Taylor Narain, the Soulful Nomad

By Sammy Lowdermilk

Taylor Narain is a name that will pass across more lips in 2019, I can almost guarantee it. Even though she has Knoxville roots, she is a self-proclaimed nomad that exudes confidence which bleeds over into her music.  Her soulful sound makes you quickly fall in love with the journey of each song. I expect big things in the near future for this artist. Check out the Q&A and do what she says and put her on some new Chattanooga artists!

When did you start creating music and where did the artist name come from?
I first started creating music when I was 14/15ish. I started experimenting by hopping on other artists tracks as features at first. I was also a member in a collective, for a short while, out of Knoxville. Wasn’t until around 2015/16 when I started doing my own thing. A lot of people actually know me by the first name I went by, “Dreama”. For me it was a play because I actually like to interpret dreams for people in my spare time but I was also becoming and learning little by little who I was. I realized that I dreamed a lot..like literally daydreamed about how my life would be, what’d I do, and how I’d impact others and make a change but all she did was dream up these great schemes and never actually fulfilled them. Taylor Narain, though she gets shit done. That’s the name I go by now. Dreama’ is my ego and “Taylor Narain” is the evolved me in its simplest form. Just me, Taylor Narain. No back story behind it, it’s just my name. If I had to sum a “back story” up for “Taylor Narain” though, I’d quote it with these lyrics from Kendrick, “I done been through a whole lot. Trial, tribulation but I know God”.

Who are your musical influences?
Shit, there’s so many! I’m most definitely heavily inspired by some of my favorites like TLC, Bjork, Amel Larrieux and Solange.

What's coming in 2019 from you?
Great things I believe. I’ve got hella singles to put out, I have a whole album written and I’m currently working on a lil ep to drop before I release my album. It’s very exciting for me; I’m so ready to share and relate to others. I hope everyone is just as excited to receive my beautiful creations, as I am to give them.

What's your creative process look like and what artists, producers, etc. do you typically work with?
My creative process, to me, looks like growing a plant, I guess. I’ll literally start with a seed(a thought, hook, melody) and nurture my way through, figuring out what that one song in particular needs from me in order to become something I’m satisfied with. Something that I feel like healed something in me. Then on top of that I get to release it to the people to feel as well (the fruit). I think music, to me and many others, is for healing and we all need healing I believe. So I feel like if it healed something in me maybe it could do the same for you. 

As far as artists I typically work with there’s not many right now. I started out only working with Thelo-Q, my brother and artist out of Knoxville. I’ve worked with others since then but not too many. I now typically work with artist Alexander12 out of Nashville. He makes all of my beats at the moment. I like to keep it solo though for the time being. I’m super selective when it comes to creating with others. The vibrations and intentions gotta be right. I don’t really just make music with any and everyone, per preference but that’s just me. I wanna see/show what I can do on my own before I just start collaborating with mad artists. I’d love to change that in the near future though because I do enjoy creating with others. 

What's your local hip-hop/music scene like?
The music scene in Knoxville is poppin from what I hear! Rooftop Collective is doing the damn ting most definitely. I haven’t lived there or been involved in a minute, though. I just be on some nomad shit right now, to be honest. Just finding my way through, doing my thing and whom ever resonates with what I’m doing; how I’m moving is just that. 

What genre would you consider your music? Who do you make music for?
Soul music most definitely. That’s what I make it for; the healing of the soul.
I make music for people who need healing and everyone needs healing, I believe. So, this shit’s for everyone who can dig it. I want my music to help others release emotions and just old shit that maybe they didn’t know they were still holding on to. It’s nothing like feeling something and then letting it go. 

​What motivates you?
Shit, Mother Nature. She just keeps going..keeps regenerating, creating, making anew. No matter the circumstance..no matter how much damage has been done the universe still finds a way to keep going. The world doesn’t stop spinning for a single thing or issue, I’ve learned. So, I try not to either. I know I have to make decisions and act on them. If I stop for every little thing I might miss something that I need for my journey. I strive to be like her...to keep pushing through adversity. To transcend. 

Any Chattanooga artists that you're into?
Not really familiar with the scene like that..I fucks with TUT and Isaiah Rashad though lol so cliche, I know, but shit it is what it is. Either they the coldest they got there, which is why I’m only familiar with them, or I’m sleep. Shit, put me on!

What does success look like for you?
DOING WHAT THE FUCK YOU KNOW YOU CAME HERE TO DO. In my opinion, fame does not equal success. Living out your true life purpose is success. Everyone has a purpose and if you know what it is do that shit and you’re bound to be successful. If you don’t know yet, get active and care enough about your future to figure that shit out. Look for that shit...dig, ask yourself questions, experiment with things. You’ll find it in the madness that is you. Sometimes we are chaos but I feel like you can always find the beauty in that. 

Rapid fire questions:

Favorite cereal?
Ion eat it

Favorite cartoon?
I like satirical shit so stuff like South Park, Boondocks and Daria; my cup of tea

One day to binge one show or series of movies, what would it be?
Black Mirror

Childhood toy you wish you still had?
Shit! You all remember that lil Spider-Man glove that came with like this can of “string” that you could shoot out like a web. Miss that shit, mane. .‘(

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