Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hughes Taylor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hughes, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I had a very spiritual revelation in 2020 that solidified my purpose; performing music. Since I first picked up the guitar, I knew I had a passion for it. It was around the age of 12, when I got serious about learning the instrument, that I knew music would always be an important part of my life. In high school, I realized that I wanted to make a career out of music in some way, whether it be writing, recording, performing, promotion, whatever, just as long as it involved music. I discovered that it was indeed possible to support myself with performing music as it became my only source of income during my college career, and full time job after my graduation from University of North Georgia in 2017.
But it was in late Spring of 2020 when I performed live with a good friend, Jessie Albright, at Shenanigans Irish Pub (one of my favorite spots in Dahlonega, GA) that I had a spiritual revelation that solidified the trajectory of my life.
It had been a few months of panic and uncertainty. I, like every other musician, lost every gig I had lined up for that year and was worrying about what I was going to do, given that it looked like live music was no longer a viable career choice. But then Shenanigans provided this incredible opportunity to safely put on a live show for people outside in their parking lot and Jessie invited me to join her. It was during that performance that an indescribable feeling came over me, and I knew that this is what I was meant to do with my life. Despite the cataclysm the world was facing at the time, I just knew deep down that I was put on this Earth to perform music, to connect with people through music. It was a very spiritual thing, I knew that everything was going to be okay and that I should just keep writing and recording because I would once again be performing live for people and connecting with them in a way that only comes from sharing your music in a live setting. I thank God for that show and for every show since then.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been playing, writing, recording, and performing music for over 15 years. I would practice playing guitar for countless hours, playing along to my heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Eric Clapton, only putting it down to go to school, I started recording my own demos by the age of 14 in my parents basement, while trying to hone my live performances by playing with anyone who would have me. I was performing “professionally” before I could legally drive and creating and performing music was my primary source of income by the time I went to college.
I released my first full length album “Hear My Melody” in 2016, and since then I’ve released 3 more studio albums, a few singles, and a live album from my 2020 UK tour.
The Hughes Taylor Band had the amazing honor of being the first band to record at the legendary Capricorn Studios when they reopened in my hometown of Macon, GA. The album we recorded there, our 2021 release “Modern Nostalgia,” has maintained a steady presence on the Roots Music Report charts, and I am thrilled to say it is still there.
We have been touring a lot more recently, for which I am truly grateful. Just in the past 2 months, we’ve played 7 different states, and have big plans for more touring throughout the coming summer.
Most recently, and what I am currently the most excited about, we’ve finished mixing our next album, “Dark Roast,” at Capricorn, and are thrilled to announce that it will be released on May 17th.
I am incredibly excited to share this next project. I feel that the songwriting and instrumentation is another great leap forward in our sound, and we’ve been getting excellent feedback from some of the new material at our live shows.
I am truly grateful for what I do for a living and love that I get to share my music with people.
When I am not performing, writing or recording, I am usually hiking or traveling with the love of my life, my wife Evie. Living in the North Georgia mountains affords us the opportunity to take day trips hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains, one of our favorite activities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Passion, dedication and stick-to-itiveness have been, in my own personal experience, some of the most important qualities to possess in choosing a career in music. It is so important to keep at it, no matter how hard it seems, if you feel truly passionate about what you are doing. If you don’t feel 100% passionate about the thing you are doing, then it becomes a job. It is also so important to listen to what others have to offer. I learned more by watching and listening to those I was playing with than I ever did trying to learn something on my own.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents have been incredibly supportive throughout my journey. They’ve always fostered my passion for the guitar, and helped me when necessary find the appropriate outlets. My dad, Sam, gave me his Epiphone Les Paul as my first guitar to learn on, one that I still use to this day. My parents helped me purchase my first recording gear, which sparked my passion for creating music, not just playing guitar. It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that they did as most impactful, as they’ve been a continual support system since the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.hughestaylormusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thehughestaylor
- Facebook: facebook.com/thehughestaylor
- Youtube: youtube.com/hughestaylor
Image Credits
Howard Rankin Stephen Schmidt Alexandra Troy Esa Ahola
