do you no harm, and to be respectful of yourself in the process.
Are there specific accomplishments or milestones that you’re particularly proud of, and why do
they hold such significance for you?
Releasing the album AMPHORA (Lily Taylor Music) was a huge milestone for me. I had started the recording process many years ago, and continued to perform works from the album, but didn’t have a final recorded version for a significant period of time. The pandemic changed up quite a bit in my life, (like everyone else!), and I decided to turn my attention back to finishing the recording process at Elmwood Recording with Alex Bhore and Black Taffy. Inspired by musicians who have kept ownership of their publishing, I decided to self release AMPHORA on my own label, Lily Taylor Music. It has been an absolute joy to see the project from start to finish, knowing that every part of it is exactly how I had hoped it would be.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the next chapter of your life story?
Looking forward, I hope to continue to record, teach, and perform! I have so many ideas and collaborations ahead.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
Releasing records and cassettes is important to me, specifically thinking about legacy. Having physical media as well as digital music available is about reaching as many listeners as possible as well as creating a collector’s item. I hope my music will be discovered far into the future for those who think a bit outside of the box and are curious about genre blending and artistic expression.
Thank you for this opportunity to reach new listeners and give more information about myself as an artist.