JULIAN SHAH-TAYLER

[ Interview with Julian Shah-Tayler by Diego Centurión. Photografs: Brian Ziff ]

"THE TORMENT SUITE" ILLUSTRATES THE LAST 20 MONTHS OF SWEET TORMENT.

A few months ago, the name of Julian Shah Tayler or how the project carried out by The Singularity has been appearing on the radar of social networks. A man who makes elegant and exquisite music in the path of greats like David Bowie or Peter Murphy, to name just two artists that I really like. But thanks to Shauna Mclarnon (who I thank for the possibility that she brings us to do this interview), I was able to know much more about this artist. So settle into his seats, listen to his new EP "The Torment Suite" at: https://thesingularitymusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-torment-suite

Hi Julian, Thank you for agreeing to do this interview. To begin, tell us how and when was this project The Singularity born?

The project is now called by my name: Julian Shah-Tayler. It was born in the dormitories of my boarding school as I started writing songs to sound like the Cure and Prince who were my great musical loves. I had to express myself musically as I was classically trained and tutored by first my grandmother then Durham Cathedral Choir school. Music began flowing through my veins like a torrent. The lyrics are my great desire to communicate that which I can’t put into perfect words in real life

There is a whole story before this project, a story that involves a lot of art, tell us briefly your previous works to The Singularity.

I was in many bands between my initial songwriting and now: magic house in London, drinkme, Whitey, Kerli, Adamandevil, Piel and many many more.

Observing your discography, if I am not in error, your first work is “Twins” (2004), tell us how much do you think or feel that you have grown as a songwriter from that time until today?

Twins was the first album I completely produced and played and wrote with no other musicians. As a songwriter I have stayed quite similar, although my lyrical abilities have grown more expressive and I think my Production has improved....

Your work has always maintained a fine pop channel, but you have flirted with all kinds of genres, dark, disco, funk, more gothic ... which artists have influenced you?

I love Bowie, Prince, The Cure, Radiohead and Depeche Mode, and my girlfriend has recently introduced me to Battletapes who are amazing. I have seen several videos where you cover different artists. Tell us, is it pure fun or do you take it as a form of research about the way of composing that other artists have? Because I believe that by getting involved in the composition of another person you have to learn to listen and understand their idea.

I have always covered lots of other

artists. I used to busk in York where I went to university, so I learned literally hundreds of songs. It teaches you clever songwriting tricks when you learn Beatles/Bowie which then you aspire to emulate in your own work.

Going back to the present and your new EP "The Torment Suite". You have new songs and you have also taken up old songs. Tell us a bit about the idea for this EP.

I wanted to illustrate the feeling of the last 20 months, which have been sweet torment. Everyone is separated from their loved ones. I have been in a long distance relationship which has been made very difficult by the current situation, so you learn to collaborate via the

internet, zoom, FaceTime etc. so I “collaborated” at a distance. (David J was actually in my studio with his mask)

I have seen that you often use social networks to stream, How do you prepare each presentation? And do you think streaming is one of the new tools that is here to stay?

Facebook live is something I do a lot of. It’s ubiquitous now. In the absence of real live shows we’re working with what we can. I had a studio which I used to set up with a projector and backing tracks, but now I’m more on the acoustic shows. That’s just about remembering/learning originals and covers.

And speaking of 2020 and 2021. How much did your view of the world of music change with the pandemic?

It was obvious that music is so important to so many people. The money isn’t there, but the hunger is ravenous. It’s been difficult to survive financially, but without music I can’t function.

And speaking of what's to come, what are your plans?

I have a show planned with my girlfriend Eva Strangelove which involves burlesque and rock and roll as a kind of narrative stage show. One may compare it to rock opera/ ballet perhaps.... watch this space.

And to finish and thanking you for the time you have given us, tell our readers why they should and where to listen to The Singularity?

You can download from

thesingularitymusic.bandcamp. com

Or stream on

https://open.spotify.com/

www.mutanteradio.com