Doreen Taylor – TOY

By starrymag | August 12, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I’ve never been a big fan of putting music into a box by calling it one style or another. In my opinion, really good music has many different musical genres mixed together and the really good artists are able to do it in a seamless way. My music would most closely be defined as mostly having a pop/adult contemporary sound with hints of other styles sprinkled in throughout.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) My musical influences are about as eclectic as my personal taste in music. I am a fan of all genres of music and it’s hard not to have some of that trickle into my own writing. I have always loved an artist/band that has been able to write/sell a great hook. I want a song that grabs me and sticks in my head at 2am when I’m trying to sleep. As annoying as that is, that is the sign of a great song. To that end, I love the older groups like Phil Collins and Genesis, Journey, Bon Jovi, etc., but I also appreciate some of the newer artists like Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. In my opinion, any artist who has made it to the level that they have possess something special— it is my job to find out what it is and translate it into my own music in a way that only I can.

 

Q) Your single “Toy” is out now. What is it about the song that fans are connecting with?

 

A) When I created “Toy” and decided to cross over from my established country music roots into the pop/adult contemporary world, I wanted to make sure that I did it in a way that was unique. I didn’t want to sound like every other artist out there and I didn’t want to make music that was mass produced and cold. Too many artists today are forgetting about musicianship and just making product (a/k/a “music”) and the feeling and connection that artists from the past have with their listeners is quickly disintegrating. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to make sure that I tipped my hat to the musicians of the past that really created art and incorporated a retro feel into all my new music. I wanted to record the whole project the way the greats did it years ago— real string parts, real professional studio musicians, in a real studio (not in a basement). I didn’t abandon the modern sounds of today but decided to fuse them together with the sounds of yesterday and people are really responding to it. My music is different and I’m blessed people are liking it.

Q) Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?

 

A) Inspiration for me comes from just about anywhere. I typically try to keep all my senses open when I am in “music mode” and absorb everything that is going on around me. Through that, some of my best songs have been written. I think when you try too hard to force the ideas, it ends up sounding that way in your music. There has to come a time for any artist when they need to just open up their subconscious and let it flow in a very organic way. That’s when you really tap into your musical and lyrical soul.

 

Q) What kind of influence do you have with the production of your music?

 

A) Writing my own music isn’t new to me, but producing my own music is a relatively new thing. My new single “Toy” was the first time I really sat down and put on the music producer’s hat and officially became the person to guide the music where it needed to go. I worked with some phenomenally talented people like Larry Gold who has worked with legends like Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Aretha Franklin and the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. He arranged my new forthcoming album (including “Toy”) and I would be a fool not to listen to a lot of what he and the other awesome talents I worked with had to contribute. Ultimately; however, I made the final decisions on the direction my music ended up taking.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of fan feedback have you been receiving to the song?

 

A) That’s funny! I am actually my entire social media team so I see most of everything that comes across from my friends and fans. I think that really helps me as an artist and helps me learn what is responding with them and what isn’t. Right now, “Toy” has exceeded my expectations and the response has been overwhelming. You are never going to get 100% positive feedback all the time. If you did, it wouldn’t be real, but I can honestly say this is the best received song I have ever released and it is still really early in the game! It is such awesome validation that my change from country music to pop/adult contemporary was the right thing to do and people are really getting it.

 

Q) Will you be releasing a full album in the near future?

 

A) Yes, we have already recorded an EP and I am currently in the studio writing more music to round it out to a full album. Right now, we are all about promoting the new single “Toy” before we release the next proverbial punch. “Toy” is getting picked up and played in rotation in several stations/markets each week and I am so excited to see where it will go next and enjoying the ride for now.

 

Q) There is a lyric video for “Toy.” Are there plans for a full video to be released?

 

A) Like most mainstream artists today, you release a single’s lyric video while you are promoting and gaining radio play, exposure, etc. I was SO proud at the way my lyric video for “Toy” came out. It was a crazy idea that I had to incorporate anime into it and I love the finished product. Yes, we are definitely going to be releasing a full, official video in the near future, but the date has yet to be determined. Stay tuned, it will be coming! In the meantime, everyone needs to check out the “Toy” lyric video appetizer.

 

Q) Who would a dream collaboration be for you?

 

A) Bruno Mars. I love that he has infused retro styles into pop music and that is what I am all about. I think the two of us could create one hell of a song!

Q) What can fans expect from a live Doreen Taylor performance?

 

A) That is hard to actually put into words since it is something you have to experience live to understand, but my shows are really crazy, balls to the wall, non-stop excitement from the first moment to the last. Because of my theatrical/Broadway background, I am all about putting on a show and engaging my audience. Because of that, we really designed a concert that centers around giving people a multi-sensory show while never compromising the music. If you think you know my songs inside and out, wait until you see me live!

 

Q) How can fans keep up with you and your music?

 

A) My official website it always best – (www.doreentaylormusic.com) and I urge people to sign up for the DT Mailing List on my site to keep up to date with stuff that is going on. I also recommend following me on twitter (@doreentaylor) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/doreentaylorfanpage and www.facebook.com/doreentaylormusic). If you do all that, you will never miss a #TeamDoreen thing!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?

A) It sounds so cliché, but thank you! Without you I couldn’t do what I do and I am grateful to each and every one of you for supporting me in this crazy business called music! Please hook up with me on social media and say hello. I promise to respond!!