Maria Taylor

This article is about the musician. For the British missionary to China, see Maria Jane Taylor.

Maria Taylor
Maria Taylor performing in 2009.
Background information
Born	May 21, 1976 (1976-05-21) (age 35) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	Singer/Songwriter Indie rock Folk rock
Instruments	Vocals, Piano, Guitar, drums
Labels	Saddle Creek Nettwerk Music Group
Associated acts	Azure Ray Now It's Overhead Bright Eyes
Website	www.maria-taylor.com

Maria Diane Taylor (born May 21, 1976) is an American singer/songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink, as well as the band Now It's Overhead, both of which are signed with Saddle Creek Records. She plays several instruments, including the piano, guitar, and drums, and has collaborated with such artists as Bright Eyes, Moby, Abra Moore, David Barbe, and Crooked Fingers.

She released her first solo album 11:11 on Saddle Creek Records on May 24, 2005. Her second solo album, Lynn Teeter Flower, was released on March 6, 2007, also on Saddle Creek. She released an acoustic album titled Savannah Drive in fall of 2008. On March 31, 2009 she released her third full length, LadyLuck via Nettwerk Music Group.

Biography

Maria Taylor started her musical career at the age of fifteen in the band Little Red Rocket which released two CDs on Geffen—Who Did You Pay (1997) and It's in the Sound (2000). The group disbanded during the merging of Geffen with Universal Music Group. Afterwards, Taylor moved to Athens, Georgia along with her musical collaborator, Orenda Fink. There, they formed the band Azure Ray. The pair signed to WARM and released their self titled debut as well as their second album, Burn and Shiver. The duo then relocated to Omaha, NE and released two additional records on Saddle Creek, the November EP and their final album, Hold on Love. Following that album, Taylor and Fink moved on to produce their own solo records.

They were also involved in another Saddle Creek band, Now It's Overhead.

Taylor has contributed her vocals to Bright Eyes, Joshua Radin, Moby, and Crooked Fingers.^[1]

Her song "Time Lapse Lifeline" was featured in the "The Beaver In The Otter" episode of "Bones". Her music has also been featured frequently on the popular TV series, Grey's Anatomy—"Song Beneath The Song" from her first solo album 11:11 was on the Grey's Anatomy Season 1 Soundtrack. Maria Taylor's also had a song featured on the hit ABC Family series Greek. "No Stars" from Taylor's album Lynn Teeter Flower was also featured on the prom episode of the CW's One Tree Hill; she also has had a song featured on the series Scrubs. Taylor always removes the high E-string on her guitar before playing, even in concert.^[2]

Taylor's works have been called an inspiration for the new album by British singer Jack Lucien^[3] in his weekly blog.

Discography

Albums with Azure Ray

• Azure Ray (2001, WARM)
• Sleep EP (WARM, 2002)
• Burn and Shiver (2002, WARM)
• November EP (Saddle Creek, 2002)
• Hold On Love (2003, Saddle Creek)
• The Drinks We Drank Last Night (Saddle Creek, 2003)
• New Resolution (Saddle Creek, 2004)
• Drawing Down the Moon (Saddle Creek, 2010)

Solo

• 11:11 (2005)
• Lynn Teeter Flower (2007)
• Savannah Drive (with Andy LeMaster) (2008)
• LadyLuck (2009)
• Overlook (2011)

Compilations

• Lagniappe: A Saddle Creek Benefit for Hurricane Katrina Relief (Saddle Creek, 2005)

Appearances

• Bright Eyes - There Is No Beginning to the Story (2002, Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album (2002 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital urn (2005 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - Noise Floor (2006 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - Four Winds (2007 · Saddle Creek)
• Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (2007 · Saddle Creek)
• Rich Shapero - Dawn Remember (2010 · Outside Reading)^[4]

Music videos

Maria's film clips include "Song Beneath The Song" from 11:11, "A Good Start" from Lynn Teeter Flower, and "Time Lapse Lifeline" and "Cartoons and Forever Plans" from LadyLuck. The song "Cartoons and Forever Plans" was co-written with and also features R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. The video features actor/singer Soko and was directed by SKINNY (Directing Team).

Maria is also featured in the video for "Four Winds" by Bright Eyes.

References

1. ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "Biography: Maria Taylor". Allmusic. AOL Music. http://music.aol.com/artist/maria-taylor/480742/biography. Retrieved 2007-01-17. 
2. ^ Pamela Porosky (September, 2005). "Maria Taylor's 5-String Solo Journey". musicplayer.com. http://www.musicplayer.com/article/maria-taylors-5/Sep-05/13582. Retrieved 2007-09-04. 
3. ^ Jack Lucien on Myspace
4. ^ Shapero, Rich. "Dawn Remembers: The Making of the Too Far Music". http://www.toofar.com/music/. 

External links

• Official Maria Taylor Website
• Saddle Creek Records
• Maria Taylor on Myspace
• set of live videos at scheduletwo.com
• LAist Interview with Maria Taylor - November 2008
• HD Music Video of "Song Beneath the Song" at Apple Quicktime site
• Interview with Maria (Scene Point Blank) May 2007
• Lazy-i Interview: July 2005
• Video Interview with Maria Taylor

Persondata
Name	Taylor, Maria
Alternative names
Short description	American singer/songwriter
Date of birth	1976-05-21
Place of birth	Birmingham, Alabama
Date of death
Place of death