After hearing Taylor's lovely new music at a house concert hosted by close friends, we took some time with Taylor to ask her about her new album and the inspiration behind it.
How long have you been playing and singing?
I have been playing piano for 17 years, guitar and cello for 12 years. I think I started really getting in to singing when I was about 11, so that makes 12 years for that too.
Is there any specific meaning to the album title, Peaks&Arrows?
Yes. The meaning of "Peaks&Arrows" can be as complex or as simple as the listener wants it to be, but I was personally inspired to name the album that by a myriad of beautiful Scriptures found in the Bible. One of them being from Psalm 91, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge...you will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day." "He makes my feet like the feet of a dear; he enables me to stand on the heights...you broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."-Psalm 18. For me, Peaks and Arrows refers to the hardship that I was going through when I wrote the album. I felt like I was climbing these mountains that were impossible, and I was being attacked with the arrows of depression, anger, bitterness, etc. However, the flip side to Peaks and Arrows is that Love beckons us to these beautiful high places where we're able to look back on the journey we've traveled and know we survived. He leads us with His arrows as well. So you can see the double meaning of the title.
If you could take the stage with any other artist, who would it be? What would you sing?
If I could take the stage with any other artist, it would have to hand down, right now in life at least, be Justin Timberlake. I can't help but get in a good mood when I listen to him. I'm sure it would be such a blast to just sing and dance with him.
What were the last three songs you listened to?
"Old Pine" by Ben Howard, "Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman, and "Blank Pages" by The Album Leaf
When did you move to Texas?
I was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico. My family moved to Silver City for a couple years, and then when I was eight, my dad took a job in Austin. So I've been here for most of my life, thank goodness :)
Being based in Austin, what is your favorite thing to do in the city? Do you have a favorite spot to write?
That's easy: my favorite thing to do in Austin is ride my bike to the local library on the east side, pick out an inspiring book, then ride to the nearest local coffee shop called Figure 8 and get a delicious latte, and read my free book :) My favorite spot to write in Austin would probably have to be Zilker Park.
Tell us a little more information about your project, Peaks&Arrows.
Peaks&Arrows is an concept album from beginning to end about a girl walking alongside of Love, who beckons her to follow a perilous terrain that will test her trust in Him more than anything she's experienced so far. The songs on represent the different terrains she travels through, and the ways she processes through each of them. It's inspired by my personal walk with Jesus Christ, and the lessons that I learn by reading scripture as I go through the different terrains of life myself. My hopes for the record are that it would turn into something that many artists would be able to huddle around and use their creativity to edify...such as writers, painters, photographers, and videographers. I also hope that it encourages anyone who needs healing, or has been trekking on difficult terrains, wondering why or when it will end.
