Atlantis Aquarius

What’s your first music memory?

Jordan: I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and we went to church every Sunday. I remember when I was about five years old, there was a group of guys in the church [who] had this band called The John Harris Soldier Band—they’re not huge, like you won’t find their music or anything—but I remember seeing them, and it just hypnotized me. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Just seeing the brotherhood, the comradery of guys making music together—and it was in church so it was super spiritual.

Taylor: Being in the front seat of my uncle’s car. He was a great whistler; he could do the vibrato and sound like a little bird. He would whistle along in harmony to the radio and I remember hearing it, and knowing that it went along with the song but it wasn’t what was playing on the radio. I was so intrigued by what that was. Since that day harmony has kind of been my thing. That was my first time ever hearing it and understanding what it was. To this day I cannot whistle worth shit (laughs). I wish I could, but it’s just not in the cards for me I guess.

What was it like the very first time you performed in front of a crowd?

Jordan: That would have been in church as well. My twin brother, my best friend Michael, and I were the three wise men for a Christmas pageant, so we sang “We Three Kings.” That was the first time I performed for an audience. It was awesome. I mean, I was a kid, so I didn’t really know what was happening, but it was fun. I think it’s on a home video somewhere.

Taylor: The first time I ever performed in front of a crowd with a live band was at The Garland Opry. I was so nervous. I had never sung live. I only sang along to karaoke tracks that I bought from Mr. Sam’s Music or whatever. [...] But I had never played with a band. They were all older men who knew what they were doing, but I was like ten years old. [...] I was just freaking out. I remember telling my grandfather,

“Granddaddy, I have these terrible butterflies in my stomach.” And he said, “Well, just remember, you never get butterflies on a bad day, so this must be a good day.” I remember now to view those butterflies in a different way than I had before. That shaped a little bit of my perspective as a performer and how I look at live performance. I look at it as something to be celebrated instead of feared.

What is your favorite song to play live?

Jordan: It changes. Right now, it’s probably “Waiting on the Next Life,” which will be on the next record coming out in February.

Taylor: It depends on what type of vocal day I’m having. It also depends on if you’re asking for a cover or an original. But I love singing “Give Me Shelter” and singing the Mary Clayton solo in it—that’s if I’m feeling really on point. If I’ve had too many drinks, then I might prefer to sing “River Runs Deep” by JJ Cale where it has, like, murder mystery vibes. But it’s a great tune that I love to sing. I love to sing anything by Aretha Franklin. “Rock Me Baby” is a great tune. I’m not good at favorites, let’s just put it that way. Those are a handful of favorites.

Who’s had the biggest influence on your career?

Jordan: Probably [songwriter and musician] Leon Russell. [He was] another fellow Oklahoman. Just his combination of gospel and rock ’n roll. He played with The Rolling Stones, The Beatles. Elton John was praising him. He’s the man. [He had] the long hair and the beard, also. He definitely influenced me.

Taylor: Beau [Patrick] Bedford heard me singing in a car one night while I was in college. I went to college for interior design. I hadn’t [sung] in over five years—it was like a sabbatical for me. I was missing it terribly; that’s all I was really good at. Long story short, he heard my voice and had me audition to be in Larry Gee (now The Texas Gentlemen). So when I was having finals week, I was also on tour with Larry Gee and getting to play in New York and getting to travel. So as soon as I graduated I was in a band. I was playing with some of the best musicians in Dallas that I’m still playing with to this day. Beau put me in that and he began putting me on records as background vocals. [...] He was the person who put me in the game and kept putting me in and believed in me. I work for him, but he’s one of my greatest friends. I would do anything for him and he’s done a lot for me.

What would you say is the most difficult part of being a musician?

Jordan: I feel sorry for [my wife]. It’s hard to live with an artist. Coming in late, being out on the road. Having to balance a family with the nightlife is extremely hard and emotional, but thank God I have a loving wife who’s full of grace and support. We find a way to balance it.

Taylor: I think it’s difficult to be wellrounded. Great musicians either have really great help or they are multifaceted. It’s a business that you’re running. You want to be authentic and you want to be relatable, but you also want to keep privacy and be self-preserved and keep balance in your life. [...] So many people’s flame burns out because they don’t know how to balance it all. Being a musician, being an artist, being a friend, being a daughter, being what-

ever else—just staying a person and also being a musician.

If you could collaborate with one artist, past or present, who would it be?

Jordan: Leon Russell. He passed away a couple of years ago. I got to see him play, but never got to collaborate with him. That would’ve been a dream come true.

Taylor: See, I’m not good with picking

one thing! I would probably pick Beyoncé or Aretha Franklin. Or Whitney Houston! Oh my God! Or… okay those three [women]. Those three are like my ultimate [women]. If I could be anything like them one day—yeah those would be my three picks.

What’s been the craziest thing that’s happened to you at a concert?

Jordan: There have been so many concerts and so many crazy situations.

Fights, which I hate, and I don’t stand for. [...] After our Kid Rock show, we got into a huge fight and almost got kicked off of tour. It was with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock. We went on tour with them. We lost our keys. Kid Rock gave us all this whiskey and we had all of it. We had to get a key made, and our bass player and our lead singer got in a fight—this is not Atlantis Aquarius by the way. This is an old band I was in. But yeah, thank God we didn’t get kicked off the tour.

Taylor: Being brought backstage or side stage. That’s happened a few times. That’s the craziest thing. It’s happened with some pretty cool people. Or being invited onstage. That sounds like kind of an arrogant answer but—[the] craziest thing is being invited backstage.

What’s been the most rewarding moment of your career thus far?

Jordan: Hearing myself on the radio for the first time.

Taylor: I think the response from the people you sing for is really rewarding, but that’s not a moment. Singing on the stage at the Ryman Auditorium and meeting [country singer] Wynonna Judd. [...] Wynonna gave me some glitter eyeshadow and said, “This is

for the next generation of greatness.” I have that glitter eyeshadow in a glass box at my bedside for good juju. I was so humbled by that moment. But it’s also rewarding to meet people that have come to multiple shows and get to say hi to them. It’s great to have those connections with people.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Jordan: Do it ‘cause you love it. That’s it. You might never make it. You might make it. But you gotta love it either way. Just keep doing it.

Taylor: Find some other way to make money. Get a second job. Work hard. Work harder than the person [who] works a nine-to-five. That’s what I would suggest. Have another form of making money. You don’t want to

have to take every bar gig that you’re offered just to pay rent. Give yourself some exclusivity; then you’ll never feel like you’re compromising the integrity of your art for a paycheck. You don’t want to have to play every three-hour bar gig just to make a couple hundred bucks. Give yourself another route to make money. Be ambitious, be a hard worker, and find another way to support yourself. Also, try to be authentic. Try to stay genuine. You have to try to stay connected. If you’re not willing to focus on that, then you’ve lost your touch.