Maria Taylor (musician)

Last updated

Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor live at The Troubadour 2016.jpg
Maria Taylor performing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA in 2016.
Background information
Birth nameMaria Diane Taylor
Born (1976-05-21) May 21, 1976 (age 47)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres Indie rock, folk rock
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, drums, piano
Labels Saddle Creek
Flower Moon Records
Nettwerk Music Group
Website www.mariataylormusic.com

Maria Diane Taylor (born May 21, 1976) is an American singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink. Taylor plays several instruments, including the guitar, drums, and piano and has collaborated or performed with such artists as Bright Eyes, Phoebe Bridgers, Moby, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Joshua Radin, and more.

Contents

Biography

Taylor started her musical career at the age of fifteen in the band Little Red Rocket with Orenda Fink which released two CDs on Geffen, Who Did You Pay (1997) and It's in the Sound (2000). [1] The group disbanded during the merging of Geffen with Universal Music Group.

Taylor later moved to Athens, Georgia along with her musical collaborator, Fink where they formed the band Azure Ray. The pair signed to WARM and released their self-titled debut in 2001. The song "Sleep" was later featured in the 2006 Academy Award-nominated movie, The Devil Wears Prada featuring Anne Hathaway. [2] In 2015, Taylor Swift included "Sleep" in a 6-song "breakup playlist" made for a fan via her official Tumblr. [3] [4] Azure Ray released their second album, Burn and Shiver in 2002. Eric Bachmann (Crooked Fingers and Archers of Loaf) produced both records. [5] After meeting the band in Athens, Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst invited the band on tour and introduced them to Saddle Creek. Saddle Creek released their following records, November EP, and The Drinks We Drank Last Night. In 2002, the duo co-wrote and recorded "The Great Escape" (which appeared on Moby's 18) and "Landing" (which appeared on the XXX soundtrack), and afterwards joined Moby on tour. [6] Following the release of 2003's Hold on Love , Taylor and Fink began a 6-year hiatus.

Taylor released her first solo album 11:11 on Saddle Creek Records on May 24, 2005. The album features Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Gretta Cohn of Cursive, Andy LeMaster and Mike Mogis as both musicians and producers. [7] Grey's Anatomy named its March 31, 2011, episode, "Song Beneath the Song", after a track from the album and also featured the song on the original soundtrack. [8] Taylor later recorded a new song for Grey's Anatomy's 2005 Christmas episode entitled "Christmas After All." [9] Her second solo album, Lynn Teeter Flower , was released on March 6, 2007, also on Saddle Creek. "A Good Start," the first track off Lynn Teeter Flower , was subsequently named one of NPR's 10 best songs of the year for 2007. [10] "The Ballad of Sean Foley" was co-written with Conor Oberst. [11] The following year she released an acoustic album titled Savannah Drive with Andy LeMaster which includes stripped-down versions of songs from her first two albums, plus one new track, "Tell Me." [12] On March 31, 2009, she released her third full-length, LadyLuck via Nettwerk Music Group featuring the song "Cartoons and Forever Plans," co-written by and including guest vocals from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. [13] LadyLuck reached number 48 on Billboard's "Heatseakers" charts. [14]

Azure Ray then reunited for a one-off reunion show in December 2008 at Los Angeles's iconic Troubadour. [12] In 2010, they released their first album in six years, Drawing Down the Moon .

Overlook , Taylor's 4th solo album, was released August 16, 2011. After moving back to her hometown of Birmingham, Taylor was unable to write for nearly a year, eventually composing the entire album over two weeks during a break in touring with Azure Ray. [15] This release marks the first time Taylor produced her own album. [16] Paste called Overlook "her best, most animated collection in years." [17]

In August 2012, Rolling Stone premiered the new EP from Azure Ray, As Above, So Below. It was released on September 4, 2012, on Saddle Creek Records. [18] The next year, Taylor released her fifth solo record Something About Knowing on October 29, 2013, on Saddle Creek Records.

After moving back to Los Angeles, Taylor wrote and recorded In the Next Life , released December 9, 2016, on her own label, Flower Moon Records. [19] The album features guest appearances from familiar collaborators Joshua Radin, Conor Oberst and more. "If Only" (featuring Oberst) was prominently featured in NBC's This Is Us . [20] NPR, who premiered the full album stream, called it "her warmest and most affecting album... filled with gorgeous, touching songs about family, legacy, fear and the pursuit of contentment." [21]

In November 2017, Taylor joined Ben Lee, Mike Watt, Joey Waronker and others as Daniel Johnston's backing band during the Los Angeles stop of his final tour. [22] That same month, Azure Ray announced they would once again reunite for a one-off show in Los Angeles at the Lodge Room on January 20, 2018. [23]

In April 2018, Paste premiered "Real Life (Trump Era)" from the Friends and Family Vol. 1 compilation, put out on her label, Flower Moon Records. Released May 11, 2018, other contributors included Azure Ray bandmate Orenda Fink, Nik Freitas, Louis Schefano, Jake Bellows, and more. [24] Flower Moon Records has since re-released Taylor's earlier albums, 11:11 and LadyLuck , as well as Azure Ray's self-titled record and Burn and Shiver.

Taylor performed on The Ellen Show with Joshua Radin during his performance of "Here, Right Now" in October 2019. [25] On November 11, 2019, Taylor released her new self-titled album on Flower Moon Records. Flood Magazine premiered the single "Waiting in Line" featuring Counting Crows' Adam Duritz on October 24, 2019. [26] Under the Radar premiered the Alan Tanner directed video for "Spinning Wheel" on January 22, 2020. [27]

In 2021, Azure Ray announced their first new album in over a decade, Remedy. [28] In March 2021, Taylor was featured on Phoebe Bridgers cover of the John Prine song "Summer's End" for the Spotify Singles series. [29] She also appears on Bridgers' cover of "Funny Feeling" by Bo Burnham. [30]

Taylor appears on multiple tracks from Bright Eyes' 2022 Companion reissue series, including the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning tracks "First Day of My Life" and "We Are Nowhere and It's Now." Bright Eyes also covered Azure Ray's "November" on the LIFTED Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground Companion version. [31] She joined the band as their drummer during Bright Eyes' 2023 world tour of the United States, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. [32] In 2023, Taylor also penned the original song entitled "Everything I Wanted" for Season 1 of the Hallmark Channel's series The Way Home. [33]

Personal life

Taylor plays with the high E-string removed from her guitar. [34] Taylor previously dated Bright Eyes singer-songwriter Conor Oberst. The Bright Eyes song ‘First Day of my life’ was written about Taylor. [35] [36] She is married and has two children. [37]

Discography

Solo

Azure Ray

Compilations

Appearances

Music videos

Maria is also featured playing drums in the video for "Four Winds" by Bright Eyes and "New Drinks for the Old Drunk" by Crooked Fingers. [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Eyes (band)</span> American indie rock band

Bright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, arranger, composer and trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating line-up of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene. Between 1998 and 2011, the band's albums were released through Saddle Creek Records, a Nebraska-based label founded by Justin Oberst and Mogis. In January 2020, the band announced their return, having signed with Dead Oceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Faint</span> American indie rock band

The Faint is an American indie rock band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska, the band consists of Todd Fink, Graham Ulicny, Dapose and Clark Baechle. The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer and included Conor Oberst. He quit shortly after the band was formed, though the Faint continued to share a spot with Bright Eyes on Saddle Creek Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saddle Creek Records</span> American record label

Saddle Creek Records is an American record label based in Omaha, Nebraska. Started as a college class project on entrepreneurship, the label was founded by Mike Mogis and Justin Oberst in 1993. Mogis soon turned over his role in the company to Robb Nansel. The label is named after Saddle Creek Road, a major street that cuts through Midtown Omaha, and the beginnings of a scene whose members included Justin's brother Conor Oberst, Tim Kasher, and others. Collectively, they were known unofficially as the "Creekers". Saddle Creek first appeared in print on a show flyer, offering to "Spend an evening with Saddle Creek" Saddle Creek became an incorporated entity as a result of a class project on entrepreneurship. Distribution is handled by Redeye Distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Oberst</span> American musician (born 1980)

Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint, Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Oberst was named the Best Songwriter of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander Venus</span> American indie rock band

Commander Venus was an American emo band from Omaha, Nebraska. Fronted by Conor Oberst and Tim Kasher, the band also included Todd Fink and Matt Bowen of The Faint, Ben Armstrong of Head of Femur and Robb Nansel, executive producer of the indie label Saddle Creek. Kasher subsequently went on to front the band Cursive, and Oberst later became famous as the core member of the indie folk collective Bright Eyes, and later the punk band Desaparecidos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azure Ray</span> American dream pop duo

Azure Ray is an American dream pop duo, consisting of musicians Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Formed in Athens, Georgia, in 2001, they later moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and became part of the Saddle Creek Records music scene, which also included Bright Eyes, The Faint, and Cursive. Azure Ray's music has often been featured in film and television, including Six Feet Under, Grey's Anatomy, and The Devil Wears Prada.

Team Love is an independent record label based in New Paltz, New York, founded by Conor Oberst and Nate Krenkel in 2003. It has released albums by several other recording artists. Team Love also released the documentary film by Roy Germano, The Other Side of Immigration. A distinguishing marketing tactic of Team Love has been complete albums for download in unprotected mp3 format at no cost on their website in addition to traditional record and CD sales. This practice evolved into what is now known as The Team Love Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Fink</span>

Todd Fink is the lead singer of the band The Faint. He attended Omaha's Westside High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Mogis</span> American multi-instrumentalist

Michael Riley Mogis is an American producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist who, along with his brother A.J. Mogis, founded Presto! Recording Studios. Mogis currently runs ARC in downtown Omaha.

<i>A Christmas Album</i> (Bright Eyes album) 2002 studio album by Bright Eyes

A Christmas Album is the fifth album and first Christmas album by Bright Eyes released in 2002. The proceeds of the album go to the Nebraska AIDS Project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orenda Fink</span> Musical artist

Orenda Fink is an American singer, musician, and writer. Perhaps best known as half of the duo Azure Ray, Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, Moby, The Faint, Pete Yorn, and others. She is married to Todd Fink of The Faint.

Nate Walcott is an American musical composer, arranger, pianist, keyboardist, and trumpeter. He has composed the scores for several feature-length films, including 2014's The Fault in Our Stars. He is a member of the band Bright Eyes, and has played in Conor Oberst's Mystic Valley Band and with singer-songwriter M. Ward. Between 2016 and 2019, Walcott was the touring pianist and keyboard player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, during their The Getaway World Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefanie Drootin</span> American musician

Stefanie Drootin is one half of the band Umm and one half of the band Big Harp (band) on Saddle Creek Records. She is also the bass guitarist for the band The Good Life on Saddle Creek Records. Stefanie plays or has played in Bright Eyes, She and Him, M.Ward, McCarthy Trenching, Azure Ray, Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. She is the sister of Los Angeles-based, Books on Tape.

<i>11:11</i> (Maria Taylor album) 2005 studio album by Maria Taylor

11:11 is the debut solo album by American musician Maria Taylor. It was released on May 24, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records. The album was produced by Andy LeMaster and Mike Mogis, who also provide additional musical backing throughout. It features appearances from Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes and Gretta Cohn of Cursive, among others, while one track was written by Taylor's former Little Red Rocket bandmate Louis Schefano.

<i>Lynn Teeter Flower</i> 2007 studio album by Maria Taylor

Lynn Teeter Flower is the second album by Maria Taylor and was released on March 6, 2007. This is the 102nd release of Saddle Creek Records. The album features a guest appearance and co-write from Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst on the track "The Ballad of Sean Foley" in addition to contributions from Jim Eno of Spoon, Andy LeMaster, and Doug Easley. Rolling Stone said that album "offers thoughtful, pretty singer-songwriter fare with spare, delicate backup and dashes of Seventies navel-gazing."

Andy LeMaster is an American musician, songwriter, engineer, and producer from Toccoa, Georgia. Now It's Overhead is the primary project for his own songwriting, while he also releases music under his own name and contributes as a co-writer on various projects. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed on many albums since he began recording in the late 1990s, including releases by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray, Conor Oberst, Maria Taylor, Orenda Fink, Better Oblivion Community Center, and Michael Stipe. He is co-owner of Chase Park Transduction recording studio in Athens with fellow producer/engineer/musician, David Barbe. He has been a frequent touring member of Bright Eyes since the late 90's, and has performed live as a band member with several other artists including Azure Ray, Fischerspooner, and Michael Stipe. LeMaster is also a talented visual artist, and has done all the covers for Now It's Overhead's records. Andy has stated in interviews that he identifies as gay. He made a guest appearance on Late Night with David Letterman in 2007 playing bass as a rotating member of the band Bright Eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Hollingsworth</span> American musician (born 1980)

Taylor Hollingsworth is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and artist from Birmingham, Alabama. Hollingsworth is also member of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band and Dead Fingers, and has toured with Conor Oberst, Maria Taylor, The Dexateens, Monsieur Jeffrey Evans and his Southern Ace's and Verbena.

<i>Overlook</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Maria Taylor

Overlook is the fourth album by Maria Taylor, released on August 16, 2011, on Saddle Creek Records. After moving back to her hometown of Birmingham, Taylor was unable to write for nearly a year, eventually composing the entire album over two weeks during a break in touring with Azure Ray. This release marks the first time Taylor produced her own album. Overlook was engineered by Birmingham musician Les Nuby, who also played drums and guitar, and also features her brother Macey Taylor of Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band on bass, banjo, organ and keyboards and Browan Lollar of St. Paul and The Broken Bones on guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Schefano</span> American singer-songwriter

Louis Schefano is an American singer-songwriter, producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Birmingham, Alabama, United States. He has recorded under various monikers including Regia, Louis, and Suspicious Light. Schefano was also a founding member of Remy Zero and Little Red Rocket, and has performed, produced or recorded with Azure Ray, Maria Taylor, Verbena, Cheshires, Bright Eyes, The Ladybug Transistor, and Jaymay.

<i>In the Next Life</i> 2016 studio album by Maria Taylor

In the Next Life is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Maria Taylor, also a member of Azure Ray. It was released on December 9, 2016, on her label Flower Moon Records. The first single "If Only", features guest vocals by Omaha singer-songwriter Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes.

References

  1. ↑ "Maria Taylor: 11:11". Music.avclub.com. December 14, 2005.
  2. ↑ "The Devil Wears Prada". IMDb.com. June 30, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Taylor Swift Made This Break-up Playlist for a Recently Dumped Fan". Time.com. February 11, 2015.
  4. ↑ Woodward, Ellie (February 11, 2015). "Taylor Swift Gave A Fan Breakup Advice And A "Moving On" Playlist". BuzzFeed.com.
  5. ↑ "Azure Ray: Burn and Shiver". PopMatters.com. June 6, 2002.
  6. ↑ "Azure Ray Makes a Quiet Entrance". Los Angeles Times . July 11, 2002.
  7. ↑ "Saddle Creek – Maria Taylor – Reviews". Saddle-creek.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Grey's Anatomy (Original Soundtrack) by Various Artists on iTunes". iTunes.apple.com. January 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". IMDb.com. December 11, 2005.
  10. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (December 24, 2007). "Songs of the Year: 2007's Best Music". Npr.org.
  11. ↑ "Maria Taylor: Lynn Teeter Flower". Pitchfork.com.
  12. 1 2 "LAist Interview: Maria Taylor: LAist". Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  13. ↑ Murphy, Tom (January 3, 2014). "Maria Taylor talks about why she doesn't use a high E string on any of her guitars". Westweord.com.
  14. ↑ "Maria Taylor". Billboard.com.
  15. ↑ "Saddle Creek". saddle-creek.com.
  16. ↑ "Review: Maria Taylor: Overlook · Music Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. August 16, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Maria Taylor: Overlook". Pastemagazine.com. July 29, 2011.
  18. ↑ "EP Premiere: Azure Ray, 'As Above So Below'". Rolling Stone . August 28, 2012.
  19. ↑ "New Music: Maria Taylor ft. Conor Oberst – "If Only"". Spin.com. October 19, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Birmingham's Maria Taylor on new CD and new song, 'If Only,' on NBC show 'This is Us'". Alabamanewscenter.com. December 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (December 2016). "Review: Maria Taylor, 'In The Next Life'". Npr.org.
  22. ↑ "Daniel Johnston Adds Shows to Final Tour". Pitchfork.com. August 16, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Photos: Azure Ray, the Elected and Whispertown at the Lodge Room". Buzzbands.la. January 22, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Daily Dose: Maria Taylor, "Real Life (Trump Era)"". Pastemagazine.com. April 4, 2018.
  25. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube . Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  26. ↑ "PREMIERE: Maria Taylor Enlists Counting Crows' Adam Duritz for "Waiting in Line"". Floodmagazine.com.
  27. ↑ Axeman, Stephen. "Premiere: Maria Taylor Shares New Video for Track "Spinning Wheel"". Undertheradarmag.com.
  28. ↑ "Azure Ray Announce First New Album in 11 Years, Share New Song". Pitchfork. March 25, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  29. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (March 9, 2021). "Phoebe Bridgers Covers John Prine's 'Summers End' for Spotify Singles". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Phoebe Bridgers officially releases cover of Bo Burnham's 'That Funny Feeling'". NME. October 1, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Bright Eyes Announce 'Companion' EPs for 'Lifted,' 'I'm Wide Awake,' and 'Digital Ash' — Hear Three Tracks". August 10, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Conor Oberst's bi-coastal residencies; new HAHA; BLVCK Hippie tonight at Reverb". November 14, 2023.
  33. ↑ https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-way-home/the-way-home-music-supervisor-maria-taylor
  34. ↑ Murphy, Tom (January 3, 2014). "Maria Taylor talks about why she doesn't use a high E string on any of her guitars". Westword.com.
  35. ↑ "Bright Eyes's Colin Oberst Finds Inspiration in New York – Nymag". New York Magazine. January 6, 2005.
  36. ↑ "The Maria Taylor Interview: "I Married A Republican" And Other Stories From The Deep South". Rock NYC. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Birmingham's Maria Taylor on new CD and new song, 'If Only,' on NBC show 'This is Us'". Alabamanewscenter.com. December 5, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  38. ↑ Shapero, Rich. "Dawn Remembers: The Making of the Too Far Music". Toofar.com.
  39. ↑ "Maria Taylor "Up All Night" – Alan Tanner". Alantanner.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Crooked Fingers – New Drink for the Old Drunk". YouTube. November 15, 2006. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.