We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Watkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Taylor, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
Ever since a child, I knew I wanted to bring people together. Whether it was putting on a magic show for my friends or singing Elvis Presley songs to my family in the living room, I was a young entertainer on his way to a life of event coordinating. My early 20s brought on new age philosophy and eastern spiritualism. I felt I had finally stumbled upon literature and spirituality that I could relate to. I finally knew that I wasn’t alone in my path. I knew music was my destiny but my purpose was sharing my psychedelic ideas with the masses.
Authors from Thoreau to McKenna all expressed this yearning for the unknown and the reconnection to nature. I ate it up. Taking leaps into the unknown had been an addiction of mine, even to a fault sometimes. I made it my goal to try to experience everything I can get my hands on. Trying to learn from everyone, saying yes to every adventure, traveling to unseen areas, meeting strangers on the street, etc. These endeavors really locked in personal truths and philosophies that had been developing over years.
This desire for the unknown lead to the theme “Unbiased Eyes”. I wanted to express the highs and lows of everyday life, and preach for acceptance and non-judgement. Perception was all life was, it wasn’t up to me to judge it, it was my duty to take life’s adventures with a completely open mind.
When you commit to this lifestyle, many risks arise, only some with rewards. My journey has led me all over the world, introduced me to beautiful strangers, allowed me to play music to audiences of all kinds, but not to mention all the consequences that come along with it all. These ups and downs, the inevitable rollercoaster ride of existence, allowed me to take risks. Acceptance will allow you to enjoy every second.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As the years go on, Watkins has taken on many forms: from a 5-piece band in Nashville, to a traveling duo, to the solo tours I am doing now. Traveling the country playing music is a blessing. After 4 years on the road, living full-time out of a tour van, settling down was on the forefront of my mind. All these years later, and I would’ve never guessed that I would fall in love with North Carolina. The growth and realizations on the road helped to refocus myself on why I took this music/spiritual journey in the first place.
I have always enjoyed facilitating events, organizing gatherings and hosting parties. It wasn’t until my early 20s that I realized I should be combining these skills with my music career.
I was so used to the “Nashville” way of music, that I started to lose sight of why I was performing in the first place. It took some time on the road to get back to my true calling. The music was only a medium to spread my message through.
This realization forced me to see that some of the typical venues we were playing didn’t align with the sense of “community” I was searching for.
This led me to start hosting my own events. I began early on by starting my own open mic nights in Tennessee and Kentucky. I still host open mics to this day. This transitioned into bigger events. I finally had my own avenue to connect my network of local artists and musicians. Instead of waiting on some half-stoned booking agent (who doesn’t care who I am) to respond to my email, I WOULD CREATE THE SHOWS MYSELF! Who would’ve thought? I had the network of friends, I knew of spaces I could rent, so what could go wrong?
So far nothing! It has been smooth sailing and I’m never looking back.
Moving forward I have taken on the role of event coordinator, even more than a musician sometimes. I frequently host mini-festivals including local vendors, artists, music, food trucks, farmers, etc. I have found joy in this and feel, as of now, that this is where my musical journey is taking me.
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?
1. Honesty
Being honest with yourself is the first step. This self-awareness will allow transparency. Transparent and honest communication is all we can represent our true self by. In no ways am I perfect in this, but striving for these goals keep my head in the right direction.
2. Facing the Unknown
Fear can control your life. Many live a routine that tries to avoid any confrontation with the unknown. Convenience and security are two traits that keep the majority of the world unconscious. When we live in a world that creates insecurity and an overall sense of danger and instability, it is easy to want to run from it all. But with acceptance and unbiased eyes it is up to us to face it. It takes stepping into the unknown to break us out of our daily routine and unconscious habits.
3. Accepting Failure
It’s easy to subconsciously create expectations. You have ideas of how your life will turn out, and get disappointed when it isn’t always what you imagined. Playing music across the country has put me in all types of situations. You have great nights and you have bad nights. But one thing is for certain, things will NEVER turn out like you think they will. Whether it is better or worse you will never be able to know until it happens. This can be super discouraging, especially when you live out of a van and traveled through the night to play a show that no one came to. Those experiences are what make it though. I truly believe you have to experience it all. There is no other way.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Within the last year alone, I have hosted events in close to 10 states, teamed up with hundreds of local artists/vendors/farmers/musicians/etc, and hosted events of all shapes and sizes. All that being said, I am open to all artists and will give anyone willing to be a part of my mission a chance. I have helped many new artists get started in performing, vending, farming, you name it. It is my mission to help others, first and foremost. I truly believe everyone is an artist in their own way. And through these events I can create an environment that allows others to have that same realization. Many struggle to find a community, to find support in the art, and even finding that right nudge to get started. That is where I come in. So anyone willing to collaborate or help with this journey towards building community and spiritual connection: Don’t be shy! Reach Out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thebandwatkins
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebandwatkins
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thebandwatkins
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/pgqg6w7xST4
Image Credits
Justice Sloan Taylor Davis Adam Steffen Carrie Wilson Cerri Photography
