Katy Taylor Warren: Storyteller with chutzpah
To quote celebrated author Alice Sebold, “Nothing is ever certain.”
Singer-songwriter Katy Taylor Warren, also an English major, says Sebold (“The Lovely Bones,” “Lucky”) is one of her favourite authors, because she has gone through a lot in her life.
Taylor Warren also likes the irreverent writing style of Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess) and her recent book “Furiously Happy.”
“She is someone who suffers from PTSD and bipolar disorder and other stuff,” says Taylor Warren. “It is written in a very entertaining way. She talks about her everyday life and basically how hard it is to function as a human being with all these disorders,” she adds.
“I took a bit of hiatus for a couple of months because I was having some issues with my depression. I am an open book. And I like to be vocal about that especially because I am part of the public eye. I think people need to hear that even positive and outgoing people like me also have those issues,” she notes. “I was suffering from some pretty bad anxiety so I was not getting onstage anymore,” she adds.
Warren has recently gone through major upheaval in her life, from ending a five-year relationship, to maintaining her sobriety through a recovery program.
“I am glad I am moving forward. Writing music feels different again,” notes Taylor Warren who has been writing since age 12. “It feels better. I have a lot of thoughts in my head especially right now,” she says with a husky laugh. “Music really is a catharsis — and a way to escape. But it is also a way to come back to reality if that makes any sense,” she adds softly.
Taylor Warren was born into music. She is the daughter of acclaimed singer-songwriter Jamie Warren and she remembers the song that made her follow in her father’s country music footsteps.
“Interestingly enough it was Dixie Chicks tune “Tonight The Heartache Is On Me,” recalls Taylor Warren. “I was nine I believe, and TJ’s (country music bar) was still around. My friend (acclaimed guitarist) Jason Barry is a local musician and producer and close friends with my parents. We were on our way to his house and I was singing in the car. Both my parents said ‘Oh . . . interesting.’ We got to Jason’s and my dad said, ‘Sing for Jason.’ And Jason said, ‘I have a gig at TJ’s — a matinée this week so kids can come because the bar is open as a restaurant.’ My parents thought I should get up and sing. So I got up and sang “Tonight the Heartache . . .” with Jason’s wife at the time. She came and accompanied me because I was nervous. At the end of it everyone clapped and wanted an encore. I said into the mike, ‘I don’t know any more songs,’ ” she adds with another huge laugh.
Taylor Warren was raised on her dad’s music — still one of her biggest influences in songwriting and singing in addition to American country singers Trisha Yearwood and Sarah Evans. She also loves Beatle songs “Rocky Raccoon” and “Drive My Car” which veteran musician Ken Brown played for Warren on her 22nd birthday. “That was a lovely surprise,” she notes. Brown is one of many musical pals in her life. Taylor Warren has known celebrated musician “big brother/other dad” Richard Hutt of Cedartree Studios (Northern Pikes, Tom Cochrane, Jamie Warren) since she was a child. She met multi-instrumentalist Steve Lehmann through Hutt which also led her sing with show choir KW Glee, where Lehmann serves as musical director. Her brother singer Joshua Warren also studies musical theatre at Oakville’s Sheridan College.
Taylor Warren has befriended a talented collective of alt-country/roots music gal pals whom she often performs with including Jessie Treneer (Jessie T.), Stacey Guse (Western Swing Authority), and Giselle Sanderson, plus Kim Manning and Sara Hébert.
Singer-songwriter Carrie DeMaeyer, who writes for Jessie T. — including hit song “Hellbound” on Treneer’s latest album — is one of Taylor Warren’s closest friends. DeMaeyer-Taylor Warren co-writes on her self titled EP (produced by Jamie Warren and Rick Hutt) include “Show Me You’re Beautiful.”
“Songs were written with Carrie and my dad,” says Taylor Warren adding EP special guests include musicians veteran bassist Steve Hogg, with Treneer and DeMaeyer, plus Rick Hutt and Jamie Warren who also play on the record.
Taylor Warren’s voice is pretty but potent like Lucinda Williams meets Norah Jones. She’s a down-to-earth storyteller with a chutzpah (likely from punk’s years of pink hair and combat boots). Case in point: “Would like to put you out like a cigarette,” in haunting ballad “California.”
She also possesses the wisdom of an old soul regarding affairs of the heart. “I am working on something right now,” says Taylor Warren. “Nothing is really in the works in terms of recording because everything in my personal life has taken precedence,” she admits. “I would like to re-record some of my music because my voice sounds different than it did five years ago because my life has changed and I have gotten older. Sometimes I sing my songs and I realize that they have taken on different meanings for me than they did when I first wrote them. I am also working on a few new songs. So I’m hoping to have full CD by the end of the year,” says Taylor Warren, adding for TWB (Together We’re Bitter) she’ll be playing solo.
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