interviews

Zara Taylor

Hi Zara, it is a pleasure to have you on Trance Hub as the first featured female vocalist. Face the fact, your voice has been loved everywhere and with "Crawling" things only got a lot bigger. So here are a set of questions we would like you to answer:

You have done movies and serials before going all vocal for the dance music scene. We would like to know how this evolution occurred with you.

Since I was a child I was always singing but I never thought I had much talent...

After graduating in 2003 from the Canadian College of Performing Arts I moved to Montreal where I met DJ Sultan. He gave me my first shot at singing and we literally HIT it off with our first track together, "No Why", signing it instantly to Deep Dish's Yoshitoshi label.

To make a long story short, after recording my first few tracks with him in Montreal and tasting the beginnings of a potentially successful singing career I decided to move back home to the west-coast to simultaneously pursue a career in Film and T.V.

Since then I have continued to work with Sultan and other talented producers while focusing on growing all around as a singer. I've done a bunch of film work now and I know more than ever that singing is my truest HEART and so I am currently back in school studying music. I am still auditioning for film roles but it's way more on the back burner these days.

You already know "Crawling" is a massive hit these days, the vocals are just amazing! How did this collaboration go off with DJ Shah?

First of all, thank you so much. "Crawling" is one of the closest songs to my heart out of all my work to date and so I am thrilled that others may love it as much as I do.

I actually met Shah through MySpace. He sent me the instrumental and I felt it right away. I have another song with him that I am working on right now and I am really excited about it. So far it seems our styles marry perfectly together. I really like his vibe.

Do you agree that "Crawling" brought you more accolades as compared to your previous collaborations with artists like Sultan?

I am very happy with all the recognition/success I am getting with "Crawling" but I have also received a lot of support for my productions with Sultan, with several compilation appearances, positive reviews and feedback from our fans. I feel my work with Sultan put me on the dance music "map", so to speak. And we have some banging tracks together that have yet to be released.

It's funny because Shah's 'Sunlounger' album was released days apart from Sultan's 'Yoshitoshi Montreal' album (which open's with a new gorgeous remix of "No Why") and both albums topped the dance charts on iTunes... I'm just so thrilled for the success of both albums.

There are talks about 'Pop' vocals being mixed with 'Trance/Dance' vocals these days. How do you think they are different? What standards are considered for singing for a Trance/Dance track?

Well, I feel dance music is evolving. As a singer I notice it's been more common to have full song vocals on a dance track rather than just a looped hook which makes it sound more "pop" maybe? But "pop" music or vocals is a curious label because any style of artist or band that becomes popular is then considered "pop" music.

In my opinion a really great dance track consists of a simple yet carefully produced, dynamic musical instrumental arrangement topped by an interesting, unique, ear catching, memorable and "meaningful" vocal. Not too much to ask for, right? LOL...

I feel dance music is a great palette for a singer/song-writer and it depends what message or emotion you want a particular song to have. It's up to the singer to do that in the most honest and unique way they can. I guess any standards I would put on myself as a singer would just to be the "above mentioned" artist who sings and writes interesting, meaningful and beautiful vocals that touch people.

We read somewhere that you do compilations with your producer friends. Is it true? What are your upcoming projects, we all are excited to know.

Yes, I try to surround myself with friends that share my crazy passion for music. I am always looking to collaborate with new people as well.

As I mentioned earlier I am currently working with Shah on another song, also I continue to work with Sultan and some of his amazing and talented colleagues such as Maher Daniel and Ned Shepard. There's lot's of unreleased stuff up my sleeve and projects on the go but it's top secret :-)

We have heard "Crawling" is more than a song to you. So can we dig in the secrets, this song being close to you?

Ha ha ha...You want the goods do you?

Well, obviously it's a love song...

It's about the kind of love that lasts a lifetime and beyond. A love that's bigger than yourself. It's the love that eats you up, crawls inside you and never leaves. It's also the love that inspires you to grow and be a better person. It's the deepest passion and love only your soul understands.

I still don't get it, that's why I sing about it...haha.

But WHO is it about? Hmm...a woman never tells :-) !!!

You have done various live performances, which one has been the most memorable? What is your preferred clubbing destination?

I always try and make it memorable but when I sang in Budapest, one of my performances was on the river, under the stars. It was so beautiful, everyone was dancing and most people knew the words to my song "Be With You" and so they were singing along. It was glorious.

I love the clubs in Europe, but back home in Victoria there's this really awesome little club called Hush where my brother Lars is a promoter. He brings in some great talent there and he also had me sing there a few times so it's a special place where a brother and sister can work together and share their love of music.

We would like to know what music genres you listen to. Which artists and vocalists do you admire?

That's always the hardest question as there are so many talented artists out there and my taste really varies... but for female vocalists in the dance scene that I admire I would top that list with Nadia Ali, Sia and Esthero.

I also listen to a lot of other styles of music including lots of folk, hip-hop, trip-hop, pop and reggae.

And of course I love all of Sultan's work and Shah's new 'Sunlounger' album, even if I wasn't on it, the whole album is so beautiful. I can't forget some of my most closet friends that are so talented such as my best girl Aidan Mayes, D.N.A and Hey Ocean.

Have you ever been to India, how was it? If not, what have you heard about the country?

I have not yet been, unfortunately. I hear it's intensely beautiful.

However, I have grown up with a large influence from Indian culture. Since I was a young child my father has brought me to retreats with Mother Ammachi (the hugging guru) when she was visiting Canada on her world tours. I have seen her regularly ever since. With this strong spiritual influence in my life I have always been drawn to India and have a special love for Kirtan.

Last but not the least, we admire your fashion habits so could you jot down some fashion tips you follow while clubbing or partying? (Kindly elaborate on this)

Wow, I'm flattered. I never considered myself very influencial in the style department. But if you insist...

To be honest I love anything comfortable but I also love to feel sexy. I particularly love Miss Sixty and Diesel clothing because it has the elements of what I love in fashion. It's casual yet stylized and most always sexy. I'm a bit of a transformer when it comes to my style. Some days you'll find me in baggy jeans and a hoody and the next day in a dress with stilettos or wearing skinnys and chucks, it all depends on my mood that day. I especially love my leopard print Marciano's.

But I don't believe you need expensive clothes to look hot. If you feel hot and you wear what's true to who you are in that moment then you ROCK!

Thanks a lot for making this rendezvous blooming with your kind coordination. We will always wait for your songs. We wish you a great singing career ahead and all the best Zara!

For more info related to Zara Taylor check out the following links:
www.myspace.com/zarataylor

Written by: Apoorv
Compiled by: Mr. Yank