We recently connected with Taylor Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am beyond happy as an artist, it’s not always an easy path but it is certainly a fulfilling one. Over the years I have had quite a few regular jobs, I’ve seen that side of life and I didn’t dig it. I knew all i wanted to do was make music all the time. So many people have to go and do a job they aren’t passionate about, I feel eternally blessed that I have found what my hands love to do, I always want to put 110% of my energy into my music. A regular job gives you a sort of comfort knowing that every week is going to be the same thing, same hours, same bread. Music isn’t like that, sometimes you don’t have any engagements and then you turn around and work show after show. My whole journey in music has taught me to never give up and always have faith in God and in myself. Trust your vision.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m originally from Kinston, North Carolina, born and raised. I started playing the guitar around the age of 11. Around the age of 17 I started singing and writing songs and began playing professionally shortly after graduating high school. I played a lot of Gospel music and began fronting a Rock and Roll combo of sorts, playing in local bars and sitting in with groups around my hometown. I moved to Kansas City in 2016, shortly after my 21st birthday, that’s where I am based out of now. I dug the scene here and it seemed like it had many more opportunities and more places to play. I absolutely love the Blues, it is a style of music that is near and dear to my heart and it is very much alive here in Kansas City, I dug that. In 2017 I represented Kansas City in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. In more recent endeavors, I released my debut album “Mustard Seed” in February of 2022 which was a solo album, I performed all the parts on that record and had a beautiful time making it. I followed that up with the release of my Sophomore album “TRiO” in January of 2023 it features my brothers, Matt Elton on Bass and Jaylen Ward on Drums. Both of the records were cut at Weights and Measures Soundlab here in Kansas City owned and operated by the always groovy Duane Trower. I’m currently working on my third record and it should be coming out in a few months. As far as live performances go I never use a setlist and I never discriminate against genres, I always try to take a free approach in performances and play to my audience, I read the room and flow with that energy, I guess I picked that up in church. It helps to have musicians who are versed in enough genres and are comfortable working like that. With the current Trio we are all very comfortable on our instruments so we just maintain musical communication and in turn, every show is a different show.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I get to play all the time! Who says “I’m going to go work music.”? I go and PLAY music, man, I can express how I feel, say things that words can’t express, learn about life and myself, all the while playing? I play music because I love it, it makes me feel so good! I could stop here because the reward has been paid in full. It gets better though, I now take the music within me and the gift God gave me and go plug in some amplifiers, set up some drums and share it with other people? Then people hear the music and feel good and are moved by the sounds that are made. The reward has been paid in full. Then to put the icing on the cake, some cat comes up at the end of the night and gives you money for all the fun you just had? Opportunities come and doors are opened, all kinds of people are met, places are seen. I always strive to keep the music first. everything else works out in time.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The Bible.

Contact Info:

• Website: taylorsmithtrio.com
• Instagram: @taylorsmith_notswift
• Facebook: Taylor Smith Trio
• Youtube: Taylor Smith

Image Credits
Parker Hamrick David Simons