your last, and the growth that has come?
Russell Taylor: I had two projects before that. I had “Somewhere Between”, which was complete naiveté. I had no idea what I was doing. I was just recording a bunch of records and wanted to put them out. That record took me all around the world though. It was awesome and I learned a lot. I learned how to perform; how to go into a room full of people who had no idea what you were doing there. The second album, “Confessional”, introduced me to the mainstream. It’s still very much a part of who I was, but it was a needy part of me trying to satisfy what I was being told needed to be created. Following that, I took some time off, and my family got me back in the studio. I worked on “War of Hearts”, and that started to help me find my own voice when it came to writing, phrasing, and being comfortable with my voice. It was more a discovery, and it set me on my path. “Tin Man” is part of a trilogy. I feel completely planted in my faith, and if you can imagine, I’m extending my roots.
U.G. Digital Mag: Talk journey, and where you’re headed from here? What’s the timeline?
Russell Taylor: The beauty of being an indie is that it’s kinda when we decide. I throw it out to the people who support me and they say yes, or not yet. It could be over the course of the next year. That’s what I anticipate for all three being out, but we have to wait and see. There’s a cinematic quality to the spoken word I set up. I’m an actor first. Before I started with music, I was an actor and into the performance. There’s components I’m working on for the video that will morph into a video aspect. I also have written material, like sketching, poems, phrases, and all these different things like scrap-booking if you will, that went into the creation of the project. I look at it like a three part series. I’m just not sure how to release it to tell the story, but it’s coming.
U.G. Digital Mag: You have a solid place in this business man. I listen to so much music, and with you, I’m reminded of the D’Angelos, and the Ro Jameses, and so on. For me, it’s difficult to get into a lot of what is released these days, so I have a strong appreciation for the quality of music you’re releasing.
Russell Taylor: Man, I appreciate that. The hope is that if you build it, they will come. I appreciate being placed in that group. They are tremendous musicians. I’m honored to be in the same sentence.
U.G. Digital Mag: It’s so cool. People are getting a lot from you. I’m glad you spoke on the videos, and your prior acting. How do you balance that with your music?
Russell Taylor: You kinda go where it’s working. Right now, music has been my driving force. In between war of hearts and this project, I directed a play for Broadway that had a limited run, I did some auditions and acting. Writing has put me in the mind of film and television. It’s all in my head. As long as I’m in that creative space, I do as much as I can when I can. I’m in that space.
U.G. Digital Mag: For people wanting to remain in contact with you and know what you have going on, how do they do that?
Russell Taylor: My music is available on all digital platforms. On Twitter and Instagram, it’s @RSoulStar. I’m an avid Instagrammer. I’m always posting where I am. I travel a lot, and have a lot of music friends, so you never know who’s going to turn up.