slowriter

Locking down an accurate description of Slowriter, aka Bryan Taylor, is an exercise in futility. "The Sequel," the first song on of his most recent EP, King of the Void, seesaws between lush, folk song stylings and a bass-heavy dub breakdown — all in less than four minutes. Taylor's songwriting stands apart from most like-minded bedroom producers by incorporating a wealth of acoustic and vocal textures into his glossy, synth-laden production.

King of the Void follows a path similar to those of Taylor's previous EPs. Many tracks build around his upper-range singing voice swirling around synth buildups and 808 rhythms. Yet there are key differences, some subtle, some not so between his previous material and the ambitious songwriting that defines King of the Void. Until now words like "menacing," "trap-influenced," and "auto-tuned" hardly seemed relevant when describing Slowriter's sound. The greatest surprise here comes from tracks that begin like typical Slowriter tunes, with acoustic guitar runs and Taylor's vocals stretching to a climax. Now, those climaxes lead into honest-to-goodness club bangers.

With the title track, Taylor dons the role of auto-tuned R&B balladeer asserting a new and brazen confidence. "I'm the king of the fucking void," he belts over hazy piano riffs. Even though his style is typically scatterbrained to the point of being unclassifiable, his influences are easy to decipher. Previously, his love for synthpop duo Empire of the Sun's silk-sheen production dominated his aesthetic. But if there is one figure who leers over King of the Void, it's Kanye West.

Taylor embraces the extended auto-tuned, self-indulgent R&B sections, spitting lyrics in attempts to find melody and meaning. However, adopting a West aesthetic includes adopting his shortcomings. While West relishes in a never-ending attempt to reinvent his sound, originality often comes at the price of accessibility. On "All of That Digging," Taylor blends a thin guitar lick with patches of chopped-up snares, gliding synthesizers, and booming bass drops. In less than three minutes, he packs in disparate styles and sounds, but ultimately the experimentation comes across as more disorienting than captivating.

Tracks such as "Eternity (featuring phil.harmoniq)" pull off this over-stuffed style more effectively, with synths that glitter like an expensive Christmas display, and passionate choruses that provoke both groove and emotion.

Lyrically, it's obvious that Taylor created King of the Void because he actually had something to say. By the end, he makes it clear that being King of the Void is not at all desirable. Themes of loneliness and isolation provide the emotional undercurrent for many tracks. "Eternity" is the definitive climax of Taylor's descent. "I swear the universe keeps shouting at me eternity, it's probably because I'm alone for all eternity," he croons.

With King of the Void, Taylor's musical identity becomes harder to pin down. His songs embrace a variety of styles without getting comfortable in any one for too long. Still, King of the Void is a fascinating piece of experimentation, and its brutal sincerity propels Slowriter into an exciting new musical terrain. - Creative Loafing

Slowriter’s music is a creative flow of all sorts of sounds, clips, vocals and beats that form an entirely unique blend of music. This ultra-creative, synthy artist samples moments from movies, other songs, books, etc, and turns them into something really interesting to listen to. The mastermind behind Slowriter is Atlanta’s own Bryan Taylor. And as his biography states, his songs are “infectiously catchy and strikingly quirky.” Taylor has been in the music game for more than half a decade now. He recorded and released his first album, What Keeps Me Sane, in 2009. In 2011, he followed up his debut with a self-titled EP. Then, in 2012, Slowriter dropped TrailBlazer, which is a great description of what his music is. It’s so different from anything else out there, it’s certainly in a category of it’s own- and we dig that! For more information on Slowriter, check out his facebook, twitter and bandcamp. - See more at: http://www.atlantamusicguide.com/2014/08/06/5-more-atlanta-bands-you-need-to-know-about/#sthash.JhpbYNrU.dpuf - Atlanta Music Guide

"…What I witnessed on stage that November night was a cluster of electronics and organic instruments working in harmony to create an experience that was psychedelic and, surprisingly, really catchy. The band garnered the audience’s attention to a screen set up behind them that was playing various scenes which responded to mood of the music wonderfully and often documented the lyrics of the songs. The band played in silhouette on the stage, the low lighting making it easy for them to concentrate on the overall experience they were putting out rather than solely focusing on stage presence. This allowed the band to utilize a plethora of instruments and sounds like: synth drums, tambourine, an extra floor Tom, keys, electronically bowed guitars, and a vocal effects pad whose properties can be heard throughout the EP. ..." - Cardinal Playlists

"Slowriter isn't your conventional singer/songwriter act that graces the stage with only words to share and an acoustic guitar. Slowriter's music can be considered acoustic pop with catchy melodies, youthful vocals, and fun electronic elements.  Slowriter as a whole creates something so great and it's an absolute treat to watch live.  I will mention they released a well praised EP in 2011 that I am a huge fan of  but I want to talk more about their live show.  I saw Slowriter perform last year and their set-up was significantly different however this time I was surprised to see no drummer and a bassist that no longer played the bass.  Also to my surprise, I felt more connected to the music with this more stripped down performance.  With a projector displaying videos with various scenes from cute dogs, children playing, informercials and even Tiger Woods, really is an element of the live show that holds it's necessary place in their performance.  I do feel nostalgia when listening to Slowriter and also seem to appreciate the less stressful times that youth provided.  Slowriter is a group of musicians that put on an exceptional show, so make sure to check them out next time they play in town." - The Promising Chord

Number 8 - Ohmpark

Number 15 - Latest Disgrace

Number seventeen - Latest Disgrace

"On his self-titled sophomore EP, Bryan Taylor, alias Slowriter, managed to fuse billowing indie pop, programmed beats and quirky electronic flourishes in a manner that seemed effortless. The songs would just glide across your speakers — big, buoyant, ebullient things that left behind traces of ambient electronica floating amidst flashes of psychedelic folk. It was music both deliciously addictive and strikingly idiosyncratic — an unpretentious, unconfined record that unwound at its own pace and according to its own rules. Overlooked by some observers, however, was Taylor’s less overt nods to hip hop and rap. Lurking in the shadows, nestled deep among the EP’s booming beats and intriguing array of cinematic samples, was a healthy love for spacey funk grooves and ganja-clouded urban soundscapes that helped lend the record a kind of subtle swagger. …" - Latest Disgrace