Project Description
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Interview with
MAISY TAYLOR
(13th May, 2021)
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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Maisy Taylor is a singer-songwriter from Byron Bay who effortlessly blends folk, pop and indie influences in her songwriting. Growing up in a musical family, Maisy picked up the guitar at age 12 and hasn’t put it down since. Her live set has captivated audiences at festivals such as Bello Winter Music and Falls Festival Byron Bay, where her performance was described as “the epitome of happiness on a grey day, with mischievous tones on lilting notes.”
Lyrically, Maisy takes you on a melodic journey into the brain of a twenty-something musician as she tries to figure out all things love, growing up, and where to go from here. Her musical influences range from Maggie Rogers to Joni Mitchell, as she strives to tell stories that travel beyond genres. Her live show is filled with stirring melodies, terrible jokes and charming lyrics in equal measure – you’re sure to walk away with a smile on your face and a tune in your head.
Now based in Brisbane, she has immersed herself in the local music scene, regularly performing and collaborating with other creatives in the city. Kicking off 2020 with a bang, Maisy released her debut single, ‘Things That I Can’t See’, which was warmly received by audiences across Australia. The track gained national radio play and was followed by a tour which sold out intimate venues across Queensland. 2021 sees the release of Maisy Taylor’s sophomore single, ‘Homesick’, a track that truly captures her rich vocal prowess and songwriting finesse. With plenty more in the works for the rest of the year, Maisy Taylor is one to watch in the Australian music scene.
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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you start writing your own music?
When I was ten my parents took me to see a singer-songwriter called Tristan Prettyman, and I remember watching that performance and just knowing that music was what I wanted to do. After that I asked my Dad to teach me the guitar, and that’s when I started writing my own stuff. It’s definitely been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Who are your greatest music influences? How do they inspire you to be creative and make music?
I love Maggie Rogers and Lorde, I think they both do such a great job of capturing a feeling and using music as a vessel to express themselves. I also really respect that they take their time to craft their songs and enjoy the journey of creativity. I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you need to produce art consistently, even if that means sacrificing the quality, so it’s a good reminder for me to do what feels right.
Your new release “Homesick” is out May 12th! What inspired you to write the track? What does “Homesick” mean to you?
As the title suggests, this song was inspired by feeling Homesick after I moved to Brisbane and was just having a tough time finding my feet. I was feeling alone and I wanted to give up, and I think lyrically it’s probably the most direct song I’ve written. This song means a lot to me, it feels like a very honest glimpse into my headspace at the time.
You recorded the track in Jon Marsden’s home studio and the track features warm, moving instrumentals that are underscored by emotive lyrics telling a tale of growing up and moving away. Did you know you wanted the song to capture that bittersweet feeling when you were first writing it?
For me when I’m writing a song I don’t often have an idea of how I want the produced version to sound, I’m just processing an emotion or a thought. But coming into the studio and adding these upbeat percussive elements and bright guitars felt like the perfect way to contrast the lyrics and create that bittersweet feeling, it was so much fun.
What are you hoping listeners will take away from hearing “Homesick”?
I hope that people feel less alone when they listen to this song, knowing that we all have moments of overwhelm but they do come to pass. Things don’t have to be perfect all the time, and the grey days make the sunshine so much brighter.
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What made you decide to move to Brisbane initially, and how did you overcome your own homesickness?
I actually moved up here to study music! I am lucky enough to be within driving distance from home, so at first it was a lot of back and forth which made the transition a bit easier. But I think the biggest thing was finding my support network up here, which helped me feel at home.
How have you navigated the Brisbane music scene so far? Have there been many challenges you have had to overcome?
I’ve felt so welcomed by the Brisbane music scene, it is such a supportive community to be a part of. I’ve found everyone to be super friendly and encouraging and I’ve made so many friends through gigs and interviews and events. I think the biggest challenge for me has been establishing my audience in a new city, which is definitely still a work in progress, but at the same time I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
In 2020, you released your beautiful debut single, ‘Things That I Can’t See’. How has life changed for you since you released that track?
Thank you! Last year was a bit of a strange one (as we all know) so I feel like I’m just starting to gain momentum again with Homesick and getting back into the groove. Releasing Things That I Can’t See definitely made things feel more real for me though, and cemented the idea that this is what I want to be doing.
You have performed in a number of local festivals including Falls Festival and Bello Winter. Do you have a festival gig that has been a standout performance for you?
Falls Festival Byron Bay was definitely a standout for me – I’ve been going to Splendour and Falls for years so to be at that venue performing my original songs was a dream come true!
If you had the opportunity to perform at any festival in the world, which would you choose and why? What is your favourite thing about performing live, now that you have one tour and many more live performances under your belt? Ooh I think it would have to be Splendour in the Grass. I have so many good memories there and have seen so much amazing music, it would feel very full circle to get to play on the big stage at the amphitheatre. Definitely wouldn’t say no to Glastonbury either… My favourite thing about performing live is connecting with the audience. I love those magical moments that you can never predict or replicate and that’s the beauty of live music for me, as both a fan and an artist.
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What is next for you in the year ahead? Are you recording any more new music at the moment?
I am! There are more songs in the works, and if I can get myself organised I’d love to release an EP at the end of the year, so stay tuned!
Can fans expect to see you perform live this year? If so, where can they catch you?
Yes, definitely. There are some exciting shows coming up that will be announced soon, so keep an eye on my social media or my website to find out about those.
You get a call today, and it is your all-time favourite musician or band wanting to collab with you! Who is it? And what does work with them look like in this dream reality?
Ooh this is a tough one. I would love to write a song with Dolly Parton, I feel like she is the master of song-writing and would have so much wisdom. In this dream reality we would write a great song, record it as a duet and then I’d get to jump up on stage with her and sing it live. How good would that be?
Where do you see yourself in your music career in three years’ time? Do you have any major goals or aspirations for the future of your music?
In three years time I hope I’ll be performing with a full band, with an album or two under my belt! I’d love to have the opportunity to play shows around Australia and overseas as well, I think travelling and performing is kind of the dream for me.
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Follow MAISY TAYLOR
Facebook – triple j Unearthed – Instagram
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Folk songstress
MAISY TAYLOR
introduces vulnerable new release
‘HOMESICK’
Hailing from the serenity of Byron Bay, the now Brisbane based Maisy Taylor is embarking on her 2021 release journey with her forthcoming single Homesick. The vibrant acoustic guitars weaving with honest and emotive lyrics, tells a tale of moving on, growing up and chasing dreams. From her captivating performances across local festivals from Bello Winter to Falls, Maisy’s accolades mark only the beginning of many successes yet to come.
Introducing her latest release Homesick, the track was written in a state of emotion. Raw, honest and true to her feelings, Maisy dives into the reality of feeling homesick and navigating the world as an adult in a new city. Recorded by Jon Marsden in his home studio, the cathartic release was brought to life through warm instrumentation and stand-out production. A track that is able to resonate with the world deeply during this time whilst acknowledging the emotions of isolation and feeling lost, Homesick is a glimmer of hope and a reminder to keep persevering.
“This song is about feeling lost and lonely in a big city,
when your dreams feel out of reach…”
Drawing influence from beloved folk/alternative artists Julia Jacklin and Maggie Rogers, Maisy effortlessly blends her folk roots with captivating pop melodies, creating a unique signature sound. A stellar heartfelt release, Homesick showcases what is set to be a year of wonderful releases for Maisy.
Homesick is available on all download and streaming
platforms Wednesday 12 May 2021
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