Singer-songwriter Maria Taylor has officially announced her upcoming self-titled album, which is set to release on November 11th! Maria’s seventh and most personal record to date, Maria Taylor will release through her own label Flower Moon Records. For more information, please visit: mariataylormusic.com.
With excitement towards the new record, Maria explains, “The more you get to know these songs sonically, lyrically, and emotionally, the more you will get a sense of who I am. I co-produced this record with my longtime friend, Louis Schefano, in the living room of my tiny Los Angeles home. Most all of my records are personal, but there’s something about this one that stands out to me as a true representation of who I am. I hear a calm cohesiveness and strength to this record that comes from a lifetime of learning who I am as an artist and a person. Getting old ain’t that bad ;)”
Recorded in the midst of typical family chaos, Maria shares moments of extreme vulnerability with us as well as the beauty she’s witnessed along the way. She knows how to move forward into the future and, on this record, she shows us unreservedly a Maria Taylor who isn’t letting a fear of the unknown keep her from diving into it.
While most everything was played by Maria, Schefano and husband, Ryan Dwyer, special guests also extend to family and friends alike. Joshua Radin added beautiful harmonies on “Stay with You” while Maria’s brother, Macey Taylor aka Uncle Mace (Bright Eyes and the Mystic Valley band) tracked all of the bass parts at her dad’s (Big Mace) house in Birmingham, Alabama. Marko Kurtovic and Brad Armstrong lent guitar licks, while Tiffany Osborn recorded violin and viola in the “isolation booth” – Maria’s kid’s tiny bedroom. Armstrong also trekked to NYC with a microphone and laptop where he, Maria, and her husband recorded Adam Duritz‘s achingly powerful vocal track on “Waiting in Line” in the living room of his Manhattan apartment.
Maria’s 7-year-old son Miles Dwyer wrote and performed on “Miley’s Song.” After Miles recorded his piano at home, Maria turned it into a family affair, with parts emailed in from Uncle Mace, Big Mace, and Aunt Kate.
Maria Taylor follows the release of her 2016 record In The Next Life, co-produced alongside Nik Freitas (Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band), which features guest vocals from Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Joshua Radin, Jake Bellows (Neva Dinova),and others.
After putting out four albums and three EPs as one half of Azure Ray (with co-vocalist Orenda Fink) and lending her voice, piano and drumming skills on numerous Bright Eyes records, Maria announced her solo career in 2005 – a change that would pave the way for five critically acclaimed albums and collaborations with renowned artists such as Jim Eno (Spoon), Michael Stipe (R.E.M.), Moby, Doug Easley (Cat Power, Pavement), David Barbe (Sugar, Drive-By Truckers, Son Volt) and Crooked Fingers. As a performer, Maria has shared the stage with Ben Lee, Josh Rouse, Jason Isbell, Jim James and more. Over the years, fans have heard her music on TV shows such as This is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, Parenthood and more.
Maria’s impressive resume runs long with critically adored music and collaborations, and on her latest recording she adds to the list with a work that catalogues the experiences, both unique and routine, in a life of music, love, achievement, loss, and lessons learned. So often our most important touchstones are simultaneously beautiful and painful, and this record reflects a life lived by someone conscious of the multitudes in herself and everyone around her.
Maria Taylor Tracklisting
01. For Worse, For Better
02. Spinning Wheel
03. Waiting in Line (ft. Adam Duritz)
04. Stay With You (ft. Joshua Radin)
05. Something for Nothing
06. Beautiful Life
07. We Can Work It Out, But I Should Have Known Better
08. New Love
09. Miley’s Song (written by Miles)
10. Winter Solstice
Upcoming Shows
Nov 9-10 – New York, NY @ Underwater Sunshine Festival – Rockwood Music Hall
Nov 16 – Birmingham, AL @ Moonstone Fest
Dec 7 – South Pasadena, CA @ South Pasadena Masonic Lodge (Record Release Show)