Photo Credit: Tia Elisabeth Glista
upfrontNY: Your sound is so fresh and original, and yet you had to have some musical influences. Who would you say were your biggest musical inspirations growing up?
Emma Taylor: Thank you! My biggest musical inspiration growing up was, first and foremost, Joni Mitchell. My parents had this singer-songwriter 70’s playlist that they played on repeat and so many of her songs from “Blue” were on that rotation. She’s everything I aspire to be as a songwriter and as an artist. Her talent is unlike anyone else’s I’ve ever heard of. James Taylor and Carole King have both also been inspirational to me because of their exceptional talent in both songwriting and vocals. I just love that whole Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter group and those are the people that I listened to growing up.
upfrontNY: What was the first song that you learned to play on guitar? Ukulele?
Emma Taylor: My dad used to dabble in guitar playing when he was in college so when I was around 12 I found his old Takomine & Co guitar and all of his old music sheets and learned how to play “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver before learning anything else. On Ukulele I learned ‘You and I’ by Ingrid Michelson.
upfrontNY: Besides yourself, who would you say is the biggest reason for your success as a musician so far in your young career? Was there a teacher or someone in your family that really encouraged you to pursue your musical aspirations?
Emma Taylor: My parents honestly have been so supportive of me doing music my entire life. Particularly since I am the only person in my family who does music, it’s especially meaningful for me to have them support and help encourage my dream. Their unwavering support has made me want to achieve greatness and to prove to them that they were always right to believe in me!
upfrontNY: Growing up, was music a big part of your family?
Emma Taylor: Music was always a part of my family! Even though I am the only one who has wanted to pursue music professionally, my parents and my dad especially love music. It’s always playing loud throughout my house and my dad and I constantly have conversations about today’s music scene. I always said that in another life he was a music executive.
upfrontNY: What are your fondest musical memories? In your family, with friends, or in school?
Emma Taylor: There are so many, it’s tough to narrow it down! My favorite memory with my family has to be when I was young, around 6 or 7; I used to call my entire family into the living room to watch me sing karaoke on my portable karaoke machine. I have home videos as evidence and I would just sing my heart out to songs from musicals like Annie or the Little Mermaid and I just remember the smile on my family’s faces. It inspired me to perform for a living. Another one of my favorite memories would have to be my EP release party last March. I was surrounded by all my friends and family, including everyone who had worked so hard to put the EP together, and it was just magical. It was the culmination of something I had put my whole life into for over a year and the room was filled with nothing but love and good vibes. It was easily one of the best nights of my life.
upfrontNY: If you could choose one artist to collaborate with who would it be and why?
Emma Taylor: Lucy Rose without a doubt. Anyone who knows me would probably say instantly how obsessed I am with Lucy Rose and how she’s my dream collaborator. If you haven’t heard her music, please do she’s beyond incredible. She’s this singer-songwriter from the UK and she has such an incredible tone to her voice and her songs are just so beautiful. There isn’t one that I don’t like and I think she is just real, raw and inspiring.
upfrontNY: Do you have a dream venue / city that you want to perform in one day?
Emma Taylor: I have a few dream venues. Some more intimate ones would be the Troubadour and the O2 Academy Shepherds Bush in London, but some dreamy massive venues would be the Greek Theatre or Hollywood Bowl and the Red Rock Amphitheatre in Colorado. As for cities, I really want to go back to London and fill a theatre because I love the people there and the music scene is incredible. Honestly, I just want to travel all around the world playing my music.
upfrontNY: How do you balance your music with other obligations that you have in your life?
Emma Taylor: It’s all about prioritizing. Since I go to college for music, it makes it a bit easier because a lot of my assignments revolve around my music, which is great. I make sure that I have hobbies and a life outside of music to get my inspiration from so that I don’t get overwhelmed and can keep enjoying the feeling that music brings to my life.
upfrontNY: What is your favorite thing about New York City? How has your life changed from growing up in LA to living in NYC?
Emma Taylor: What I love about New York is that everything — shops, restaurants, venues — are all right at your fingertips. It gives the city an energy that is so electric and undeniably motivating. Moving to New York from LA definitely changed my overall attitude and forced me to build a tough exterior all while learning how to truly be independent. Although at times the transition was a bit overwhelming, New York will always have a special place in my heart.
New York City Favorites…
NYC Restaurant – either Bar Pitti for Italian or Joes Pizza
NYC Concert Venue – Rockwood Music Hall
NYC Location that inspires you – Meatpacking District or Soho
NYC for a night out with friends – a rooftop when it’s nice out!
Get to know Emma!
Twitter: @emmataylor
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