Taylor Hollingsworth: A future legend

Taylor Hollingsworth blazes from Alabama onto the independent circuit with a sound of his own and looks to play the industry game his way, on his terms.

"A lot of acts out right now draw from whatever is the most popular thing and I'm definitely not influenced by that," said Hollingsworth.

He traces his particular groove back to the 1970s punk rock and 1980s material, in addition to reaching back into the sounds of the '20s and '30s. Finding that usually past notable performers influence most other acts nowadays, Hollingsworth tries to stay away from beaten paths on his work. "Tragic City," his first full-length independent album, released this past January, is making waves with its Deep South rooted, blues-inspired rock riffs. The road to releasing the album was an adventure of itself, mainly in the items of time, money, and effort.

In obstacles to success, Hollingsworth found himself wanting band mates who would back him all the way and early on found a high turnover rate among the members. Often there was a situation where he would want to have a band behind him, but there was no one to be there. Today, that has changed and he has steady and committed band mates.

"You really got to commit to it," said Hollingsworth, "1 think that was most other people's problem."

"Tragic City," received a warm reception from AllMusic.com website, Birmingham Weekly, and the Dallas Observer among other reviewers, whom stated a promising future for the musician. The lead single "When I Get Around" topped sub modern charts at release in January on FMQB's singles list. His star rises as he tours across the United States and England. Hollingsworth is set to elevate himself to new heights, but it all started in Birmingham when he was a teenager.

Hollingsworth first picked up a guitar at age 14 and simply began playing and building up his talent. Growing up around music all his life, he cites not legendary musicians as his idols for doing what he does, but the people around him in his hometown of Birmingham. Those people were his friends that played the guitar; they were just like him. Some of the people he met along the way, which were in bands with moderate successes, were inspirational.

"I was just trying new things and playing guitar was the only thing I could stick with," said Hollingsworth.

The fellow musicians that perform in the clubs and the bars who are getting their name out there keep him on top of his game. Hollingsworth pulls ideas from nature, classic tunes, old rock and roll motifs, and women. The drive is something spiritual, not necessarily religious, creative force that brings ideas to him, where he tends to use darker images and tones to the works.

Hollingsworth's personal favored song is "Shoot Me, Shoot Me From Heaven" which has a more fun tone to it. However, he holds no particular song over another for he likes each one of them for different reasons.

In marketing his name, the public relations firm 60 Cycle Media and the independent label, Brash Music, have been instrumental. It is touring, however, that is his real preference for exposure. Over 150 shows performed over the past two years helped get his name out there, and this year planning to be in Atlanta, Birmingham, Toronto and New York. There is a webpage on the popular profile site, MySpace.com, though Hollingsworth rarely checks it. He does not favor mailing lists for that matter. Getting good press is not the focus. Rather, he concentrates on connecting his face to his music better and making a future album.

Future successes, he finds, would put him in a better place to do more with his music, but would only engage in future endeavors as long as his creative control is intact. Going commercial is feasible, but only on certain terms and Hollingsworth still would not give up the independent circuit. He would prefer to produce albums in both the mainstream industry and the independent circuit.

"I want to constantly be moving forward, whether on indie label or commercial label," said Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth strives only to go higher and with bring a different kind of vibe to rock music. From starting in his teens to idolizing locals and staying on top of his creativeness, he can only go up, but only doing it his way.

Written by Dominique Huff. Originally published by The Signal.