Formed in June 2011 by current original members Evan Kaler, Anna Taylor, and Evan’s little brother Jacen. In December 2013 the band became a five piece with the addition of Jack Osborn and Max Miller. The band enjoys and performs an eclectic variety of music ranging from Etta James and Elvis to Green Day, The Beatles, and Lorde. 35th and Taylor has been a feature of various local media as well as having original songs played on Sioux City’s Z98 Under Ground radio program.
In this spotlight, we chat with 35th & Taylor about the new project, influences, and more.
Q&A, links and the video for their single I Know You’re Trouble can be found below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcrCtUauqJM
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
I think what attracted me to the alternative blues-rock feel our album takes on has to do with the music I grew up listening to- classic rock. Artists such as Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin were played frequently in the car. I loved listening to the singers wail with emotion and power, and especially loved how raw and real the music was. I also have to give some credit to my father for driving me around and introducing me these rock gods at an early age. Spending time in his convertible with the top down with the music blaring instilled a love for classic rock that still influences all I do. Matter-of-fact, when I was 12, he and I traveled to Kansas City to see Paul McCartney with the convertible top down all five hours of the drive while listening to the Beetles! This style of music definitely encouraged as well as attracted me to create powerful, emotion-filled music of my own.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
Performing in my middle school talent show Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” in 6th grade brought my lead guitarist and I together. He was a little older but also performing in the talent show, and he had the thought “Wow, she could be a lead singer.” It took us a little bit to get together and form a band, but by 8th grade, it took off. At first our music consisted of mostly classic rock covers from Joplin, The Beetles, and CCR as well as some newer stuff mixed in for variety. We have produced two other cd’s and have always infused our originals into our sets of music. We enjoy performing and interacting with our crowds – there is nothing like it!! Now, with our debut album – I Know You’re Trouble, we love all the positive feedback it’s getting. We want music to be our career and doing that involves risk and challenges which means sharing our music!
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Without being fully aware of it, I definitely believe the music I listen to has influenced my creativity when composing. Band of Skulls, Grace Potter, Jack White, and the Black Keys are just a few bands that currently take up space on my playlist, but the classics are still interwoven in this mix. So, my tastes haven’t necessarily changed, but instead, have grown more diverse.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
Yes, this is our third album, and we felt that we had not yet accomplished a sound we could call our own, so definitely, it was the primary goal to create a cohesive piece of work. I feel like we really accomplished that with this album I know You’re Trouble.
What was the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was “No Good” by Kaleo. They are this amazing alternative- rock band from Iceland.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Which do I prefer of vinyl, cds, or mp3s? —vinyl, hands down! My collection consists of probably over 300 albums and each one is unique. Some people hate the inconsistency of the sound, but I love the crackle sound that the record plays when it has been damaged or simply just from the wear and tear over the years. I feel as though vinyl has a soul because it has a history!
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Hmm, well, I personally use iTunes and Sound Cloud to play my music. ITunes allows me to listen to a band’s whole album, start to finish, which is important, so I get a feel for the album as a whole. And I like sound cloud because it allows me to find up and coming artists.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Wow – this is tough question! I feel the biggest challenge is staying authentic to who I am as an artist. All of us in the band have different personalities, but these differences also help us with connecting to new fans! We each do our piece promoting ourselves and our band, but it is hard work. So, we hope being true or real and sharing that with the public gains us the exposure we need to increase our fan base! We truly love meeting and talking to all the different people we meet while performing.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Connect with us on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 35th and Taylor or on my personal account Anna Taylor Music also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Discover our music on iTunes, Google Play, Reverb Nation, and Spotify.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Well, making and performing music has provided an awesome avenue for making money through high school as well as taught me a ton about life. Through music, I have met great people and am hoping the last five years are just stepping stones to bigger and better coming up! And – if there are any kids out there afraid to take a chance, step up, do it! So far, every piece of my journey, from taking the stage for the first time as a 13 year old, to auditioning for Season 6 of The Voice in front of mega stars, to completing our first cohesive album, I Know You’re Trouble, and all the other amazing opportunities in between or yet to come, has been worth the time devoted to my choice!!!
