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Fan's Forum II: A Conversation With Sally Taylor Part Four: "Shotgun Continued" & '02 Look Ahead By Pat Hill I hope you enjoyed the first three portions of this, the second annual Fans' Forum for Sally Taylor. In the last part, we continue to focus on the new album, 'Shotgun' as well as what lies ahead for the band in 2002. Q: It's well known that the band enjoys playing live and having fun on and off the stage. On the cover of "Apt. 6-S" you and the guys are playing Candyland. Is there any underlining message the band wanted to convey with the photos on "Shotgun"? SALLY: Freedom. Appreciation for life. Having fun. Those are the general themes for the album. The message of "Shotgun" is that is means so many different things and it's hard to put your finger on it. I'm riding shotgun on the motorcycle on the front cover. On the back there's a shotgun wedding, the inside photo has a shotgun and the actual CD is the top of a can, shot gunning a soda or beer of something. Every word and every song on the album means something different to someone else. Something that can be offensive to someone like a gun can also mean being free, on the road, riding shotgun. Q: The photographs from the cover and insert of the "Shotgun" CD really capture the different definitions that shotgun conveys and they turned out great. Where were the photos taken? SALLY: All in Boulder (Colorado). The one on the back was taken at an old-time photo shop in Estes Park, Colorado. The guy who stood in as the groom in the photo is a friend of mine. Wearing that wedding dress I felt like I was 12-years-old playing dress-up with my Mom's clothes. Q: Last winter (2001), when you were listening and reviewing how the first batch of mixes turned out from "Shotgun," what were your first impressions of this new crop of songs, and what changes did you make to them before saying that they were ready to go onto the album? SALLY: It's hard to point out one song as an example. I look at the song as a whole album. The songs are about a tumultuous relationship that I had last year that lasted almost a year-and-a-half, and it ended in a devastation that I never really experienced before. It was like feeling the coming of a new season, like being a kid and experiencing winter and snow for the first time. So as a 27-year-old woman I was having a new experience that was special in its own way. A lot of the songs came out of that, instead of dedicating myself to the idea that it just must be sadness that came out of it. I tried to evaluate what I was experiencing in different forms that led me to the conclusion that my life is amazing I guess. That's why the album started with "Victim." When you are close-minded and you can't really see you're way out of a miserable situation the easiest thing is to fall into victimization and once the evaluation of the situation happens you can respect the action that took place and that's what the album was— a transformation, and why the title was "Shotgun." Knowing that everything has more than one meaning behind it and understanding that it's important to look at every action, as a potential to make you the happiest person in the universe in stead of the opposite. Q: In "Shotgun," (written mostly in early 2001) heartbreak was a recurring theme. "Memorial Day" is a good example of an event that caused this kind of emotion. Other songs on the album reflect the same pain in their lyrics. Now, you've met who sounds like a great person in Dean (not a band-member) as your new boyfriend (mentioned in an archived on-line diary entry). Do you find your latest writing is changing its tune and becoming more positive about the turnaround in your life? SALLY: I'm not writing about myself nearly as much lately. I've taken the back seat to other characters that have come through, like "Justin Tyme." I wrote a song recently about a friend of mine and her husband. It's been interesting. That's been the biggest difference since Dean's been in the picture. Q: With things going so well, it's kind of ironic that "Disaster" was cut twice with all the potential of a 'successful' new album and promise of a new relationship. The versions reflect many differences, what ideas did you have to record the acoustical version as the hidden track on "Shotgun?" SALLY: One of the versions is in six-eight and one is in four-four. The reason that I did that was a friend wanted to produce it. When I was originally making "Shotgun" I thought it would be a good idea to have a bunch of producers. Then, when it came near the end of production, I thought it would be important to have this completely produced by myself and not confuse anybody. Then, I could put this version on the end of the album the way my friend produced it because I love the way he put it together. Q: Many of the other songs from "Shotgun" have stayed true to the live versions in the way they sound in your recent concert performances. Were there any factors in leaving them the way they were? SALLY: Just because they are all new songs and they haven't evolved fully. "Disaster" we were doing as a band for a while but people who knew the song said they couldn't really hear the words over the instruments, and that's a song that really needs the words to deliver the punch. We kept that one just guitar and vocals. As far as "Memorial Day," that ended up being so grungy and cool that we had to leave it the way it was. "Missing Part" again was about the delivery, it's not even the words, and sometimes I feel like I'm delivering a big smile. It's not about anything but smiling… Q: The songs "Wait" and "Dvoren" had played live several times over the past couple years but hadn't made it onto an album until now, as they appear on "Shotgun." The live versus the studio versions are quite different. How did the changes in the songs come about as they made the cut for this album SALLY: "Wait," I just went crazy on. I didn't want to overburden the songs with too much layering of stuff. I sort of went overboard on. I threw everyone on there, I just said if anyone wants to be on the Album I threw them on that song. My friend Scot is rapping on it and it's (Shotgun) a collage of songs. And, with "Dvoren," the way we recorded it is the way I've always felt it should be... That's why I put it down that way. Q: "Dvoren" makes me feel as if it was meant for a piano accompaniment. It was a special cut on the album. SALLY: I always thought it was a sultry song. Q: When you originally began performing "Dvoren," you resisted mentioning the name of the song while in concert the past couple years, and now that you've put it in the new album and the cat's out of the bag. What were your feelings with this and the scenario behind the song? SALLY: This song was about a failed relationship in college, and because it's his last name, it's a little bit different than calling it "Disaster." It's naming who it is and sometimes I feel like I'm invading his privacy. But, you know, I also thanked him for the experience and the song when I performed the song those times… Q: One song you were performing in 2001, "Swept Away," was left off the album? Is there a reason why it didn't make the cut or are you just saving it for a future album? SALLY: There were a lot of songs in six-eight. I don't know why, I guess it's just the meter I want to spill my guts in for some reason. Q: Fans are very interested in finding out what the meanings and messages are behind some of the other new songs that they haven't heard the stories behind the songs. One song I've been enjoying for a couple years now is "Wait," which is very catchy and upbeat. SALLY: I don't really remember writing, "Wait." I think that song's about not being quite ready for a relationship, but if that someone waits around there might be a chance to work it out. That's sort of what the "Wait" means. It's mostly about feeling reluctant to be in any relationship because of feeling defensive from a previously failed relationship. It's a posture I was taking not to get too close to actually know me, so don't even try. There's also a push-pull, where I'm being moved and that someone is getting me to like him, so don't run away too fast. Q: "Victim" may be a good example of that push and pull, give and receive type of song? SALLY: With "Victim," it's problematic, but resolving because the bridge of that song is the resolution and I'm really proud of it. The verses and choruses talk about being lazy and not look at why things happen to me and instead blame everyone else… and I'm going to feel sorry for myself. The bridge of "Victim" that I wrote is the part that goes… 'And maybe if I justThis is a very empowering idea to me and if I should stop looking outward, with the 'house' being a metaphor as being the exterior to my soul, maybe I could move into my own soul and not borrow anyone else's perception to validate who I am. That's a key to the song that expresses what a victim is. It's constantly looking exteriorly to have a life that is more internally based in my own soul. Q: So, did these experiences then contribute to writing "Driving Me Crazy," also featured on "Shotgun?" SALLY: Yes. That song is about the moving in process with somebody. I've always been paranoid about this. It's about all of the pressure with moving in and supposedly having a great time… Then, when you move in, you find out you aren't allowed to use a certain cup or whatever. Do you know someone like that? Someone who says you aren't allowed to do anything in the house but you have to live there? So, it's about a couple with issues sharing a place. Q: How about "C Thru," which you broke out and performed at a few shows to promote the "Shotgun" album in the late summer of 2001? SALLY: That's a song about a past relationship and I refer to it a lot in this album. When I have a constant theme I like to look at what it means to me, and in my mind it's having things but not controlling what I have. It's like being in a bad dream where you're in a classroom surrounded by people and you realize you're naked and there's nothing you can do but watch everyone laugh at you? It's that feeling from an emotional standpoint where you wear your feelings. You wish you weren't around anybody, but they're all laughing at you. Q: "Hard To Swallow" is a high-energy tune. Is it along the same lines with living with that special someone or former special someone? Also, Scot Sax performed all instruments on "Hard To Swallow" except bass and he must be quite a talented person. How was that experience working with another friend on a song? SALLY: I wrote "Hard To Swallow" with Scot and the songs I write with him always seem to have a very literal twist, that I'm not used to in general. We put down the musical sections of it while we had found a headline for a Living newspaper section article that read "Eight Glasses A Day" and it had pictures of water. Underneath the headline it read, "Hard To Swallow." So we thought it was pretty funny and we tied that in to relationships in general—not any of his or mine in particular. It's hard to take the stuff we dish out sometimes, and that's the devil's metaphor. Q: And, how about "Amazing?" SALLY: "Amazing" is a song that I'm extremely attached to. However, it's interesting that from the website polls we have conducted so far about the songs people like or dislike from "Shotgun," this song is turning out to be the least well received. It's a song about the tragedy about being an artist. Where you constantly need your heart to be broken, etc. to be inspired enough to write… But, at the same time you don't think you can stand having your heart broken ever again. There's a yearning to express yourself and be an artist, but it's tough to experience what takes me to that place where I write and create. In "Amazing" I start out by saying… 'Oh break my heartIt's about all the great stories-- meaning the songs, out hunting the people we think we will most identify with them and then re-create them into a physical form, and dance with the other feathers— the other writers. And, I won't betray to this life for which I came—I'll be the artist, give in, fly around and get shot down and broken hearted and being the victim is the denial of living inside of your soul and looking for exterior reasons as to why you are suffering. The "Amazing" part is when you turn around and reflect that and move into your own soul, and only then do you realize how amazing life truly is and the size of the world around you opening up new opportunities to grow. Q: These songs and as well as the other better know songs from "Shotgun" that you've written and in some cases performed in the past year, like "October" and "Missing Part" and "Justin Tyme," is the plan now to go back and re-work about a half-dozen songs for the next album? SALLY: I would say between three and six songs. Q: How long will you be accepting the fans' production suggestions for on the web site? SALLY: I was going to accept entries until May 2 (2002), but I think I might extend that date. I'm not planning on producing anything over the winter because I'm taking this time to clean-up my business aspect, finding a business manager, additional help and so on. We'll tour with "Shotgun" again this summer (2002) and give it a chance to grow on people and also that will buy us a little more time to find a producer for the next album. A lot of people are suggesting producers and we really appreciate that as well to song comments for production improvements. Q: One fan noticed how you haven't been doing as many radio interviews, etc. as in the past couple years, though I did hear about the huge write-up in the USA Today last year. SALLY: Last summer was really a time to figure out what to do next. We didn't tour as much in 2001 as we did in 2000. So, I only had our promotions people working for a couple months and that meant less publications and less stuff. Q: So, for the folks at home, awaiting the next great things from the band, what's the next few months looking like with bringing "Shotgun" back on the road and will this develop into a regional or national tour? SALLY: We're planning a national tour starting in the late Spring/early Summer. Q: Do you see the bands stretching out into areas you haven't been before, or will the tour be mostly repeating venues from 2000 and 2001? SALLY: It has everything to do with our booking agent and what we can put together. We're going to make an effort to get to the Southeastern states as we focused mostly on the Western and Northeastern states lately. We'll look to do more in the Southeast to keep our fans in that part of the country abreast of what we're doing with "Shotgun." As far as venues, we'll still attempt to play in the places we love to visit in general and try new places as well, and have fun overall. Q: There are quite a few interested fans from European Countries who would love to see you make the trip overseas and perform for them? Are there any new possible plans to take the band outside the U.S.? SALLY: We want to go over there really badly, perhaps next winter (late 2002 or early 2003) depending on what happens with the production of the new (upcoming) CD. I'm anxious to get to Europe and find a promoter; however, with everything going on since 9-11, everything is on hold for an international tour. Unfortunately, that would mean that we would be cutting out a part of the U.S. Tour toward the end of this year (2002). It's one thing or the other and right now we need to focus on visiting areas of our country to perform for the following we already have here in the states. Q: You've played hundreds of professional gigs from coast to coast in the U.S. over the past four years. What venues stick out as favorites from your recent tour stops? SALLY: Club Helsinki in Great Barrington, MA is one. We love The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA. Also, The Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA. We also love going to the Whaling Church again and again, the Iron Horse in Northampton, House of Blues in Boston and the Steven Talk house are others, there's so many I cannot name them all. The majority of them are just a pleasure to play at. Once in a while, our moods or other people with ways of doing business can get in the way of playing as well as we'd like. It feels great to be welcomed back and it feels great. It's so much fun. Just the way we're received, and the general vibe of being out there with the guys in the band and being surrounded by the amazing people who come on out. Q: Sometimes when you perform it's with the entire band, with Ken, Dean and Chris (Soucy) and assistance from Chris (Delucchi) as the sound engineer for gigs, the set-list tends to be fairly consistent. Other times when it's you and Chris (Soucy) performing as a duo you tend to pull more from your earlier works and offer acoustic versions of songs that date back to "Tomboy Bride," such as "Unsung Dance" and "In My Mind." Is this a conscious effort or does this just sort of fall into place? And, do you have a core of a few of your favorite songs or ones you may be most proud of? SALLY: No, I feel like all of my albums are like kids in a way and they each have wonderful differences between them. If I actively chose to play certain songs from a particular album it would be as if I'm hurting the feelings of the other 'kids'… The reason why I have done recent listening sessions with friends is that I can't possibly choose between the songs being so attached to them all. I need my friends' unbiased opinions. Q: When you're on the road you tend to work very hard and perform nearly every night for a week or two at a time. Is it difficult to keep healthy and energized with a fast pace on the road? SALLY: Definitely. Last year (late 2000 and early 2001) I was sick a lot. It depends on my emotional state. It depends on what's going on in my life and how the business is being run. For the most part it's how we're doing as a band, how we're coming together and how I'm feeling about things. You know when you are exercising and you feel exhausted and feel like collapsing? It's that "fight or flight" feeling that we get when we know after a period of time we just cannot allow ourselves to get sick. Then, when we get home, we just pass-out for five days and recover. Our bodies seem to respond to the physical and mental strains of touring pretty well overall. Q: You work as hard on the road as you do on your studio projects, how will you continue to keep burnout at bay? SALLY: Well, I spent a month-and-a-half in Thailand, it was my first break in three-and-a-half-years. And having fun of course and enjoying my work is also important. Q: Are there any other songs that you've worked on recently since you performed your last shows in Colorado in the late summer of 2001 before joining your Dad on the road for a few concert dates? SALLY: Nothing yet to discuss because we are just in the process of getting back together as a band and I'm not sure what's going to happen yet. Q: In 2001, the band had introduced t-shirts for sale at the live performances, any other new merchandise items you are thinking of to add to the shirts? SALLY: The thing about carrying the t-shirts around with us on the road is that we don't have much extra room in Moby (the band's traveling van). T-shirts are also heavy to haul around to shows and I believe we're almost out. I'm not sure if we'll continue making them for right now. At this point, I'm concentrating on the CD manufacturing and stuff like that. Q: Your second album, "Apt. 6-S" was made available at record stores based on a regional distribution deal you made in the summer of 2000. Will "Shotgun" also be made available commercially regionally or nationally? SALLY: No, I decided that because this album is really purely for my fans, I'm going to keep it to a smaller scale. I'm not sure how many I'll manufacture. I may just stop having copies produced in the near future because even though it's doing extremely well, it was for a certain purpose. But, I also love the songs so we'll see what happens. Q: Speaking of an update from the previous Fans' Forum… At one time, you were sending out modified (without the superlative) copies of "4 Kim" to radio stations for airplay, is this version available on Liquid Audio at this time for fans? SALLY: We had the recording, but it may or may not be on Liquid Audio still. Liquid Audio though is going through some tough times, so I'm not sure what they're doing right now. But, I think some of my songs are still available. Q: Moving onto things close to your heart, namely family… You've performed recently at shows with your relatives, including your Uncle Livingston/Dad/Mom/Brother, as well as other musical greats like Jon Sebastian and John Cafferty? Are there any plans to perform at benefit shows or work in conjunction with other well-known artists on upcoming projects? SALLY: Yes, we keep our options open and if we're available all at the same time, we'll just go and perform or contribute to someone's work. Q: When the first Fans' Forum was introduced more than a year ago, you had mentioned the possibility of putting a cover tune on "Shotgun" but since you had enough original material, a cover didn't make the cut. One of these days, would you consider making an album of covers that include songs you've performed live for example-- "Stuck In The Middle" and "Actress," and well as "Use Me Up" and "Fare Thee Well?" SALLY: I just don't know. We like playing them live because they add diversity to the set-list. As far as recording those songs, it gets very difficult because of having to keep track of (mechanical) royalties. People I co-write with are much more lenient about how and when they get their checks, compared to somebody who's got a publishing house behind them. I have enough challenges running my company as it is, than to keep track of owing someone seven cents per record manufactured every month is just too much and not for me. Q: Now, perhaps I'll throw to you a fan question that might be difficult to answer but here it goes nonetheless. Is there any drive or movement toward recording one of your parents (Mom Carly Simon's and Dad James Taylor's) songs? SALLY: Definitely no drive away from it, I've considered this from time to time. I would feel why two people in the same family record the exact same thing but I would be more interested in recording a song if I were to come up with a different style or way to interpret and record a particular song, that would be more of a possibility. It's definitely not out of the question. Q: You gave the fans a wonderful diary entry concerning time spent early last fall with your Dad while hooking up with him on his last tour. It's easy to see how much both of your folks mean to you. Your Mother has also been a tremendous influence on your life and has supported your career path as an artist. By telling you that if you "are meant to write songs you will do it," your Mom has put you in a position that your success will be measured by your own determination, skill and motivation? Has your parents' faith in your abilities helped you accomplish what you have become and aspire to be? SALLY: Oh, definitely. As a result of having them tell me things like that it has enabled me to enter this line of work with my own sense of ambition and guidance and that feels really good. Q: Your brother Ben took an active roll on "Apt. 6-S" and you were very excited to have him included in your work. It must be wonderful working with your brother musically and it's great to know that he was able to co-produce "Victim" and "Girl In The Picture" on "Shotgun." What was this latest experience like for you with Ben and does he have any plans to tour or record soon? SALLY: He co-produced the first versions of them and came up with a lot of the ideas. Ben, I think, is planning to come out to Colorado to do some work and make an album soon. I hope he'll start touring and have an album and that's really exciting. Ben's music is extremely soulful and also has a lot of rhythm and blues vibe. A lot of heavy bass, backbeat and drum. A really neat R&B vibe. Q: The entertaining audio clips that are filtered into your albums… do you plan to continue with more of these to come for future projects? SALLY: I hope so as long as I don't run out of them. I have a lot of them with my brother (Ben). It was perfect because the clip was "where's my gun" for "Shotgun." That was my brother in the hidden track, not me. Q: Last year, you had the chance to meet your new baby brothers in Henry and Logan. What was it like meeting them for the first time and how do you feel about being a big sister all over again? SALLY: It was a really sweet experience, they were really cute. It was cool to see my Dad with babies, I've never really seen him like that before, with babies. It's cool, I liked it. The boys are very cool, nice and serene and I liked them and am excited. Q: After seeing the babies (Henry and Logan) for the first time and having such a positive experience, did this influence you in any way of how you might feel as well as your own impressions toward starting a family of your own? SALLY: People always say that when you feel like it's the right time, then I'll know it's my time, so I'm just waiting for my time. I don't feel like it's there yet, I'm not in any race. I really want to have kids but not right away. Maybe… four to five years from now… maybe. Q: Your boyfriend 'Dean' (NOT Dean/Dino the drummer in the band, this is an entirely different Dean…) is an actor, what kind of work is he doing? SALLY: He's an actor and he was running a restaurant in Martha's Vineyard and just sold his business. Now he's looking to work with some Import companies. Q: That's great and we all wish you the best. Does Dean support your career as a musician? Does he attend your shows? SALLY: He does, he comes to a lot of shows. He's unbelievably great and I'm extremely lucky. Q: When you're signing CDs after shows and spending time with your audiences, what in particular do kids talk to you about—any of them express interests in the arts? SALLY: Nobody at that age at one of my shows has even told me they wanted to be a musician; however, one girl I spoke with was intent on being famous… I don't think she understood what fame actually is. I would never tell this to a child, but if anyone came to me looking for fame you'd better go to a therapist for a few years first… Make sure that it's that you just don't like yourself. I think because the record industry is the way it is right now and the influence of the media is set up, people really don't know what they actually are getting into by becoming musicians. As a result a lot of people sign record contracts to get on the cover of People Magazine. It's a social phenomenon I think. Q: Many fans wanted like to know about your other passions in life? At one time you were considering acting and knitting as a potential area of interest. SALLY: I wouldn't say that acting is a passion but something I would really enjoy. Not something I'm perusing right now but definitely an interest. We talked about how I love to cook and knit and I love the chances when I'm able to do those things. I've been knitting since I was eight-years-old so I've made numbers of sweaters, scarves and hats. My girlfriend came over the other night and we watched a movie and knit. I'm constantly knitting and working on crafts to bring out some creativity… Q: I've also had the pleasure to ask band mate Chris Soucy some questions and that interview appears on the web site on the bio link near Chris' photo. One of the things he talked about was putting together an album of his own. SALLY: That's great! Yes, the Soucy solo album! That's going to be fantastic! He's borrowed some of my stuff and is figuring out how to make it work. I'm sure it's going to happen, knowing him, he's so determined, and he'll make it happen. Q: Chris had mentioned that he is planning on recruiting other band members for the album. So, this could be another Sally Taylor Band type side-album? How will you contribute to it? SALLY: Oh yeah, that goes without saying, we'll all be more than willing to jump on that. This will be kind of low-key and cool. I think he may use a couple songs we have co-written. In that case I'll probably be singing some. It will be interesting and really cool. Q: You've mentioned in a fairly recent interview that when you communicate your songs to an audience your message is to 'love yourself, deal with problems and be free of them.' Does this still apply to the Sally of 2002, or do you have a new mission based on your latest experiences? SALLY: I would say, 'have fun.' Enjoy your life and enjoy people you love. This about wraps it up, I hope you enjoyed the insight as much as I did. And, don't forget to catch Sally, Doc, Kennnnnnny, Dino and De-luke on the road in 2002! I want to express my most heartfelt wishes to those of you who submitted questions and provided feedback to make the second Fans' Forum bigger and better in 2001/02. My sincere appreciation for Sally's time, enthusiasm and adoration for her fans and best wishes for a successful and memorable 2002! Yours, Pat Return to Top Page |