Julian Taylor Band
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
Former Staggered Crossing singer Julian Taylor recruited painter and YouTube mystery man The Drawing Hands to film the creation of a watercolour for the video to his song “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The resulting painting is now up for auction to benefit Camp Oochigeas for kids, ages 4-19, with cancer.
The current bid is $250 (after 5 bids). The auction ends Nov. 30 at 11 p.m. EST.
The year-round Ooch Downtown is an 18,000 square foot office and program space in Toronto complete with a sports court, teaching kitchen, parent lounge and indoor rock wall. In the summertime, kids can get away to Ooch Muskoka, a 400-acre property on a private lake with outdoor programs.
“I’ve been volunteering for Camp Ooch for the past four years. I do songwriting workshops for the kids,” Taylor tells Samaritanmag. “While the video was getting a lot of attention, it dawned on me that there was something we could possibly do to raise money for Camp Ooch.”
To date, the video has 290,000 views on Julian Taylor Band’s YouTube page and another 14,000 on The Drawing Hands’ page.
The Drawing Hands — who does not go by his real name — has a successful YouTube page with more than 10,000 subscribers and videos with more than 2.6 million collective views. All one sees are his hands doing the work: everything from narrated tutorials on how to draw a realistic eye to portraits of well-known figures such as Lady Gaga.
“We’ve never met,” says Toronto-based Taylor, adding that The Drawing Hands lives in the Ukraine. “We’ve only talked on Facebook, YouTube and by email. He did a drawing of a Staggered Crossing portrait years ago and he got in contact with me because he did a portrait of Bruno Mars to one of our old Staggered Crossing tunes [2005’s ‘My Disease’] and asked if he could use it.”
Taylor, who was once signed to Warner Music Canada with Staggered Crossing and is now signed to indie label Aporia, released “Never Gonna Give You Up” as the first single under the name Julian Taylor Band.
“I didn’t budget for a video and I just asked him if he wanted to do something and he did that,” says Taylor of the painting of a young lady with flowing hair standing in front of his likeness.
Taylor didn’t set out to auction off the painting when the video was released and when the idea struck him wasn’t sure if The Drawing Hands would agree to part with it — but after hearing about Camp Oochigeas he did.
“We’re trying to raise a couple of grand if we can. We’re not shooting for a couple of hundred thousand dollars here,” Taylor says. “There was a Sporting Life 10K run for Ooch which raised a million dollars. We’re just trying to get our friends and family and fans to raise up to $2500 if we can. It would be amazing if we could do that because $2500 will send one child to camp for the entire summer.
“The money goes to the camp and they decide what to do with it.”
- Samritian Magazine
"Tech Noir is an intelligent mix of funk and soul music that stands apart. Do You Remember and Never Gonna Give You Up should be on the radio right now." - Winnipeg Free Press
"This album is pure soul gold that stands with the best of the best of any huge R&B, funk, jazz, or soul artists out there."
- Marty magazine, May 26, 2014 - Martyr Magazine
"Helping to raise the mantra of funk, soul, and roots; fun, cool, and smooth."
- The Revue, May 26, 2014 - The Revue
"Fusion of jazz, funk, soul, rock/pop comes together; every track is spectacular."
- music-rag.com, July 11, 2014 - The Music Rag
"Julian Taylor grew up listening to Michael Jackson
By age 4, he had already developed everything he needed to interpret THRILLER the way it deserved.
Since then, he has swapped glove, red jacket and tight pants for a suite & tie serious approach to his work.
His music remains shamelessly irresistible. Not surprising: TECH NOIR soundtracks a celebration of another time when funk and rock invented their own mythologies with their own essential references. James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Stones ... crushed by so many references, the group could soon be in the dock of the brightest plagiarists if one was paying an inattentive ear to the disk. But careful listening can detect a real know-how to deal with addictive melodies, an appealing sound, and above all a joyful ease which is heard at the end of each chorus. Shall we dance?" - LA PRESSE
"The consistency of Julian Taylor's compositions is a real accomplishment, they excel within established genres and demonstrate exemplary songwriting skills." - Exclaim!
Taylor did take a few liberties with the music that night at the Horseshoe, but they all worked in his favour. In particular, during "Zero to Eleven", a bluesy number with high energy, Taylor sustained a note for an extra long time, keeping it and the vibrato strong throughout. - The Examiner
"It’s time he started turning heads."
- RadioFreeCanuckistan, July 2014 - Radio Free Canuckistan
Persistence and hard work definitely do pay off, though his immense talent certainly helps! - Forget The Box
Discography
2009 - Blank Tape Levy
2012 - Hey Hey Two Two (Live)
2014 - Tech Noir
Photos
Bio
Julian Taylor Band hails from Toronto, and produces music of the rock, soul and R&B genres. Fronted by Julian Taylor - formerly of Canadian rock roots band, Staggered Crossing (StagX) - the ensemble is supported by a core group of well-known and established musicians who have played with acts such as K-OS, Johnny Reid, Sunriser and Colin James, among others.
Persistence and a hard-working ethic are are two traits at the core of Julian Taylor’s success. Julian is an award-winning, Canadian singer-songwriter who began his music career as a teenager playing at open stages around the Greater Toronto area. Those humble beginnings have led him down a storied path that includes the release of seven albums and 10 top-forty hit singles.
When you first meet Julian, he will impress you as a charming fellow - the kind who immediately makes you feel at ease. Underneath it all is a steely determination and tenacity that can guarantee success. A true music fan and accomplished performer, Julian displays a rawness on stage and in studio that is palpable. His vocal delivery gives expressive emotion to his well-crafted songs, resulting in energetic and entertaining performances.
He listens to – and learns from – all genres of music, but Julian’s natural music tastes are rooted in his nurturing. Growing up surrounded by family members who were instrumentalists or singers, his music education began with the sounds of Motown, Blue Note, Stax and other great, timeless music. Julian began playing piano and singing in his church’s choir at the age of 5 and has not turned his back on music since - his passion for his craft is strong and deeply rooted.
Comprised of a group of veteran musicians, the Julian Taylor Band – Julian Taylor (vocals and guitar), Jeremy Elliott (drums), Steve Pelletier (bass) and David Engle (keys) – has released their new album, Tech Noir, to critical acclaim. Tech Noir ranges from the funky vibe of “Do You Remember” - a song written in memory of younger days spent running around the streets of Toronto - to the tender ballad “Carry Me Home” - a lament about the passing of his beloved grandfather, - to the soulful bounce of “Be Good to Your Woman”. “I feel like I’m in a good space and things are clicking,” says Taylor. “I’m singing, performing and writing some of the best songs of my life.” A culmination of all the musical influences that have touched him throughout his lifetime, Tech Noir is eclectic and versatile. It’s an album you’ll want to sit down and listen to, but, before long, you’ll be ready to get your groove on.
With all of their recent accomplishments in consideration, the Julian Taylor Band is constantly looking forward to bigger projects to attack. It is with their experience, versatility and passion that Julian Taylor Band has proven to be a driving force among Canadian musicians.
Band Members
Links
