We were lucky to catch up with Justin Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Justin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was very young, my Grandfather bought me my first guitar, I think I was about 3 or 4 years old. As I listened to all of his music collection and went to him to see his band play around Virginia and Maryland I became obsessed with guitar and live music. They’d make records in the studio on a regular occurrence and I knew I wanted to be a musician for the rest of my life.

Little did I know how crazy my life experience would be after that, and all my career would have in store for me even up to now…. It’s a wild ride

At 13 I joined my first bar band and playing as many gigs as I could all thru middle and high school and upon graduation I started touring … as a guitarist … living it. And I’ve never looked back

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

Before he could walk, Justin was always seen with his favorite toy, a guitar. By the time he was in middle school, Justin was beginning to make his presence known in the Southern Maryland music scene. Entertaining students and faculty, Justin appeared in school assemblies and even started a band with members of the middle school faculty.

As a high school student, Justin began to appear at local clubs for open mic nights. He garnered the attention of local musicians and became a popular performer at local venues. He was even invited to join the Charles County all county orchestra to perform a crowd pleasing rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze.

At the age of thirteen, Justin began performing professionally as the featured guitarist for the Ken Smith band out of Northern Virginia. Justin joined his grandfather as a band member.

Opportunities followed as a member of Come Back Iris and the Sara Gray Band. As a member of Sara Gray’s band, he appeared at many major events including WMZQ Fest.

Upon graduation from high school, Justin was invited to become a member of the Sam Grow Band. Touring with this professional group, based in Nashville, gave Justin the experience he would need to hone his skills as a musician and learn about the rigors and rewards of a professional touring musician. With Sam, Justin Taylor toured throughout the eastern and mid-western United States. This gave him the opportunity to open for many national acts.

After a two year stint, Justin Taylor embarked on a solo career and started the Justin Taylor Band.

Justin Taylor is sought after as a guest guitarist for many acts and can often be seen appearing with other artists during his frequent visits to music city.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think the thing that has always fueled my passion for music is simply my love of guitar, and now as a singer songwriter … writing and producing records with people.

As an artist you tend you get kinda closed off from the rest of the world. And recently when I’m not on the road playing shows with my band I am prioritizing playing and writing with others as much as I can…. I think these days I’m obsessed with the human experience of music and not just writing and performing music for my own satisfaction.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think a big change I made in my life was when I was experiencing a super real and drastic burn out from the road. And honestly music in general

Around 2019 I was doing a summer run living in Nashville touring with a couple of bands at once, trying to figure out what my next step was. I was only a guitarist, I had no vocal ability at that point and never put out a single song let alone produced my own music.

In Sept of 2019 I met a woman who would later on become my wife, little did I know it yet but everything would change. I felt a shift in me with my new relationship and didn’t wanna waste a chance at wondering wat might have been, while also experiencing the burn out i was, I packed up, left Nashville “, and came back home to Maryland. In October. January of 2020 I released my first solo ep and then come March of 2020 the world shutdown due to the covid pandemic. Those 2 months Gave me a lot of time to reflect and analyze what I really wanted my life goals and music goals to be as I moved forward. June of 2020 we got back to touring the outdoor regulation allowed show circuit and kept working my own music and recording my own stuff. I realized what I really wanted to be was free. I wanted to control my own destiny and be able to live to play not play to live. I wanted to own my career and be able to achieve my own goals and not always just to serve someone else’s for a paycheck as a means to an end.

That growing up lesson and soul searching took a while and now I’m more eager to learn and progress in my own life as much as I am professionally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justintaylorband.com
• Instagram: @justintaylormd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16D2Fz6VN3/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: justintaylormd
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@justintaylormd?si=sYzhJ_oiXJdn0x3m
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NDf3LJvgh1SjLWHO3qGXT?si=UPSUA8lKQN2gh90MYzXNoA
• Other: https://linktr.ee/jtguitarguy?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=598fc749-a304-40c1-8cd8-a7ed334384c3