I had the opportunity to video chat with and interview New Jersey’s rising pop/etc. artist, Taylor Tote. She’s been steadily rising in her success with her new music, and her incredible road trip story that she talks about in her last EP.

“I’ve been into music from the moment I could walk and talk,” Tote says. “And it was always just there, and not something I really had to think about. I always really liked being the center of attention. I would put on shows at recess with my friends at school, I’d get up on the pool deck and start singing for everybody and I’ve never felt really nervous or shy on stage, except maybe when I sang the national anthem.”

We talked about her experience singing the national anthem for our military and how it brings out something special because of the service they provide by protecting our country, she is able to give just a little back in the form of honoring and “representing our country,” as Tote explains it.

We then started talking about her recent EP, 21 Minute Drive, which was followed by a road trip from her home to California.

“My friend, who I’m visiting now, was moving to California and we were helping her, but one of the biggest reasons I felt I needed the road trip was because I felt trapped,” she shares. “I was in this state of being trapped in a box, and I knew exactly what I wanted and what I needed to do, but I just couldn’t get out… I felt like there was really a point where I thought I wasn’t going to do music anymore. I was experiencing imposter syndrome, and it kind of put me in a place of needing to think back on what I was doing. I felt like I was doing nothing, and I wasn’t being productive. I told my producer, Russell, when we were writing these songs, that I really want to have songs that people can apply to however they’re feeling. I don’t really want to center it entirely on love, I really wanted to talk about this mental state that I’ve fallen into that I know others have felt.

I had to tell myself ‘I got really far and I did a lot of this on my own,’ and told myself that I don’t need anybody to validate that for me. I’m not perfect and that’s okay because I shouldn’t be striving to be perfect. I saw this quote that read “We need to stop comparing our behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel” and it really made sense to me. I think social media can be a really great place, but it could also be a toxic place. It’s a blessing and a curse and we have to be really careful about what we’re putting online, what we’re saying, what we’re seeing and how we perceive it all.

So as we were driving across California, my other really good friend had just moved to Hawaii, so I took the $99 flight from LAX, and it was just such a needed thing for me. I don’t know how to explain it, but when you start seeing different parts of the world, you think, ‘Wow, nature has the potential to crush me at any moment, so why am I so hung up on the little things?’ I also learned that we are not invincible and that’s okay. This trip put a lot of things in perspective, which brought me the inspiration for the track, ‘Multivitamin,’ and the two other songs I have coming out in July and August.

When I had the concept for ‘Multivitamin,’ I said to Russell, ‘I want people to listen to this and I want them to be like ‘this is weird, but it’s really cool,’‘ because I wanted to keep stepping out of my comfort zone. What I learned from 21 Minute Drive is this is the most me I’ve ever felt. Now I had been happy with the things that I put out in the past, but when [21 Minute Drive] came out everyone was saying ‘wow, this is so different for you,’ and I would tell Russell, ‘people are saying this is so different, but it doesn’t feel different,’ and he told me, ‘This is the most you, you’ve ever been like.’ I have been waiting for this for so long and now I finally have it. I went to go see one of my friends who I met through the music industry and worked on a lot of videos with her, and when I showed her the EP, we like sat in her car and listened to the EP, and within like the first five seconds she was like ‘yeah, this is like exactly what I thought you should have been doing years ago.’ I still want people to go ‘wow’ because I’m still continuing to grow and I’m not keeping myself in a box.”

“I think what you’re doing (in reference to her jumping out of the societal genre-specific box) is incredible,” I share with her. “You and others are opening the doors for other artists who also want to try new things and maybe bend their original sound to try something different.”

“I write how I’m feeling in the moment and I want to do what feels good,” she explains. “I’m just kind of just doing my thing and doing what feels right.”

We started talking about the genre-specific boxes I mentioned earlier, and how they truly do add to the compartmentalization of artists and their craft. While we are so used to our favorite artists sticking to what they know, it’s not uncommon for them to branch out and try different forms of expression. Whether that’s a different genre from what’s usually “expected” from them or even a new form of media entirely. Either way, that old idea that artists shouldn’t or don’t normally switch over is pretty much out the window, and I highly doubt that most artists are influenced by just one subset of genres and artists, so why would their music be any different?” she says.

“There’s a lot of crossovers happening now,” Tote says. “P!nk is doing songs with Keith Urban, Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus, even Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha. They’ve been doing all of these amazing things and proving you don’t have to stick to just one thing. Taylor Swift is another example. I definitely admire her and her work ethic, but did people really think that she was going to doing the same music that she was at 15 years old with ‘Teardrops On My Guitar?’ No! She’s in her thirties, and she’s evolving and growing, and what you see is what you get.

I’m not putting on a face or a front, and that’s what I was proving with ‘Multivitamin.’ It’s silly and fun and I’m silly and fun. I make a lot of quirky comments and say a lot of bizarre things, so I like to put that into my music. The stories in my lyrics are always very true to what’s happening to me and my life. I feel like I can’t write about anything else because then it just becomes unauthentic and I really want to be as authentic as possible and represent myself the best way that I can.”

“When the [21 Minute Drive] EP came out, I was nervous about a lot of the interviews that I was gonna be doing because a lot of them were with people that had seen me do the rock stuff with my former band. All of them had nothing but great things to say except this one interview I did with somebody. He made it seem as if what I was doing wasn’t a good idea. That I was doing something easy or doing something that wasn’t as good as it was before, and I’m like ‘This is me. This is what I always wanted but even if it wasn’t what I always wanted, it’s what I want now.’ It’s crazy to me how many people think pop music is just easy music, because pop is, hands down, the hardest genre I’ve ever done.”

Tote also shares a point that we both agree on, which is the idea that just because something is unfamiliar to you, doesn’t mean it’s easier or any less you. It’s just different. She also shares that it’s okay to change your mind or ideas of what your music sounds like because it happens and we aren’t done growing.

“That same interviewer asked me a really great question, though. He asked, “Okay, you’ve been on tour, you’ve done all these really cool shows, and you performed with these people, etc. What is something that sticks out to you as your greatest accomplishment?” And it wasn’t anything I’d ever really thought about before, but without hesitation and without a beat, I said, ‘I’m releasing music that I am proud of. I’m releasing music that represents who I am, and that’s so important to me.'”

As we continued talking about her work, the biggest thing that stuck out to me, was the pace that she was able to keep to make all of this happen. She has had singles laid out for a while, but even things like photoshoots, music videos, writing and recording the songs, interviews, etc, all take a lot of time to come together seamlessly, which she is executing so incredibly, and with great results.

“I realized I didn’t have to wait on people. I don’t have to wait months or years to release a song I’m excited about. Like with 21 minute Drive, we wrote and recorded everything within three weeks and I asked Russell, ‘How soon can we get this out?’ and he’s like, ‘We can get this out in February.’ Now, I’m able to kind of release things on my own terms and not have to wait on anything.”

“How are you doing it so fast???” I ask her. “I’m so sorry to cut you off, but how are you able to get all of this done so fast? The music video? The photoshoot? The recording? I’m very confused and very interested in how you’re doing it all. I need to know how you’re doing it all???”

We both laughed for a little, and she shared a few of her secrets.

“As soon as we knew we had the songs and when we would be releasing them, I contacted one of my friends who’s a photographer and I told them I have three songs coming out so we need to do an all-day photoshoot to just get all the content done. It kind of ended up being split into two days which was fine, but in the end, it all worked out. I told them I needed the pictures and press items are done for ‘Multivitamin’ ASAP because it was coming up so quickly. We had to get it out to the distributor and Spotify playlists and all that stuff, so I told him if he wanted to put some of the other songs on pause to finish this one up, that’s fine. My producer, Russell, does the mixing and mastering himself, and he’s super fast. He dedicated all of his time to creating. I’ll give him an idea and he will have already written something within like five minutes, that’s just how fast he works!”

I wish I could explain the number of neurons that all fired at once when I realized the sheer talent and drive that Tote has in getting her music out there, and that really sparked something so special in me. It was like for a few moments, everything made sense, and it truly was one of the best ‘Ah-Ha’ moments I’ve had in a while. So Taylor, thank you so so much for sparking that fire in me.

Tote also talked about how important it was that she works with people that she’s friends with, and makes sure that she is completely comfortable around them.

“I really like to work with my friends. I don’t think that it’s possible for me to work with people who aren’t my friends, because I need that sort of friendship. So, Jonny, my photographer for these next few songs, I met through a friend. When we started working together, we clicked right away, and I told him I really liked the work that he did when we were together, and I just felt very comfortable with him. He was really excited about the project, the songs, and he genuinely cares about me as a person and my vision. If you don’t really understand my vision and what I’m doing, or if you just don’t even really care about working together and supporting each other, it just doesn’t work for me. I tell [Russell] literally every single detail of what’s happening in my life because we’re co-writing, so there are times like if he’s writing something for me, maybe he’ll come up with a verse and I’m like, ‘okay, yes, I like that but like we need to change this line because this isn’t what’s going on and it needs to be true to that,’ because like I said, I really try to be as authentic as possible and be really representative of my mind, my situation, everything.”

Another thing about finding people to work within the music industry is finding those who are willing to grow and learn with you, and Tote explains her view on this to a T.

“I’m a firm believer in the saying, ‘Don’t reach up, reach out.’ Don’t reach up to people who you think are gonna offer you opportunities just because you’re reaching out to them, or because they’re doing a little better than you, or because they have something to offer. Reach out to people who are on your level. Reach out to your friends, reach out to people that you can grow with because those are the people you’re gonna come up with. Those people up there? They’re already up there, so we usually don’t have anything to offer them. They might not care about helping you grow as a musician or anything because they are already there. I like to reach out to my friends because it’s important to have people that you can like regularly trust and regularly work with and build something with and grow and evolve with.

But also expanding that network too is really important,” She highlights. “But expanding it in a way that serves a purpose in terms of a genuine relationship. In this industry, it’s important to have a network that you can trust, but you can definitely expand that circle. I think it’s good to work with other people eventually at some point but there is that kind of circle that you know you can always go to.”

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Those relationships that you build with fellow music industry people are so important, and they really carry you through your journey as a musician. I’ve talked about the countless number of people I’ve met at different conferences, and the most important thing to me is that they know me on a personal level, too. I truly care about the lives and well-being of the people I meet, which takes me a long way. Sure, you can just reach out to someone on strictly a professional level, but there’s something special about that personal bond that you can create with those, and those are so much more special than any strict business relationship can ever be.

At the end of all of the great things that we talked about, Tote brings it back to some of the more fundamental things we chatted about.

“Everything that I ever want people to know about me and my music is that it’s authentic. It’s authentically me. I want people to know that they’re not alone. We always feel like we are the only ones going through a certain situation, but then you’ll hear a song or you hear something and you’re like ‘Wow. I really relate to that.’ I just want people to understand that they are not in things and in their feelings by themselves. I like giving people a safe space, I guess. I really hope people can take something away from what I do.”

Connect with Taylor Tote

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | ReverbNation | Spotify | Apple Music

That Music Mag has had a rich history of telling the stories of the musicians, artists, and bands that work endlessly to provide concerts to the citizens of the Tri-State area. One of those local artists is Taylor Tote.

Tote is a musician from New Jersey that has been making music for years.

She just released a brand new single, “Never Have I Ever.” She sounds better than ever on this recording. It’s pop-leaning with a little of R&B/soul blended in for a full, rich musical experience.

She recently won Best Rising Star For Music Video for her single, “Hearts A Boomerang,” produced by David Ivory.

“Never Have I Ever” was written by Taylor Tote and was produced by Telegraph Hill Records and musician, Nick Ryan.

Take a listen to the track below and let us know what you think about this new song from New Jersey’s songstress.

Connect with Taylor Tote

Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

“The way some people are trying to get attention and love from another person isn’t really the loving and respectful way of either person in the ‘relationship’ [hence the line in the bridge], ‘If you wanted love you should’ve handled me differently’…”

Taylor and her band just announced an upcoming show on October 6 at the Asbury Lanes, the hottest new concert venue in Asbury Park, NJ. It is an all-ages show, but anyone 16+ must have a parent/guardian with them. The show will feature local duo Nalani & Sarina, Pepperwine, and the Taylor Tote Band. Doors are at 7:00 PM and the show begins at 8:00 PM. Advanced tickets are $12 and $15 at the door.

The new music has been well-received by the media including Michael S. Golub, both a devoted fan and ‘volunteer’ publicist.

“Taylor Tote brings the communicative elements of imagery, emotion, and music to the fore in a most unique way,” Golub begins. “Taylor’s strong sense of self-worth and honesty manifesting itself in lyrics that depict a self-empowered modern woman holding on to traditional values. She makes a provocative admission of fact to herself and comes to the conclusion that her future relies on her first having the courage to be truthful with herself..”

He adds “Her passion for being a storyteller pours out from her words, expressions and the robust manner in which the message unfolds through the use of dramatic photography and provocative text. Taylor effectively uses the inflections of her voice and the cadence of rhythm to welcome the listener into the recesses of her heart, exposing the burden she bares [sic] and the vivid confession that becomes the very fuel for the storyline.”

Tote speaks “to the universal themes that have become the woven fabric of the lives of many young women, and at the same time, the underlying narrative is one of liberation, hope, and release. Her careful choice of language evolves into a most formidable force, that ultimately establishes a texture unto itself. We have come to know Taylor better through the use of her well-honed ability to captivate and capture the sympathy of her fans, with an almost effortless skill and intuitive insight.

“This bright and talented burgeoning entertainer is still in the sunrise of her career, and yet her poise and demeanor is one that would suggest that an “old soul” has come to take up residence in her young mind, body, and soul,” Golub notes. “In the weeks, months and years that will follow the release of this video, Taylor’s career will gradually pick up a significant amount of momentum. She will rise to the strata of a true self-made superstar and still remain grounded and humble. Simply stated, she has to…”

“This is her destiny and the rendezvous with her future. As her inspiring stage presence and aura appreciates, not only in scope and size but also depth and detail, the threads of her thoughts will be placed upon the loom of her heart and thus result in the creation of some of the most vibrant and innovative songwriting we have yet to see. As she moves onto other projects and engages in expanding the spectrum of her resources & assets, we will be granted the opportunity to occupy a special vantage point to not only witness the maturation of an artist embracing her chosen craft, while coming into the full bloom of her life, but we in turn with be made more whole and warmed to our core. Taylor walks her own path forward and her fans will be drawn to simply follow the radiant glow of promise of her message as it seeps through the dense forestation of life’s challenges and obstacles. It is Taylor herself that lights the way ahead.”

The new single was written by Tote and produced and engineered by multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated engineer, David Ivory, of Ivory Productions.

The band features Taylor Tote (lead/background vocals), Nick Ryan (guitar/vocals), Tom Briant (guitar/vocals), Aaron Manzo (bass), and Anthony Flora (drums).

Taylor’s Website • Facebook • ReverbNation

photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos, Right Stuff Studios

Ever since I reviewed Taylor Tote’s eponymous EP back in 2015, she has continued to impress new fans and make great strides in the world of music. A native of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, Tote and her top-notch band have been taking the musical world by storm. Since I last covered her 4-song project, Taylor has continued to perform many high-profile out of state shows including venues in NY, PA, MD, CT, DE, TN, CA and potential upcoming shows to AZ and VA.   Her audience continues to expand gaining exposure across the nation at each show.

Taylor has performed at the world’s most significant trade-only event for music products industry, NAMM, in both Nashville, TN and Anaheim, CA.  This past Winter NAMM there was over 99,000 attendees from across the world.  She performed at the 2017 Penn State THON for over 10,000 students and was recently named NYC Hard Rock Rising 2017 Division Champions.

Tote’s main influences include Amy Winehouse, Grace Potter, Adele, Maroon 5, Train, and Stevie Nicks. American Songwriter called Tote’s full-band performance as one of the highlights of the New Jersey Light of Day festival for her “wide, emotional vocal range and pop sensibilities.” The Asbury Park Press cites a “lilting twang in her voice that shades from corn-fed country to big pop and vampy jump blues.” I described Tote at the Aquarian as an “Artist that is dominating, empowering, strong, soft, sexy, and insanely fun. Her attitude and stage presence is smooth, sweet, and controlled. However, it can be flipped like a switch to a rock and roll, hell-stomping diva. Her range is one of a rock ‘n’ roll vixen that will send your music senses on the ride of your life.”

Totes award-winning “Fighter” music video received three prestigious awards in 2017 from Garden State Film Festival, The Asbury Park Music and Film festival and Los Angeles Movie Awards in Hollywood, CA. “Fighter” has had over 125,000 views and has been written up in numerous publications, including a national feature on Joan Lunden’s blog. The long-time host of Good Morning America called the song a “must download, ” and Tote is even conscientious enough to contribute all proceeds from Itunes downloads to childhood cancer research through Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer.

Between all the live work and video’s that Tote handles, she also has found the time to work on new material with Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum engineer, and producer David Ivory. Ivory, who has worked with some of the music’s best performers such as Grammy-Winning Halestorm, The Roots, Patti Labelle, Silvertide and much more. Ivory is in the process of getting ready to record a pair of live Taylor Tote band shows coming up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The band will also be utilizing the film crew of Right Stuff Studios (New Jersey) who will be on hand to capture performance and audience interaction with the group. Ivory will be putting the band through its paces on October 13 at the world-famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park and then at Puck Live, an intimate live music venue in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on October 21.

I had the recent opportunity to hear some of the new music, and while it is still unreleased, I can say that she is on the right track. Songs such as “Forever Young,” a mid-tempo country-flavored number featuring outstanding guitar work from Nick Ryan. Clean and concise, his playing helps the song stand out in spades. Tote’s toned vocal skills are the guiding light on this sure fired hit and a highlight of what was sent to me. Other songs include “Please Don’t Break My Heart,” a poppy, jazzy feel over the top of Totes powerful pipes. Choruses pop where they should as does the verse work and bridges. Another song that is sure to turn heads and garner attention for the band.

They also sent me a song called “Mama Told Me” Steeped in the traditions of R&B and Blues, “Mama” lays in the pocket in just the right way. Tote and company prove they can rock-and-roll but also find a different musical voice that works well for them in within a different format. Guitars are soulful and bark when needed. The middle-Eight solo (Performed by Tom Briant) is Clapton-inspired gold straight out of 1970. Drums and bass nail this bluesy gut-wrenching hit to the proverbial floor. The chorus for this song is my favorite out of all that I had the chance to listen to.

I can’t really discuss anything else about the yet to be titled record, but Taylor said songs would be unveiled at the live shows. The upcoming live Stone Pony show will be a “hands-on” test of new material aimed at old and new fans alike. Tote utilizes a crack band of players which includes Tom Briant, Tote, Aaron Manzo, Anthony Flora, and Nick Ryan.

photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos, Right Stuff Studios

Tickets for The Stone Pony show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. There will be limited VIP tickets available for $40. That fee includes a meet and greet, a T-Shirt, autographed poster and early entry. For advanced tickets and VIP packages contact taylortotemusic@gmail.com. Advanced tickets are also available at The Stone Pony Box Office.

The Doylestown, PA show will offer similar arrangements for the 10-21 date at Puck Live. For more information on Taylor Tote band, please go to their website. That address is www.taylortote.com..

Written by John Pfeiffer

photos by Kostas Lymperopoulous

The Tri-State area has one of the most active and exciting music scenes in the United States. There is constant talented emerging and incredible musicians making a name for themselves.

Meet up and coming, singer/songwriter, Taylor Tote, based out of Monmouth County, New Jersey. She’s a musician that has been singing and performing for as long as she can remember. Tote has already received so much recognition from various music competitions, open mic events, and other music events, that it foreshadows just the tip of a successful music career.

“I was an only child for a little while, so I would preoccupy myself with listening to music and coming up with dances and skits.  I would dress up and always put on shows for my family.  When I was in 4th grade, my two best friends and I formed a singing group and wrote songs.  Even though nothing materialized, we performed together at our 6th grade talent show and have cherished memories.”

And just that small taste of a singing career hooked her. Soon after that, she took every opportunity she had to sing. “Music always fascinated me. At my kindergarten graduation, I said I wanted to be a rock star, and that hasn’t changed since then,” She revealed.

She continued to perform at various talent shows and if there was live music where she was, she would ask to sing a song. From Martell’s Tiki Bar, SAWA, to The Falls, as well as parties attended by her family, she was constantly singing. She would sing “Drops of Jupiter” by Train a capella and always be asked to sing another.

At age 15, Tote focused in on honing her craft, and hired a vocal coach to help her learn the fundamentals of singing: proper breathing, posture, and diction, while not interfering with her vocal personality. A year later, at age 16, she wrote a song titled “Jane” and performed at her first open mic.

From then on, that’s when things began to take off. She was invited to perform at various open mic events as the “Featured Artist.” She took various first place finishes in competitions like the NJ Talent Search, Do The Shore Singer/Songwriter of Cape May, and in 2013, was invited by a cover band to be their lead vocalist, and accepted. There she brought some of her original material to the band and led them to win the “Rock to the Top” competition at The Stone Pony the same year.

It wasn’t until her time at the Berklee College of Music summer 2014 program that she realized that “songwriting was equally important” and that “I needed to sharpen my songwriting skills to further my career in music.”

Tote launched the next phase of her music career in 2014 by starting her own band under her name, and continuing to grow as a songwriter as well. As with most musicians, she’s influenced the most by personal experiences, but has recently discovered that she’s able to write about situations that she’s not currently going through.

“I want my songs to be honest and easily relatable and I always thought that I had to write about what was currently happening in my life,” she reveals. “I told myself that if I was happy, I could only write a happy song, and if I was upset, I could only write a sad song.  That made songwriting very difficult at times because I was limiting myself so much.”

Writing from current personal experience has usually resulted in a terrific song, but she’s also learned to trust other people’s advice, and write based on past experiences, too. Tote’s debut, self-titled EP was released a little over a year ago now and she worked with producer Steve Jankowski to determine what four songs would be the best to showcase her voice and songwriting abilities. “We chose the songs we felt would best show the different sides of me as a songwriter and performer, yet work together in a cohesive collection that tells a story,” she explains.

Her first single, “Superman,” is the opening track, and one that she was truly excited to record. The track is an example of an incredible combination of acoustic elegance with violins, choir, acoustic guitars, and mandolin, then crescendos into a full band sound.

Taylor Tote Band will be headlining the Stone Pony on May 20th.

All four tracks are written based on difficult breakups that Tote experienced during different times in her life, but all with their own separate characteristics from those particular situations.

Tote on the songs off the EP:

“Superman”: I wrote this song a few years ago when I was feeling lost after an on-again, off-again relationship, but didn’t finish until a few years later. I actually hated the song, so I gave up on it.  My best friend, Dana, actually convinced me to finish the song and I’m so glad I did.  It is so awesome to know that “Superman” has become a favorite for many.

“Jane”: I love the arrangement of this song with the horns.  I’m happy to say this is a well requested song.  Although written about a lot of he-said-she-said coupled with a friend being cheated on, everyone gets happy and loves to hear it.

“All You Left Behind”: A vulnerable breakup piece and is based on a breakup that was incredibly hard because she was “made to believe that during the relationship that I was absolutely nothing without him.” This track is so deep and relatable, and unfortunately, so many people are caught up in a similar situation. “The string ensemble brings a haunting, powerful background to the song that makes listeners really connect.”

The last track on the EP is “Crazy” and was written with Steven Wise. With this track, it’s actually very crazy, because in the moment, she was unsure of what to write about, but as it formed, she realized it was about everything she had been going through at the time. It was a long-distance relationship, she had just left a band she was a part of for a while, started her own band, and didn’t really know who she was. This song, she says, has been described as “raw and powerful, tearing off the layers of expected intimidation and turning the band loose in an explosion of compositional rock brilliance.”

So there you have it. Come out to Launch Music Conference next week and support emerging musicians like Taylor Tote. Buy the music, see a live show. They need you. http://www.launchmusicconference.com/