Chris Taylor is one of my favorite artists that I discovered in the 90’s. He is not only a great musician, but he is also a painter – I really dig that kind of double artist attack. He reminds me of Michael Knott, there was always the flair for the dramatic with the theatrical view, but his art could back up his persona. I was pleased to get in contact with him and find out that he is still living his life as an artist, a musician and a family man, still playing by his rules and taking the journey all in stride. We have enclosed several pictures of his artwork, it is really great stuff and reasonably priced. Check his links out and support 100% independent music and art, tell your friends about him and enjoy the interview below!
How long have you been making music at this point?
I feel like I’ve been making music my whole life. I’ve always heard melodies and drums and words in my head, but it’s only been since 1986 I started to capture them on tapes, CDs and digital formats.
You are an artist as well as a musician, who are some of your primary influences as an artist?
When I was younger I was fascinated by Gary Larson’s Far Side comic. They were deceptively simple and made me laugh so hard. I loved Peter Max and his Beatles work. Joseph Arthur, some street graffiti… I just look around and find things that move me and fascinate me.
How do you approach art differently than music when it comes to the creating process?
Visual art is a different set of tools. Instead of guitars I have a paint brush and canvas. I’m less precious about it. There are no rules for me as a visual artist. I mix it up and distort it and I don’t try to make something that already exists a thousand times over. I’m not as concerned with what someone thinks about it as I am my music… Which is strange to me. I’m not even sure why that is.
Love Coma put out two great albums, Soul Rash and Language of Fools, then you guys seemed to just drop off the radar…why two albums and call it a day?
Well I still can’t believe Love Coma was ever on anyone’s radar! One of the biggest issues for us was we went the strange path of signing to a “Christian marketed label” which meant we would only be sold in religious bookstores… which, was the kiss of death for us, because we weren’t religious at all. We were very interested in all the big questions… God, Spirit, relationships… I don’t know… What else is there? But I was going through my David Bowie change of persona thing… eye liner and rock and roll… So it didn’t sit very well next to bibles and crosses and Jesus drink coasters. So after a few years of touring and coming home broke and tired and frustrated I decided to break up the band before we all turned on one another… It wasn’t our fault… It was just a messed up situation. We were in no way a sweet little Christian band of perfect, air brushed angels… And the poor record label had no way to market us into a marketplace looking for cookie cutter Jesus jingles… So what’s a guy to do?
Looking back to the nineties, it was a great day for music and seemed much more sincere than so much of the output today, I suppose that is due to the ease at which people can put their stuff out in the public sphere…what are some of your fondest memories with Love Coma, who were some of your favorite bands and influences, and what artists still excite you today?
My fondest memories with Love Coma came from the road trips to destinations unknown all over the country. Myrtle Beach, Niagara Falls, recording with Mike Roe of the 77’s, playing Cornerstone Festival several times… All the band humor that no one else would get. We were in our own little bubble getting to travel and make music at every turn. Each of us liked completely different kinds of music. Matt Slocum was into bands like The Sundays at the time, Chris Mattingly liked Doobie Brothers and more mainstream rock as well, Jeff Duncan liked Aerosmith and Chili Peppers, Chris Dodds dug REM… And me? I was into Bob Dylan, The Waterboys, Echo and the Bunnymen and U2… Still am!
You are still making music as well, where can people go to track down your tunes?
If people are interested in my music they can find it at www.christaylor.bandcamp.com and then visit my official website at www.christaylorworld.com
Are you able to sustain yourself as an artist and musician, or do you have a day job to make ends meet, if so what are you doing these days?
I’ve sustained myself making music for many years now. Then sometimes I need to find a 9-5 job to make ends meet. As an artist, you can’t be afraid to balance life when it comes to providing for a family and keeping a roof over your head. You do what you must to survive. These days I’ve been able to play live, sell my artwork and record as a means for a simple meter living… But I don’t know how much longer I can survive just doing this in today’s musical climate.
Many of the artists we cover were involved in Christian music and have since moved into different areas in regards to their faith and ‘the church’; do you still claim Christianity as your belief and what does that mean to you personally?
These days I’ve come to hate the label “Christian”. It doesn’t mean what people think it means inside the Church. Most people get that look in their eyes when they find out they are talking to a “Christian” and they aren’t thinking “Oh, this person is humble, loving, kind hearted, selfless and won’t judge me for the junk in my life…” More than likely… it’s just the opposite. I don’t call myself anything when talking about myself to people. People have enough labels for me… But yes… Jesus is my rock in the weary land, as the old song goes. And my faith in Him is all that’s left in a messy spiritual life that I’ve always known to be mine. Just put one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. But I love listening to people and their journey through life and feel comfortable hanging with anyone from about any faith… Or lack of faith… background… Their journey and story doesn’t intimidate me, threaten me or make me uncomfortable… And it’s great to have open dialog without strings attached.
What is in your iPod/cd player/record player right now?
Hothouse Flowers, Joseph Arthur, Waterboys, The Choir, Adam Again, World Party, Dave Stewart, George Harrison, Leonard Cohen and some Tom Petty.
Are there any projects that you are presently working on?
Always working on something, dreaming up something, chasing something in my head…. Just finished an acoustic record called Strangers Clothes that you can get at my bandcamp site. Playing lots of solo gigs these days and wanted to put out something that sounded like what people had just heard.
Thanks so much for your interest in me and my music! It means a lot to have some space in your world. I really appreciate it.
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