MUSIC - OLDER RELEASES
NICK TAYLOR - Navigator
This solo album was produced with my friend Darin McConnell. at the Gas Station on Toronto Island and in his loft on Dufferin St. between 2010 and 2013.
Quartet arranged and conducted by Caitlin Smith at Revolution.
Mixed by Steve Major. Mastered by Fedge.
Musicians: Bryden Baird, Jay Baird, Pat Blanchard, Rob Teehan, Jay Anderson, Matt McLaren, Scott Maynard, Lisa Lobsinger, Caitlin Smith, Julia Hambleton, Monica Fedrigo, Krista Wodelet, Emilie Mover, Andrew Innanen, Christopher Sandes, Andy Scott, Robbie Grunwald, Jaron Freeman-Fox, Mike Smith, Roman Tomé, Fiona Stewart, Ronley Teper.
IN CANADA, RELEASED ON EXIT SIGN MUSIC AND DISTRIBUTED BY SONY MUSIC CANADA, AVAILABLE HERE.
REST OF WORLD: STAY TUNED.
"KINGS' Music Video. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!
PRESS FOR NAVIGATOR:
"Nick Taylor's resumé boasts a pretty impressive string of musical accomplishments, including playing with bands like Deep Dark United, The Old Soul and current gig in soul-rock outfit Steamboat. On Navigator, though, he's stepping out from the sidelines and taking full control of his sound.
And while Taylor's definitely at the helm throughout, his collaborative creative spirit hears him teaming up with guest musicians like Emilie Mover, Lisa Lobsinger (Broken Social Scene), Ronley Teper and Caitlin Smith.
Songs range from tried and true roots rock ("On the Corner," "Don't Say a Word") to more elaborate, orchestral numbers woven together by folksy fingerpicking ("Kings," "One Last Song") to gentle, carefully crafted folk-pop songs ("The Dark Doves," "The Lakes"). The collection blends together seamlessly, delivering moments that are simultaneously haunting and soothing, traditional and experimental."
- EXCLAIM Magazine, July 2015.
CHURCH & STATE - Villager
Church & State was a rock band consisting of:
Nick Taylor - guitar and vocals
Katia Taylor - bass and vocals
Andrew Innanen - drums and vocals
Matt McLaren - guitar
Christopher Sandes - organ
Alia O'Brien guested on flute on the last song.
Recorded by Jeff McMurrich at 6 Nassau over 3 days in March, 2009.
I mixed the record. Ryan Mills mastered it.
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AS BAND MEMBER/SESSION MUSICIAN
BIOGRAPHY:
Nick Taylor has been active in the Toronto independent music scene since 1998, mostly as a guitarist and bassist. Early bands included Taxi Dancer, Randwiches, The Gun Purse and the 'dark country' band Blackeyes, which he led with his sister Katia Taylor.
From 2000-2003 he was the guitarist for Alex Lukashevsky's acclaimed avant-garde band Deep Dark United, and featured on the band's Fools! EP. In 2002 he formed the garage rock band The Dirty Hearts with Darin McConnell, Tara White and Andrew Innanen. The Dirty Hearts gigged regularly with bands such as The Sadies, The Black Lips and The Deadly Snakes. In 2003 Nick co-founded Lenin i Shumov with Eugene Slonimerov. The Russian-language punk/noise/dance band was a fixture of the mid-00s underground scene and released an EP on Steven Kado and Owen Pallett's Blocks Recording Club., as well as featuring on the seminal Toronto is the Best!! Toronto is Great!! compilation.
In 2004 Nick joined the orchestral pop band The Old Soul as guitarist, which shortly after signed to Universal Music. He featured on the major-label self-titled debut and on two subsequent records. With The Old Soul, Nick toured Canada and the US several times. He performed with the band until 2010. In 2007 Nick and his Old Soul bandmates Matt McLaren, Jay Anderson and Andrew Scott formed Steamboat, a roots/R&B band which held down popular weekly residencies at the Dakota Tavern and released three records. The band also included Christoper Sandes, Mike Smith and Maylee Todd and often formed the backing band for Toronto songwriters Sandro Perri, Marker Starling, Emilie Mover and Andre Ethier. Nick also did stints as guitarist in Sandes' large-scale soul/R&B cover band The Big Sound.
Nick was a long-time contributor to the improvisation-based ensemble Ronley Teper's Lipliners and featured on two of her LPs. He has also been a member of Dave Clark's improv orchestra The Woodchopper's Association and directed a short film about the band in 2010. As a guitarist he has worked with singer-songwriters Jason Collett, Kate Boothman (Katie Cruel) and Sarah Blackwood (Walk Off the Earth). He is known for his tasteful, melodic playing rooted in country and soul. He counts Neil Young, Steve Cropper, JJ Cale, and Marc Ribot as influences. He has occasionally guested on guitar with Lullaybe Arkestra, the heavy rock duo of his sister Katia and brother-in-law Justin Small.
From 2007-2011 Nick led the band Church & State, which featured Katia Taylor, Innanen, McLaren and Sandes. The band released two records, Make Yourself a Stranger (2008) and Villager (2010). In 2015 Nick released a solo record titled Navigator featuring many of his prior collaborators and in 2020 he released another LP, Nostalgist, under the name Phantom Watcher. A new Phantom Watcher recording is expected in late 2025.
DISCOGRAPHY (WITH LINKS):
Ronley Teper's Lipliners - The Game (2018) independent
Marker Starling - Rosy Maze (2015) Tin Angel
Ronley Teper's Lipliners - Alive (2013) independent
Marker Starling w/ Sandro Perri & Steamboat - I Guarantee You a Good Time (2013) Tin Angel
Steamboat - Rules (2012) independent
Sunbear (Kate Boothman) - Moonbath (2010) independent
Emilie Mover - Seems So Long (2010) Balonka
Steamboat - Live in Nassau (2009) independent
Steamboat - S/T (2008) independent
The Old Soul - Gold (2007) Grifter
The Old Soul - She's Got Party Davies Eyes (2006) Hand of God
The Old Soul - S/T (2005) Universal Music Canada/Friendly Fire
Lenin i Shumov - S/T (2005) Blocks Recording Club
Deep Dark United - Fools! (2002) Kosher Rock Records
Blackeyes - From a Blue Room (2001) Kosher Rock Records
Randwiches - What Year (2001) Kosher Rock Records