Maria Taylor
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
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Maria Taylor
- Genres: Rock
Biography
Maria Taylor brought her warm, casual vocals to several projects -- most notably Azure Ray, a dreamy pop duo that featured Taylor and longtime partner Orenda Fink -- before launching her own career as a solo singer/songwriter. Born in 1976 in Birmingham, Alabama, she got her start at age 15 as part of the Birmingham duo Little Red Rocket, a pop/rock group that garnered comparisons to Belly and Veruca Salt. After releasing 1997's Who Did You Pay and 2000's It's in the Sound as part of the Geffen Records roster, Little Red Rocket found themselves lost in the shuffle of Geffen's corporate merger with Universal Music Group. The group disbanded as a result, and Taylor relocated to Athens, Georgia alongside her bandmate Orenda Fink. Once established in their new home, the two regrouped as Azure Ray.With help from Conor Oberst's well-trained ear, the Saddle Creek band Now It's Overhead caught wind of Azure Ray's plaintive pop sound and asked the girls to join their band as well. As half of that group, Taylor and Fink signed to the Saddle Creek label while continuing to issue their Azure Ray projects via the independent Warm Recordings. In 2001, both Azure Ray and Now It's Overhead released scantly received self-titled debuts; a year later, Taylor and Fink took up full-time residence in Omaha and released Burn and Shiver, their second full-length project under the Azure Ray moniker. The pair's third effort, 2003's Hold on Love, found a warm reception from the indie scene on the merits of the singles "The Drinks We Drank Last Night" and "New Resolution." Fall Back Open, a Now It's Overhead set, was released in 2004 amid heavy touring, and Azure Ray disbanded that same year, with both members continuing to work together on various projects.
Having paid her dues by singing backup for various albums by Moby, Bright Eyes, and Crooked Fingers, Taylor struck out on her own with 2005's 11:11. The solo debut found her mixing melancholy songs ("Birmingham 1982") with more upbeat material ("One for the Shareholder"), a combination that also owed a small debt to the carefully crafted music of Carole King and Laura Nyro. Two years later, Taylor's second solo record, Lynn Teeter Flower, featured more exploration of the 1970s singer/songwriter sound, while 2008's Savannah Drive featured her acoustic collaborations with Andy LeMaster. Maintaining her prolific pace, Taylor returned the following year with LadyLuck and began working on another Azure Ray album, Drawing Down the Moon, which appeared in 2010. Despite Azure Ray's reunion, both members continued working on their own material, too, and Taylor released her fourth album, Overlook, the following year. ~ Tammy La Gorce, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Maria Taylor
This article is about the musician. For the British missionary to China, see Maria Jane Taylor.
| Maria Taylor | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Maria Taylor performing in 2009. |
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 21, 1976 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | Singer/Songwriter Indie rock Folk rock |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano, Guitar, drums |
| Labels | Saddle Creek Nettwerk Music Group |
| Associated acts | Azure Ray Now It's Overhead Bright Eyes |
| Website | www.maria-taylor.com |
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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, as well as the band Now It's Overhead, both of which are signed with Saddle Creek Records. She plays several instruments, including the piano, guitar, and drums, and has collaborated with such artists as Bright Eyes, Moby, Abra Moore, David Barbe, and Crooked Fingers.
She released her first solo album 11:11 on Saddle Creek Records on May 24, 2005. Her second solo album, Lynn Teeter Flower, was released on March 6, 2007, also on Saddle Creek. She released an acoustic album titled Savannah Drive in fall of 2008. On March 31, 2009 she released her third full length, LadyLuck via Nettwerk Music Group.
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Contents
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Biography
Maria Taylor started her musical career at the age of fifteen in the band Little Red Rocket which released two CDs on Geffen—Who Did You Pay (1997) and It's in the Sound (2000). The group disbanded during the merging of Geffen with Universal Music Group. Afterwards, Taylor moved to Athens, Georgia along with her musical collaborator, Orenda Fink. There, they formed the band Azure Ray. The pair signed to WARM and released their self titled debut as well as their second album, Burn and Shiver. The duo then relocated to Omaha, NE and released two additional records on Saddle Creek, the November EP and their final album, Hold on Love. Following that album, Taylor and Fink moved on to produce their own solo records.
They were also involved in another Saddle Creek band, Now It's Overhead.
Taylor has contributed her vocals to Bright Eyes, Joshua Radin, Moby, and Crooked Fingers.[1]
Her song "Time Lapse Lifeline" was featured in the "The Beaver In The Otter" episode of "Bones". Her music has also been featured frequently on the popular TV series, Grey's Anatomy—"Song Beneath The Song" from her first solo album 11:11 was on the Grey's Anatomy Season 1 Soundtrack. Maria Taylor's also had a song featured on the hit ABC Family series Greek. "No Stars" from Taylor's album Lynn Teeter Flower was also featured on the prom episode of the CW's One Tree Hill; she also has had a song featured on the series Scrubs. Taylor always removes the high E-string on her guitar before playing, even in concert.[2]
Taylor's works have been called an inspiration for the new album by British singer Jack Lucien[3] in his weekly blog.
Taylor is the mother of Miles Taylor Dwyer, born in spring 2012.[4]
Discography
Albums with Azure Ray
- Azure Ray (2001, WARM)
- Sleep EP (WARM, 2002)
- Burn and Shiver (2002, WARM)
- November EP (Saddle Creek, 2002)
- Hold On Love (2003, Saddle Creek)
- The Drinks We Drank Last Night (Saddle Creek, 2003)
- New Resolution (Saddle Creek, 2004)
- Drawing Down the Moon (Saddle Creek, 2010)
Solo
- 11:11 (2005)
- Lynn Teeter Flower (2007)
- Savannah Drive (with Andy LeMaster) (2008)
- LadyLuck (2009)
- Overlook (2011)
Compilations
Appearances
- Bright Eyes - There Is No Beginning to the Story (2002, Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album (2002 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital urn (2005 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - Noise Floor (2006 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - Four Winds (2007 · Saddle Creek)
- Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (2007 · Saddle Creek)
- Rich Shapero - Dawn Remember (2010 · Outside Reading)[5]
- Whispertown - Parallel (2012 · Acony Records)
Music videos
Maria's film clips include "Song Beneath The Song" from 11:11, "A Good Start" from Lynn Teeter Flower, and "Time Lapse Lifeline" and "Cartoons and Forever Plans" from LadyLuck. The song "Cartoons and Forever Plans" was co-written with and also features R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. The video features actor/singer Soko and was directed by SKINNY (Directing Team).
Maria is also featured in the video for "Four Winds" by Bright Eyes.
References
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "Biography: Maria Taylor". Allmusic. AOL Music. http://music.aol.com/artist/maria-taylor/480742/biography. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
- ^ Pamela Porosky (September, 2005). "Maria Taylor's 5-String Solo Journey". musicplayer.com. http://www.musicplayer.com/article/maria-taylors-5/Sep-05/13582. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
- ^ Jack Lucien on Myspace
- ^ Taylor, Maria (9 May 2012). "Maria Taylor". Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/mariataylor. Retrieved 10 May 2012. "we welcomed our son. miles taylor dwyer, last week. everyone's healthy and overwhelmed with love!"
- ^ Shapero, Rich. "Dawn Remembers: The Making of the Too Far Music". http://www.toofar.com/music/.
External links
- Official Maria Taylor Website
- Saddle Creek Records
- Maria Taylor on Myspace
- set of live videos at scheduletwo.com
- LAist Interview with Maria Taylor - November 2008
- HD Music Video of "Song Beneath the Song" at Apple Quicktime site
- Interview with Maria (Scene Point Blank) May 2007
- Lazy-i Interview: July 2005
- Video Interview with Maria Taylor
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