Leonard Taylor
New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2018 | AFTRA
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If you call New York City home, chances are good that you’ve stumbled across the powerful vocal stylings and understated musicianship of one Len Xiang. Gracing local stages and busking in NYC’s subway stations for a number of years now, the Brooklyn-bred Xiang is an unequivocally gifted, sublimely soulful singer-songwriter who demands and deserves a much wider audience beyond his native stomping grounds.
In support of his recently released mini-album Metropolitan Avenue, the soft-spoken Xiang appeared on this past week’s installment of BRIC TV’s ‘B-Side,’ performing a handful of songs from the project and his debut release A New Day, while engaging in an insightful Q&A session with the show’s host Kenyatta Beasley. “When it comes to who I am, I’m at peace,” Xiang confides. “So I let that vibrate out. I let that peace from within, that harmony that’s in my heart, and that pure love that’s in my heart, I let it just come out.”
Watch Len Xiang’s BRIC TV performance below, and then check out a few additional highlights from Xiang’s local NYC performances, including his inspired rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” and haunting cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.”
BUY Len Xiang’s Metropolitan Avenue via Official Store - Albumism
Xiang, who in real-life performs on trains in New York (called a ‘Buster’), appreciates Green’s exploration of ‘finding your way back’ after disappointment and failure in The Bluest Note. He believes this particular journey receives short shrift by mainstream Hollywood when telling the Black artist’s story:
I am so honored to be a part of this film. Eminem’s 8 Mile, 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Carey’s Glitter and others … they show the rise to the top; Hollywood perpetuates this image of us loving the struggle because we were slaves and this is where we come from. I’m over that! There is so much info and research that goes into our lineage as Black people. Why not the story of somebody who has made it to the top then falls down? What choices do they make?
With piercing heaviness, Xiang bears Mann’s burden of choices as he makes a ‘come back’ but only to a place that has no role for him to play anymore. Personally for Xiang, he is all too aware of an artist’s everyday hustle to ‘make it’ in a highly competitive market and what is necessary to sustain his status once success actually is achieved. His character’s journey, he reveals, touches close to his heart. - The Dreher Report
Review Fix chats with up and coming R & B sensation Len “Tuac” Xiang about his new EP, “Higher Ground,” as well as his working relationship with producer KC Price.
Echoing the sounds of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, Xiang’s voice is a reminder that great, soul-driven music isn’t a thing of the past. - Review Fix
Discography
A New Day, 2006
Metropolitan Avenue, 2016
Nothing Left, 2020
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Bio
If you’ve ever found yourself walking through the Metropolitan Avenue subway station in Brooklyn, somewhere between 2010 and 2020, you may have stopped in your tracks as a soulful, velvety voice echoed through the underground tunnels and brought you to another place, far from your daily grind.
You’d have Leonard Taylor to thank for that.
The award winning singer/songwriter was a fixture in that space for nearly a decade; days spent on his feet wandering through the platform and trains, nights spent performing in legendary NYC spots such as SOB’s and Brooklyn's famed B.A.M. Opera House.
His sound is inspired by the likes of Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, and Marvin Gaye; their influence reverberating through a sultry sound that distinguishes his engaging acoustic soul folk style.
Leonard has independently released three LPs, Metropolitan Avenue, A New Day, and Nothing Left which feature his unique musical arrangement of original material and hit covers. He was awarded New York’s Star of the Day—the city’s own televised talent showcase. Not limited to live performances, Len starred in the short independent film, “The Bluest Note,” where his original song, “Turbulence” among others are featured on the soundtrack.
All you have to do is watch the audience while they watch Leonard Taylor perform, to understand what being touched by an artist means. Leonard Taylor is that kind of artist—the one who stays with you.
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