Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Taylor Watkins of Western North Carolina

We recently had the chance to connect with Taylor Watkins and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Nowadays I am balancing music and carpentry. My time is dedicated to following two main passions of mine, playing music and woodworking, I stay busy during the day as a carpenter in my small town in North Carolina. As the evening rolls around I transition into music-mode and either start making my way to a show or start a recording session. I have spent the year helping some friends produce their music, and am coming close to finalizing my third album as well. On evenings that I am not recording I spend my free time reading, writing songs, low-balling people on marketplace, or watching tv.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Taylor Watkins, and I go by my last name in the music world. Thanks for having me back, a lot has changed since the last interview. I am no longer living full time in a tour van on the road. After spending 4 years traveling the country, my partner and I decided it was time to plant our feet for a little. Along our journey we stumbled upon the small town of Black Mountain, right outside of Asheville, NC. It’s a small valley town surrounded by mountains and trees. It was the first place that felt like “home” to us and we decided to stay. Going on two years now, I have lived here and think it might be where I stay for good. I got engaged last year with plans to marry in the winter. This year has been full of new experiences as well as some really great music opportunities. Alongside working on my third album, I have gotten the chance to perform at some of my bucket list venues. From living for years in Nashville, TN to now being engulfed in the music scene of Western North Carolina, I can honestly say it has been a breath of fresh air. Nowadays you can find me playing with a rotating roster of musicians, with each show being a little different. Incorporating pedal steel and upright bass, my initial mission of creating a “psychedelic southern” sound has come to fruition with the help of Appalachia. Although I have taken a small hiatus with cross-country touring, the travel itch is coming back.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For the majority of my life I have been very outspoken, never afraid to share my opinion. I was never shy, looking forward to talking with strangers, not one to hide from public speaking. I made friends by being vocal, using my humor and communication skills to connect. As the years have passed, I have matured mentally and spiritually. Although I still carry many of the values of my younger self, my philosophies have truly shaped over the course of my twenties. One of the lessons I have learned is to be a better listener. The importance of listening can get swept under the rug, especially for someone whose job it is to be on a microphone. I have grown to be more quiet, trying to be more aware of when I chose to speak. This exercise in listening has allowed me to learn more from others and has given me the chance to listen more to my inner thoughts and think more clearly before speaking. It has deepened my connection to the world and to the people in my life. It has helped my grow as a writer by building my ability to communicate with more clarity.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Every day……. All jokes aside, it is a thought that goes through every artists head. I have always said that I will play music no matter what happens in life. It is the only certainty. That being said, it is a struggle to try to make your name as an artist. When music becomes a career path, it is hard to juggle keeping the artistry alive while trying to make a living with it. It is an everyday battle finding an honest line between staying true to yourself while still trying to make enough money to eat. Some of my all time favorite artists spent decades on the road before gaining mainstream awareness. It is easy to get caught up in the hope for some magical big break. Unfortunately that is not how the music industry works anymore (at least for the majority). Big names artists are admitting to the struggles of breaking even touring, top streaming artists are complaining at the small payouts from big services like Spotify, and famous acts are cancelling more tours than ever due to the mental and financial stress. Here lies the “struggling artist”, the term has been around forever. And thankfully I knew from a young age what I was getting into. Although that doesn’t necessarily make things better, I have made a promise to myself to see this life-long mission through. Going on 15 years of performing, I have taken my experiences as lessons and continuously reshape what this journey looks like. Each year I learn more about who I am as an artist and trust my gut on the path I must take to keep the dream alive!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
100%. I am transparent and give my full self to everyone, whether a close friend or an audience member. Flaws and all, I take pride in being true to the moment. My entire goal with my live performances is to showcase my honest self and to be as vulnerable as possible with the audience. My belief is if I show how comfortable I am on stage, that it allows the crowd to also feel comfortable and allow each individual to be vulnerable. Everyone is an artists in their own right, and if my actions on stage can allow others to come to that realization then I have done my job.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Working. Everything would be for the experience, not for any financial purposes. Although I am blessed to have a career path that provides for me, my focus has never been money. I am at a point in my life where financial security is important, but if my future was cut short my care for the dollar would dwindle. Take pride in your work and find a job that suits your soul, but don’t make it your entire life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/thebandwatkins
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebandwatkins/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebandwatkins
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChbMsSut3VGU-TfBsLOj-Bg
• Other: New Music Video: https://tr.ee/oYXvVz4ATp
  New Single: https://tr.ee/aYXhETYRii

Image Credits
Photos by Colleen Hartbarger, Tom Farr, and Gabe Lee. Logo by Taylor Davis and Luke Francis.