Taylor and the Wild Now

Our current poll for Artist of the Month is in full swing, and that means it's time to get familiar with the nominees y'all! This go around, we're talkin' Taylor and the Wild Now, who sent a summer firework of a song up into the Austin air early this month, and who have been playing a ton of shows and appearances since to show this gorgeous new thing off.

A deep, sensual baseline and some island-soaked guitar are the unusual and welcome framework for the new pop-dubby track “Salt” by Taylor and the Wild Now, a crew known for their approachable indie sound with a roots bent that sometimes wanders into territory that may or may not be a step or two past the country music border (depending on where you personally mark it). This most recent track from the group after last year’s promising self-titled EP, which hinted of good oddness to come from Taylor et al., “Salt” is a move away from the more heavily country/folk-influenced sound and toward something all their own, and it's a move which sees them only growing as a truly unique (a quality that is pretty rare) and enjoyable feature in the Austin indie scene. Taylor might well (though almost certainly isn’t) be singing the chorus of “Salt” to those afraid to leave the beach of genre and swim out into that deep place where the currents of different sounds mix together into something new when she croons, “I don’t even care what you say/It’s gonna happen anyway.”

And goddamn are we glad it's happening, if by it we're referring to what's going on in "Salt" musically. All elements are on their game in this track, including a bassline that gives the song both its structural background and its considerable, moonlit soul, plus remarkably inventive guitar work that is unbound by genre. That last is a strength that the group has built on since their EP, and the dynamic, unique flavor of the guitar here may just put The Wild Now in contention for most interesting guitar sound in town. Add to those remarkable bits of instrumentation some siren vocals from Taylor herself that are somethin’ to swoon for, and you've got one hell of a shimmering summer track.

The smooth, beach-at-night trance that “Salt” coaxes the listener into should, if there is any justice for artists in this universe, be what puts Taylor and the Wild Now on blogs and playlists worldwide, and on the map in a big way in the indie music scene in Austin and beyond. We wouldn’t be surprised if it lands them in some pretty high caliber gigs quite soon, especially if there is more of this experimentation-done-right to come from Taylor and the Wild Now (that is to say, tracks that only allow thoroughly vetted and chosen elements to make it in). Get up into this newness at yon Soundcloud player below, and follow these rising stars on Facebook to be the first to hear when Taylor and co bring us more beautiful music. Oh, and if you feel the itch to help this group on its way to deserved major recognition in this city, get to votin' at the right side of the page. - The Deli

A few years ago, Taylor Baker won our Stage To Studio feature on the strength of her budding solo career. The Austinite appeared in our Studio 1A with a backing band that included guitarist/trumpeter Drew Walker, and soon Baker dropped the solo moniker. She teamed up with Walker as Taylor & The Wild Now, putting out a self-titled EP in 2014. The EP fleshed out Baker’s folk roots, but the band is back with a new single and something of a new sound. “Salt” dances around rippling guitar lines and a stuttering beat. Download the song below and catch the band at Stubb’s inside stage on July 9th.

–Art Levy - KUTX

Feeling a little salty? So are Taylor & The Wild Now. The Austin foursome reveal a fresh creative direction on their melodic new single, “Salt.” Still maintaing their folk sound, Taylor & The Wild Now infuse more soul, more pop, and even a bit of swagger on the plucky single.

A song about two people “falling into the dark,” front-woman Taylor Baker sticks to her guns as she sings, “I don’t even care what you say, it’s gonna happen anyway.”

The band’s growth and versatility solidify Taylor & The Wild Now as an Austin artist to watch. I for one, will be waiting to hear what they release next.

Dig into the ‘salt of the earth’ with the nimble sounds of “Salt.’ - Sound Dessert

The Louisiana Music Prize is revving up, and we’ve got more bands to talk to! This time, we reached out to Austin’s own Taylor and the Wild Now to get to know them a bit better. The eponymous Taylor got back to us to let us know what’s what. Once again, we present the interview for your reading pleasure.

Heliopolis: Congrats again on being selected for the Louisiana Music Prize!

Taylor and the Wild Now: Thanks so much!

Helio: Seems like you’re doing great already. What are a few notable things the band has done recently? Bragging rights stuff. Any festivals? Recording sessions? Big shows?

T&tWN: We were featured in American Songwriter as a Daily Discovery artist, and have been in the studio recording 2 brand new songs. We were also recently featured on KUTX as Song of the Day. We’re also about to release a new single called “Gold Dust”, and are planning a big single release show in Austin. We’re playing at Texas Reds Festival this Saturday with an impressive lineup including Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Ramirez, Bob Schneider, and more.

Helio: Do you tour regularly? If so, what are some of your favorite cities or regions and why?

T&tWN: We don’t tour regularly, but that is definitely an upcoming goal once we release our EP. Some of our favorite cities we’ve played in are Denver, Nashville, and Austin of course.

Helio: Has the band ever passed through or played Shreveport before? Anywhere close?

T&tWN: We’ve never played in Shreveport, but we’ve heard great things and are very excited to play there!

Helio: If you could, what are a few bands you’d love to open for on a tour?

T&tWN: A few bands we’d love to open for are Local Natives, Alabama Shakes, and Glass Animals

Helio: What are your favorite TV shows currently? For us, it’s “True Detective” and “Game of Thrones.”

T&tWN: Our favorite TV show is currently Portlandia. It’s just so perfectly weird.

Helio: Any other cool facts about the band? Is anyone related? Cool stories of how you met, etc.?

T&tWN: We have a band mascot, and she’s our boxer named Basil. Another cool fact is that Drew and I are dating, and we met at a Local Natives show a few SXSW’s ago!
Thanks again to Taylor and the Wild Now for having a chat with us! Take a look at their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, too. Go check them and all the other bands out for yourself at LA Music Prize this week! - Heliopolis

The Artist: Austin-based “folk-soul” duo Taylor & The Wild Now
The Song: “Bewildered” from Taylor & The Wild Now, out August 12.
Fun Fact: Vocalist/guitarist/banjo player Taylor Baker was the winner of the 2013 Durango Sole Performer contest.
Songwriter Says: “Bewildered is a whimsical jam full of surprises, tasty guitar licks, and melodies that will take you to the moon and back.” - American Songwriter

Check out “Sun Song,” an exclusive world premiere Track from rising star duo Taylor and the Wild Now.

We’re fond of sharing new music with you and what a better way to do this than to give y’all a sneak peek into the new music from this up and coming Americana act Taylor and the Wild Now’s “Sun Song.”

We know it’s a little different from other tracks we feature but we think that if your a fan of classic singer/songwriters like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Holly Williams, Lucinda Williams and Suzy Bogguss, you should certainly find something to enjoy with “Sun Song.” “Sun Song” comes from the duo’s upcoming self-titled EP set to be released on August 12 (next week).

We hope y’all dig this new music and will check out their website or even pre-order the EP on iTunes! - Roughtstock

Taylor & the Wild Now have released their debut single, and they’re letting readers of The Boot hear it first.
The duo have been making waves in their hometown of Austin since getting together in 2013, with appearances on Fox 7′s ‘Good Day Austin,’ ‘Balcony TV Austin’ and ‘Sofar Sounds.’ They have also opened for Noah and the Whale and Lee Brice, and performed on the Durango Sound Stage at CMA Music Festival.
Their debut single, ‘Wanderlust,’ is a jaunty track with a fun, breezy feel, juxtaposing jangly electric guitars over a driving acoustic rhythm track. The song features a strong vocal hook, a deftly melodic guitar solo and an ethereal bridge that employs horns to take the listener to a different musical space before returning to the melody.
The duo — consisting of Taylor Baker on guitar, vocals and banjo, and Drew Walker on guitar and trumpet — got together in the summer of 2013, and began sharing ideas and developing a unique approach to songwriting and music that they call folk-soul.
Taylor & the Wild Now are slated to release their self-titled debut EP on Aug. 12. Check out ‘Wanderlust’ below.
Listen to Taylor & the Wild Now, ‘Wanderlust’


Read More: Taylor and the Wild Now, 'Wanderlust' - Song Premiere | http://theboot.com/taylor-and-the-wild-now-wanderlust/?trackback=tsmclip - The Boot

Soulful folk band Taylor & the Wild Now has officially announced the release of their debut, self-titled EP, which is set to drop on August 12.

Reminiscent of artists such as Lake Street Dive, Wild Child, and Delta Rae, Taylor & the Wild Now have a fresh sound that's creative and rootsy.

Taylor & the Wild Now was formed by Taylor Baker (guitar, vocals, banjo), who originally played as a solo act, occasionally collaborating with various musicians.

She came together with Drew Walker (guitar, trumpet) in the summer of 2013 and they began writing together, sharing ideas, and turning the venture into a more solidified sound. Now with a full backing band, they've created a unique sound drawn from influences like Dawes, The Head & the Heart, and Ben Howard.

With overwhelming support from the local music scene, Taylor & the Wild Now is becoming a household name in Austin, with performances on Fox 7's Good Day Austin, Balcony TV Austin and Sofar Sounds. They've opened for the likes of Noah and The Whale and Lee Brice, and have played on the Durango Sound Stage at CMA Music Festival.

Watch the band’s Good Day Austin performance below: - Guitar World

She may have learned to play guitar in New Zealand, but Taylor Baker is a born-and-raised Texas gal who honed her skills at open mics around Austin. Taylor met trumpet and guitar player Drew Walker at SXSW, and after some collaborating, Taylor and the Wild Now was born. The super busy duo (Taylor is a junior in college and works two PR jobs, while Drew is a project manager at a start-up tech firm) dropped their self-titled debut EP last month.

1. Where did the “Wild Now” part of your name come from?

Taylor: It was a random phrase that we really loved and stuck. It represents us very well, where we are in our lives and where we want to go with our music. We just want to be spontaneous, true to ourselves, wild and surprising.

2. What was the biggest inspiration behind the EP?

Taylor: A lot of our writing is very experimental, as far as the lyrics and melodies. We’re not trying to sound like anyone else. We just want to write songs that people can connect with but that they’ll also be intrigued by.

Drew: My goal is to write something that’s never been heard before. If I come up with a guitar lick and someone says, “Oh, I’ve heard that on the radio somewhere,” I immediately just never play it again.

Taylor: Listening back to a lot of the lyrics I ended up writing, they’re all about chasing after something, longing, or yearning to be somewhere else. It’s kind of representative of where we are right now in our music career. We’ll see where it goes!

3. I do hear a bit of The Head and the Heart, Edward and the Magnetic Zeros and Colbie Caillat in your music. What bands are you currently listening to?

Drew: You were pretty spot on with the first two. I don’t know about Colbie Caillat!

Taylor: I listened to her a lot in high school, actually.

Drew: We’ve been listening to The Head and The Heart a lot lately. Alt-J is one of our favorite bands as well. They just released a new album that’s really cool. Hozier is up-and-coming, and he’s great.

Taylor: Local Natives.

Drew: We actually met them at a local bands concert at SXSW. Local Natives is a very special band to both of us. They had a huge influence on us.

4. If people are coming to visit you in Austin, where’s the first place you take them?

Drew: I would take them to a show, probably at Stubb’s. That’s a really awesome music venue. If we’re doing stuff during the day, I would take them out on the [Barton Creek] Greenbelt or to Barton Springs.

Taylor: I would take them to a really good Mexican restaurant.

5. There is a very adorable boxer named Basil all over your Instagram. How did the dog become your band mascot?

Drew: I rescued her a year and a half ago from an animal shelter. A couple had bought her when she was a little puppy, about six or seven weeks old, and she was really hyper. The couple found out that they were having a baby, too. They didn’t want to raise a baby and a puppy at the same time, so they took her to the shelter. The next day, I picked her up!

Taylor: She’s our head of marketing.

Drew: She books our shows and everything. She’s great. - MySpace

She picked up her first guitar after high school; he, in middle school, alongside his trumpet. Together, Taylor Baker and Drew Walker combine “gracious guitar licks and melodic trumpet lines” with compelling vocals to make fresh sounds for their band, Taylor & the Wild Now. We are proud to announce this folk-soul duo as our October Musician of the Month.

Taylor started as a solo act and met tremendous success. She spent time in Nashville with industry professionals who describe her as an impressive young talent with “that it-factor.” Mando Saenz, an American Music Water supporter, noted her genuine personality and ability to embrace the moment after spending time in the studio with the budding talent from Texas. She’s got soul in every sense of the word. Her accomplishments testify to this as the winner of the Durango Sole Performer Contest in 2013.

Courtney Pittman thebootThat’s the same year she joined musical forces with Walker. They opened for Noah and the Whale and Lee Brice and performed at the CMA Music Festival. Their influences are wide-spread across the genre board but include Dawes, alt-J, The Head & The Heart and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their most recent stride in the industry was the release of their first EP, Wanderlust, in August. We love the whole set but are particularly fond of Bewildered, a breezy ballad with mellow undertones. It’s the perfect ode to the versatility of their sound. This is echoed in the lyrics; their music offers something for listeners “searchin’ for somethin’ more.”

While they both juggle work, school and music, Baker and Walker also enjoy exploring the new places popping up around their hometown, Austin. When asked about Texas Music Water, Taylor exclaimed that it is a “kind asset to the community,” and we could say the same thing about the pair behind the music of Taylor & the Wild Now.

Download the EP on iTunes or find it on Spotify. Also, check out their social media links on their website and stay tuned for upcoming concerts and new music.

Upcoming Shows:

Residency at The Blackheart Bar every Wednesday in October at 9pm

Hocktoberfest – October 3rd Rocky Brands Main Stage at 4pm - Texas Music Water

Taylor Baker is the lead singer for Taylor & the Wild Now, and she’s part of a group of women that will be participating in the Texas Conference for Women! Taylor & the Wild Now will be performing at the Texas Conference for Women, Thursday, October 15th. Go to TaylorAndTheWildNow.com to hear their music, watch videos and more. Taylor & the wild now will be performing at the Texas Conference for Women on Thursday, October 15th. Go to TxConferenceForWomen.org for more details. - KXAN - Studio 512