Maria Taylor (musician)

Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor performing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA in 2016.
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 48)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
GenresIndie rock, folk rock
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, drums, piano
LabelsSaddle Creek
Flower Moon Records
Nettwerk Music Group
Websitewww.mariataylormusic.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maria Taylor.

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.

Biography

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Early Career

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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.

Formation of Azure Ray

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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 afterward joined Moby on tour.[6] Following the release of 2003's Hold on Love, Taylor and Fink began a 6-year hiatus.

Launch of Solo Efforts

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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 Reunion & More

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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.

Return to Los Angeles & Flower Moon Records

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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

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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

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Solo

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Azure Ray

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Compilations

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Appearances

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Music videos

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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]

References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ "Maria Taylor Pens Original Song for the Season Finale of "The Way Home"". www.hallmarkchannel.com.
  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. ^ Williams, Paige (January 6, 2005). "New Kid on the Block". New York Magazine.
  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.
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