Taylor, of combined Mohawk and Caribbean ancestry, is a Toronto music scene staple, and musical chameleon. Known as the beloved leader of one of Canada’s most successful Funk, Soul & R&B bands, the Julian Taylor Band, he has charted on national radio, toured the country from coast to coast and released multiple records.
As a solo artist, Julian has released three full-length projects with the most recent one, “The Ridge”, receiving a number of award nominations and accolades. The culmination of a 20-year career of making great music, “The Ridge” earned Julian his 1st JUNO nomination, Canadian Folk Music Award. “The Ridge” was also included on a number of “Best of” lists for 2020 including those of The Absolute Sound, Roots Music Canada, The Bluegrass Situation, Americana Highways and Blues & Roots Radio.
Julian’s momentum following ‘The Ridge” has seen him become a promising ‘new’ face in the Roots/Americana genre and he is excited to further establish himself with his new project to continue writing, releasing and performing for the 20 years to come!
What message do you want to send out to Indigenous artists thinking about their careers?
If there was any specific message that I’d like to send it would be that your story is needed because you are important. You come from a proud resilient nation of diverse and spiritual people. Sing, dance and play.
Career highlight?
My latest album has been nominated for seven awards in the past year including the Polaris Prize long list. I won the Canadian Folk Music Awards “Solo Artist of the Year” and recently I was Nominated for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year at the 2021 JUNOAwards. I was the first Black Indigenous person to be nominated in the category and I’m proud of that because it gives visibility to others who may be thinking of a career in music.
What is your top resource for Indigenous artists?
There’s a lot. What I do is follow as many Indigenous artists as I can on Instagram to show my support even if we haven’t met. There’s some good radio shows like CBC Reclaimed, The Indigenous Music Countdown, SXMIndigiverse, Moment Of Truth with David Moses on ELMNT FM and Larry Knudsen had a great show too. But, to be honest, the greatest resource for Indigenous Music is really the artists themselves. When I want to discover something, I ask my friends what they’re on to, because they’re the ones tapped into the heartbeat of the community.
Are there artists or other people important to you who have directly guided you or indirectly impacted the way you approach your art – whether it be in process, or outcome, or the kind of artist you wish to be? Anyone you would cite as having made such an impression.
Yes. Of course. I’m very honored and lucky to have a lot of friends and collaborators who are powerful, outspoken people. I don’t really like to name drop but, all of them are a constant source of inspiration, support and love.
Does your sense of belonging in the Indigenous community inform your work as an artist – is there a primary motivator of serving the community, being a beacon of the community, or is your art separate but with intersections to community?
I’ve had a two-decade career in music so far and I’m constantly learning and growing. I believe that when I started out there were elements of my upbringing in my music that couldn’t be denied and that they were certainly intertwined and tied to my longing for belonging within the Indigenous community. I’ve gotten a bit older and feel more comfortable in my own skin and in the knowing that my spirituality is my identification and that I belong with my Indigenous brothers and sisters. I feel that connection to my Black brothers and sisters too by the way. Much of my inspiration comes from connection to the source. Nature is that source, love is that source, inclusion is that source. I am that source and so is everyone on this beautiful planet. Just because I identify with being a Black Indigenous person doesn’t mean that I derive all my inspiration from that truth. It simply helps guide me. I am one who believes that the source or rather inspiration which means to be in-spirit is a human gift and I don’t exclude any of us from that. We are all worthy of this gift we just have to believe in it and each other worthiness.
The musical universe appears to be capable of infinite expansion. As opportunities for artists and audiences to connect grow in number, it doesn’t necessarily make it easier for one to find the other. What, in your view, is working best in this regard and/or what is in most need of improvement?
It’s always been capable of infinite expansion. It’s why it’s called the universe. In my personal opinion what’s needed is to really shine a light.
Photo Credit: Lisa MacIntosh