Interview: Joanne Shaw Taylor

Greg Schultz: We appreciate you calling and taking the time outta your schedule. I just wanna let everybody know that we are speaking to Joanne Shaw Taylor, who is here to talk about her new record Heavy Soul, which was just released a few months ago, and her upcoming show Monday night at the Boulder Theater at eight o’clock. It’s just gonna be a killer show. Welcome to KGNU Joanne, we’re happy to have you here.

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Thank you for having me. I always warn people on live interviews. I’m sitting next to my 18 month old sausage dog who can and will start losing it at any given moment.

Greg Schultz: We love dogs. Listen, before we talk about the show, I want to talk to you a little bit about your new record, Heavy Soul. God, it’s pretty cool. Produced by Kevin Shirley, who did The Black Crowes and others. But it’s a bit of a departure from what I’ve been reading and listening to. It’s got that really cool soulful sound to it. Can you just talk a little bit about the motivation and the inspiration for the new release?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Sure. To be honest, this one was an interesting one for me. My previous album, Nobody’s Fool, was definitely a bit of a departure because I’d done a blues covers album and then a live version of it. So I’d done two sort of traditional blues albums back to back. Nobody’s Fool, I had some fun messing around with more pop melodies. Heavy Soul was an interesting one for me, because I’ve always said that I want every album of mine to be different. When you’re recording when you’re 34, you’re a different person to when I recorded this at 38. I like to see change and growth, but I want them all to sound like the same artist. The challenge for me with Heavy Soul was, how do I go from a sort of pop blues album back into soul, blues, roots music and make it a seamless transition? It was a little bit of a challenge, but I think we did pretty good. I’m super thrilled with how the album turned out and we’ve been having great feedback from fans, which is what matters most.

Greg Schultz: Yeah, that’s fantastic. Where did you record this record? I’m just curious.

Joanne Shaw Taylor: We did this at RCA Studios in Nashville, which is one of my favorite places to record for those who don’t know. Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Elvis, Johnny Cash, all the greats have recorded there. It’s just one of those rooms that has a real kind of history and a vibe to it when you walk in.

Greg Schultz: I’ve read and talked to many artists who say they really can feel that when they go into places like that. Did you discover that to be true for yourself?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Yeah, absolutely. I actually did an album there in 2015 with Kevin and I always wanted to get back there. And it changed hands. It’s now in the hands of Dave Cobb, an extraordinary producer, so we were able to get back in there. It’s like when you go to Clarksdale, Mississippi, there’s just something hanging in the air, all the history. I feel very privileged to be able to record there, to be honest.

Greg Schultz: I love the record. It’s fantastic. I played a cut earlier this morning. We gave some tickets away to the show, and we’ll play another tune here going out in a bit. But again, thanks for calling in. Folks, we are talking to Joanne Shaw Taylor, who’s going to be playing a KGNU Presents show Monday evening at the Boulder Theater, so get your tickets. It’s going to be killer. Let’s talk a little bit about the show. What can you tell the folks? What can we expect Monday night when folks come in to see Joanne Shaw Taylor? What are we gonna hear? Are you gonna play a lot of new stuff? You’re gonna dip into your repertoire? What do you think you’re gonna be doing?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: We’re definitely doing a lot of stuff off the new album because obviously that’s fresh and it’s nice for us as a band to be able to add in the new material and have fans finally hear it live. And then, and I say this very tongue in cheek, the greatest hits of the previous album. I realize I’m not Elton John, but that’s the best way of summarizing it. I always joke it’s obnoxiously loud blues guitar sung by a potentially sassy British woman, basically. And a friendly good time, I hope.

Greg Schultz: I think that’s pretty funny. I just wanted to let you know, we have a blues show on Friday night. We play your music quite a bit, different DJs. And I remember your first album. 2009, White Sugar. I was looking through some of my CDs and lo and behold. I knew I had it, but I’m not very good about filing things away. I was listening to that, and boy, you’re right. What you’ve done the last, 12, 13 years is pretty cool.

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Oh, thank you. Yeah, you’ve got to go with it. I did White Sugar when I was 22. I can’t sing like a 22 year old anymore, and I can’t do most of the things I did as a 22 year old, so it was beautiful for me to see Joni Mitchell at the Grammys singing “Both Sides Now”. You have to lean into the aging thing and the growth and it’s fun. So I’m enjoying it.

Greg Schultz: You’re still a young blues singer and guitar slinger in my eyes. So you’ve got many great years ahead of you, of course. Listen, we’ll let you get out of here. Can you just fill the folks in? Who’s in your band? Can you give us the band member names pretty quick?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Sure. Sarah Tomic on drums, Chris Kuffner on the bass guitar, Phil Whitfield on the keyboard, and Shane Sanders on second guitar. And then me, Joanne, on general nonsense up front.

Greg Schultz: Oh, that’s fantastic. And where can everybody find you on social media and things like that? Websites? Can you give the folks all that info?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Yep. I think it’s just @joanneshawtaylor on Instagram and Facebook. I’m not on X. I dunno if the labels on there, they tend to stay away from that. But yeah, Facebook, Instagram, and obviously the website, joanneshawtaylor.com.

Greg Schultz: That’s fantastic. Listen, we’ll let you get out of here. I noticed you have a nice tour lined up. You’re going to be winding down your tour in the States here and then it looks like you’re heading home. We’re on the interwebs. So anybody listening, check her website out. And if you’re in her area or in the area she’s going to be playing, go check her out. Cause you won’t be disappointed. And listen, we look forward to having you here in Boulder. It’s a beautiful theater. I don’t know if you played there before. Have you played the Boulder Theater?

Joanne Shaw Taylor: I don’t think so. We played Boulder before, but I think actually it may have even been pre COVID. Colorado is such a stunning state. Boulder is a great town. It’s definitely one I’m looking forward to getting back to.

Greg Schultz: Yeah, it’s got that vibe, too, that you see in a lot of these theaters and these towns with the balcony. It’s a really cool place, and the acoustics are fantastic. We’re looking for a good turnout. Listen, we’ll let you get down the road again. Thanks for phoning in and spending some time with us here at KGNU. We love your music, and we wish you nothing but the best down the road.

Joanne Shaw Taylor: Thank you, love, and be well, and thank you for having me on the show.

Greg Schultz: Absolutely, take care of yourself.

Joanne Shaw Taylor: You too, bye bye.

Greg Schultz: Bye bye.