Sean Taylor Talks New Album, Songwriting And More

Sean Taylor is a seasoned and fiercely outspoken troubadour whose prolific songwriting is fuelled by the desire to turn the world into a song. Having released his latest single ‘2024’, we were excited to talk to him about his new album, songwriting and more: 

When did you begin songwriting?
I was trying to write songs before I could play guitar or sing. I would copy the lyrics from Oasis (the band of the day in my teens) and try to create my own songs. Then I started playing guitar and singing around 14 and started to develop some proper songs. My first gig was three years later in Islington at the Virtually Acoustic Club at the age of 17.

What is your earliest musical memory?
Going to the Fleadh Irish Festival in Finsbury Park from 1990 onwards. I remember watching Mary Coughlan, Van Morrison and The Pogues and just being mesmerised. My Mum used to work at this festival and I would come along from the age of 7 years old onwards. I would bring my football and just wander off and watch bands. I have a very clear memory of listening to Kirsty Maccoll singing ‘ A New England’ in the middle of the day and really loving her voice. But I was on my own aged 8 or 9 and I remember Kirsty looking right at me and she was thinking why is that kid on his own in some massive crowd with a football.

Your new album ‘The End Of The Rainbow’ is scheduled for release on 13th September 2024. How did you want to approach making the album?
Albums are like diaries to me. Every year things happen and different music inspires me. If you want to know anything about my life listen to the albums. It’s all in there.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?
This album was recorded in Brighton with a great producer and guitarist Ben Walker. This is our second album together and we are getting to know each other musically. I think we are both giving each other more space to work and it is working well.

Who were the musicians who were on the album with you?

Album Credits

Sean Taylor – Vocals, Guitars, Piano & Harmonica
Ben Walker – Guitars, Banjo, Mandolin & Keyboards
Mike Seal – Double Bass & Electric Bass
Paulina Szczepaniak – Percussion & Drums
Errol Linton – Harmonica on ‘2024’
Justin Carroll – Hammond Organ on ‘2024’
Brian Standefer – Cello on ‘Invitation’
Basia Bartz – Violin on ‘Only Beauty Can Save The World’
Donna Edmead – Backing Vocals on ‘2024’ , ‘Way Down In Enniscorthy’ & ‘Gaia’

Album recorded, produced & mixed by Ben Walker

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
That I have given absolutely everything to the performance and that I have connected with the audience.

One of the tracks is the new single ‘2024’ which features Errol Linton on harmonica. What is the story/inspiration behind the track? How did the collaboration arise?

The song is an electric blues track about the bleak nature of the world at the moment. It is definitely born out of living in England in 2024; ‘The schools are falling down and there is sewage in the sea’ could be any news bulletin in this country. The chorus is ‘always ask for more. 2024’ and is calling for resistance.

I first met Errol busking on the London underground and he is one of the all time great harmonica players. He is perfect on this song.

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?
I have worked with the wonderful radical filmmaker Shaun Dey from Reel News for nearly a decade. Shaun is a very special artist and activist. He is completely dedicated and one of the most positive thinking people I have ever met.

The story behind ‘2024’ is that it is a song of two halves. The verses are the negativity in the world, ‘the queue for the food bank curls around the block’ but the chorus ‘always ask for more’ is the resistance. The film shows this contrast brilliantly.

 Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
I tour with my tried, tested and battered Gibson J45. I bought it in Denmark Street after spending weeks trying to find a Lowden that I liked. The J45 was a third of the price of the Lowdens but I just preferred it. I have a custom built pedal board from the super talented folks at Charlie Chadlers in Hampton Wick. It features a Boss tuner and DD3 delay pedal as well as Strymon Blue Sky Reverb, a Fishman Mixer and a pedal separation unit from Voodoo Lab which keeps the signals clean.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
London born and bred. Five words … ‘multicultural, magical, expensive, unpredictable and home’

How do you look after your voice?
I have a daily practice routine from my singing teacher, the late Helena Shenel. When I tour I do this before every concert. Helena taught Shirley Bassey, Geroge Michael, Annie Lennox, Joe Cocker, Lulu and loads of others. She was an incredible teacher and improved my voice so much. Practice is important but rest days on tour are also crucial.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
I love ‘Vine Street’ by Dominic Nolan. It captures London and old time Soho brilliantly. It is set in the 1930’s and 1940’s so that would be a challenge in terms of getting the music right to fit that period. But I would go with delays and echoes and ambient night sounds. Plus I have loads of songs about London so I would love to get them in somehow.

Who created/designed the album artwork?
Niall McCormack has designed all of my albums since 2010. He is a superb artist based in Dublin.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
I like artists who sit in between genres. John Martyn, JJ Cale, Joni Mitchell and Keith Jarrett would be very important. Then lots of soul and blues; Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and The Temptations (Norman Whitfield and Dennis Edwards era especially) …
Contemporary artists I would pick out are Cat Power and Bon Iver. They are both so wonderfully unique and unpredictable.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?
Yes from late August onwards I will be touring Europe including the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
All info @ www.seantaylorsongs.com/gigs 

Was it a difficult album to write?
Writing is always difficult. I love it but it should always be a challenge. You have to work on it everyday like a craft. The songs and music have to be part of you.

What makes Sean Taylor happy and what makes you unhappy?
Making music makes me happy and not being able to make music makes me unhappy … Nice and simple x