Meet Henry Taylour

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Henry Taylour. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Henry, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

To be honest, as a child I was really into both sports and music, but most of the time I think that sport was a bigger priority, and part of this was the people around me and the company I kept. When it comes to music, I think it took a lot more effort for me to get myself out there and commit to producing it and performing it publicly. I played the guitar for quite a long time, and during my school years I largely played guitar on other people’s music, and whilst I knew that I would love to write and play my own music, it was something that was a real challenge for me. I knew very few people who did this, and when I did start, it was something that was very private to me and largely confined to the privacy of my bedroom. Over several years, I was steadily honing my craft, but it did still take a moment of encouragement from my brother that convinced me that I could put this in front of other people. Whilst he wasn’t passionate about playing music in the same way that I was, I took him to a couple of shows that had a profound influence on him, and I think that this both inspired my passion and also helped him to understand the world that I was interested in. I do think that it is very hard to progress and put yourself out there without any support, and I definitely know this feeling. However, with a combination of love for your craft, and this can be nurtured by enjoying the work of others, and support from key individuals, you can beat the feeling that you do not belong. I believe that a little support from even very few people can be stored and used to give you a sense of belief in what you are doing.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a folk artist, and I released my debut album ‘A Relentless Pursuit of Happiness’ in February this year. This is available to listen on all major streaming platforms and we are planning to have a show in West London at Next Door Records in Shepherds Bush on 3rd September. I really enjoy the story telling aspect of music, and whilst I do believe in having the freedom to explore different narrative voices and perspectives within writing music, I do think that it is often hard to stay personally detached from the subject matter.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think that being brave is so important in so many fields. It sounds a bit cheesy but if you are worried about what people might think (I have been there), then you might freeze. I think that time is often of the essence, so to not waste time is very important. You should not expect perfection at the first attempt, or ever perhaps, but the more that you try things and work on your skills, the better you will be. This does require both seizing the moment and bravery though. Finally, I think learning to handle feedback is really important. Initially, I found negative feedback incredibly crippling; it felt like it was criticism of me as a person, but I have realised a few things. Firstly, that opinions on art are very subjective, and you might never be able to please everybody; secondly, not all opinions are that valid or important! That having been said, if you are going to take some negative feedback with a pinch of salt, you should possibly do the same with positive feedback. Responding to and learning from feedback is a really valuable tool for growth.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

The support I have had from a select few individuals has been really important in helping me to continue making music. I mentioned before, but my brother was huge in this regard, and also helped me by getting me my first decent guitar and encouraging me to push forwards. Also my producer Ryan who agreed to work with me on my first project, and we have continued to work together lots since. I don’t know if it weren’t for him if I would have branched out of playing songs in the shadows!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sumi Saurni
Nesta Wigan
Hayley Benoit

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