Daniel Taylor

FARMINGTON — Daniel Taylor’s passion for creating music is contagious as he talks enthusiastically about his newly released EP, “After the Fall”.

“I love seeing things come to life,” he said in a recent interview. “I love expressing the raw emotion, and telling a story. It’s cool to be able to have my hands fully involved in the whole process.”

Taylor grew up in Farmington, and at an early age showed prodigious musical talent. By the time he turned 11, he had taught himself to play guitar, followed soon after by drums, piano, bass, mandolin, and ukulele. He led his first band when he was 13, and won Junior Vocal Group of the Year from the Maine Country Music Association.

“It runs in the family,” said Taylor. “My whole family on my dad’s side was very musical.”

He said that he’s had a number of uncanny situations crop up, some of which have turned out for the best and some of which haven’t. Taylor talks about getting the chance to open with his band, The Strangers, for Merle Haggard when he was 17.

“It was more like being taken to school,” he said, still in awe at having the chance to meet a legend.

Two years later, Taylor had a bad record deal with a Florida label, and after it fell through he was forced to regather himself and consider what direction he wanted to go in with his music.

“It was a depressing time,” he recalls.

However, Taylor is someone who can find a way to make the best of any situation.

“I’m not a religious guy by any means, but I’m very spiritual,” he said. “I believe in the power of positive thinking.”

So, with that, he went about forming his own label and studio. Not content just to sing, perform and write his songs, Taylor put his plentiful energy into producing them, marketing himself through social media, and networking. At some point, he hopes to be able to take in artists.

Having his own individual label is more work, but it gives Taylor an independence and a freedom to fully realize his musical vision. And, “After the Fall” is one of the steps on that journey.

When asked to describe his musical style, Taylor offers “It’s definitely singer-songwriter.” He plays all kinds of different folk rock, mixed in with some indie pop.

His first single, “Dream Alone”, moved Cashbox Magazine’s Christopher Llewellyn Adams to note, “If you could blend the vocal range of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and the pop appeal of a young Usher, you’d have a good scope of what’s brewing with Daniel Taylor and his self-titled debut album. A young guitar prodigy on par with John Mayer, Taylor has both the production team and the musical acumen to rewrite the charts.”

At his production company, Outlier Sound Studios in Farmington, Taylor honed “After the Fall”. One of the pieces advice that he has kept front and center was passed along by Dwight Yocum’s fiddle player, who told him, “Play the song, not the instrument.”

“That’s always stuck with me,” said Taylor.

Over the weekend, Taylor sent an e-mail noting that “After the Fall” had charted on iTunes.

“I’ve been freaking out all day,” he said. “iTunes is the new Billboard charts in terms of relevance as everything has switched to digital (for the most part). Can’t believe it.”

He has appeared on the WCSH 6 TV show “207”, at WCLZ 98.9’s Acoustic Coffee Break, and at the 2015 L.L. Bean/Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Fest. Fittingly, Taylor has established a partnership deal with the Taylor Guitar Co.

To learn more about his music and listen to his songs, visit www.danieltaylormusic.com or Facebook.com/DanielTaylorMusic - Barry Matulaitis - The Franklin Journal

Daniel Taylor is a musician, singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmington, where he taught himself to play guitar by age 11.

And then he taught himself to play everything else. Drums, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, bass, piano etc.

He now tours around New England performing. And he'll be celebrating a new album (which he does all the instrumentation on) in February. - Krister Rollins

"If you could blend the vocal range of Radiohead's Thom Yorke and the pop appeal of a young Usher, you'd have a good scope of what's brewing with Daniel Taylor and his self-titled debut album. A young guitar prodigy on par with John Mayer, Taylor has both the production team and the musical acumen to rewrite the charts." - Christopher Llewellyn Adams - Cashbox Magazine

The good news: February, the coldest and often dreariest month of the year, is almost through!

The bad news: It’s Wednesday afternoon and you’re bored.

The better news: We’ve got a bunch of awesome TuneCore artist music videos to keep you distracted! Enjoy:

(Daniel Taylor, “Snowing In Boston”) - KEVIN CORNELL - TuneCore Blog

Singer/Songwriter
9. Daniel Taylor
Breakout Artist. Known for current EP: "After The Fall". - Alexis Hinnant - DailyTarheel.com

Daniel Taylor is a “Maine musician” with a very feel-good/love-song style of writing. He has been playing guitar and singing since he was about 11-years-old. He taught himself how to play guitar, drums, bass, and keyboard and then taught his two best friends forming his first band by age 13, and played some of the finest venues and festivals in Central Maine as well as Nantucket and Boston, Massachusetts.

At age 16 Daniel Taylor tried out for “Maine’s American Idol” and finished in the top three, but never pursued it because of his commitment to his band.


“Hearing this emerging artist live gives me a glimpse into the limitless potential of this recording artist.” -Chris Adams (Head Reviewer/Talent Scout – Cashbox Magazine)


“You…Are…It” -Cliff Goodwin (Joe Cocker, The American Standard Band, Newcity Rockers)

In October of 2008 Daniel Taylor had the opportunity to perform with “Merle Haggard’s” world-renowned band, “The Strangers,” at Penn’s Peak in Pennsylvania just before Merle took the stage.

In 2009, Daniel Taylor won four out of four stars on Community Auditions: “Star of the Day”, a New England TV show seen by over 16 million people. Making it to the finals, he came down with strep throat the week of the competition, but decided to still press on and compete. Although he was unable to perform to his full potential and didn’t win, he was approached by several major music industry professionals.

In the summer of 2010 Daniel Taylor began working with 3AM Music and Grinehouse Productions. Writing and recording for the production team’s esteemed artist building program. Being featured on songs with major recording artists as well as having interviews and his song’s played on radio shows like 92 Moose WMME; Maine’s biggest Pop/Rock station.

In the fall of 2010 Daniel Taylor was invited to perform in the Get Your Rock On Music Industry Festival/Showcase in Dover, NH, a nationally known festival with shows all over the US. Being the top ticket-seller of that branch of the event, he was invited back to do a showcase for Kim Stephens (A&R – Capitol, Atlantic, Universal/Republic Records). After good word spread, Daniel got a spot in the Driven Entertainment Private Artist Showcase in Hollywood, Florida for Steve Robertson (VP of A&R – Atlantic Records), Nick Haussling (VP of A&R – Warner Brother Records), Jason Bieler (CEO & Co-Founder of Bieler Brother Records), Johnny Coscia (Atlantic Records Region Promotion Manager), and Scott Mitchell Putesky (most famously known as “Daisy Berkowitz”, Co-Founder of / original Guitarist for Marilyn Manson & The Spooky Kids). Leaving the judges genuinely impressed, with feedback such as: “You have a really great sound and style…well done,” Nick Haussling. Resulting with a few big projects in the works.

Daniel Taylor has filled many of the top venues New England has to offer, while captivating and moving audiences and musicians alike with diverse skill long beyond his years. With a way with words and people, much like someone with an old soul would, Daniel wants to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a major recording and touring artist. - Bangor Daily News

"After the Fall" by Daniel Taylor debuts at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart! - Billboard