"There is a great poetic similarity between blues and Argentine tango. Since it talks a lot about the city, the neighborhoods, the loves and heartbreaks, which is very similar to the poetics of blues."

Yulian Taylor: Blues With Friends

Yulian Taylor, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With great influences from musicians and bands Like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Buddy Guy, Led Zeppelin and BB King. His musical career began when he was 8 years old, playing the drums in a bowling alley called "La Rusa", in San Isidro, recognized in the North Zone. Over time he began to dabble in percussion, then bass and finally the love of his life, the guitar and voice. He toured Brazil with shows in Portó Alegre, Florianopolis, Camboriu, with notes in the media both on television and radio in Sao Paulo, Portó Alegre, Capao da Canoa, Curitiba, among other cities. In the last time he did shows and was a producer of the jam sessions of up to Trilce, which took place in the theater that bears the name of the jam. He played with renowned musicians such as Cristian "Toti" Iglesias. Martin Luka, Rodrigo Guirao Diaz, Machy Madco, Luis Robinson, Rubén Gaitán, Ciro fogliatta, Diego Mizrahi and Viejas Locas on Mvseo Rock, finally he shared the stage with Alambre Gonzalez. He participated in the first festival, Obregón Sonora Blues Fest in Mexico.

(Photo: Yulian Taylor, Buenos Aires 2021)

He shared a festival with the legend Javier Batiz, Quereta blues fest (Mexico), Buenos Aires Blues Fest (Argentina), Latin America and the blues (Paraguay), Rock and Fire (Mexico), The route of the Blues (Mexico), did live sessions on Austin Music TV Texas (USA), performed shows at the CAN'T STOP THE BLUES festival in the (United States) where Joe Bonamassa, Kingfish, Chris Cain, Eric Gales participated, among others, at Scenes Media in New York and Italy. Currently released the album “BLUES FRIENDS”, recorded in Chicago, Mississippi, California, Nashville, with special guests: Carlos Johnson, Lorenzo Thompson, Dexter Allen, Tia Carroll, and Leilani Kilgore.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

More than a lifestyle, it is a feeling and a passion, which is brought to each show, transmitting that energy to the spectators. Rock and Blues intervene when it comes to composing melodies, lyrics, going beyond everyday thought, sharing good energy and, above all, authenticity. Thanks to these musical genres I was able to meet different people, countries, life stories. Rock and Blues took me down different paths, opening many doors for me. That's why I always say that it has no borders, no space, no time, good music is timeless.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

It is an impressive sound, sharp, expressive, overwhelming, raw, fiery, sweet at times, with a lot of quality. My musical philosophy is to work, rehearse, record, produce constantly, so that the final product is optimal for the public, always with seriousness, respect and professionalism. My inspiration often comes from my experiences, People, life stories, Politics, Loves, that's why in the repertoire, there are sensual songs, love songs, social justice songs among other topics.

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?

All the shows were important, but the one I remember the most is the show I did for Can't stop the blues. It is a very important blues and rock festival in the United States where renowned musicians such as Kingfish, Chris Cain, Joe Bonamassa, among others, played. To this day, there are people all over the United States who remember that great presentation I gave. One of the best pieces of advice I was given was to keep making music in a healthy way. And that's how I've been doing it.

"More than a lifestyle, it is a feeling and a passion, which is brought to each show, transmitting that energy to the spectators. Rock and Blues intervene when it comes to composing melodies, lyrics, going beyond everyday thought, sharing good energy and, above all, authenticity. Thanks to these musical genres I was able to meet different people, countries, life stories. Rock and Blues took me down different paths, opening many doors for me. That's why I always say that it has no borders, no space, no time, good music is timeless." (Yulian Taylor, Buenos Aires 2019 / Photos by Marita HS)

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Yes, of course, when we toured Brazil it was very important because we played in multiple cities, states, where we made notes with radio and television. There was one night where we had been doing 5 shows in 5 cities and the last show was missing. When we got to town I asked my bandmate, where are we? and my partner answers me, I don't know. there we started to laugh a lot and we started the last show. I remember that it was very good, we had been traveling a lot and we were already disoriented lol.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

The truth misses the great masters, like BB King, Albert King, who put blues at the top of the world. Today the blues scene is good, but we must not lower our arms, we all have to help and work for the blues so that it remains even better known.

Make an account of the case of the blues in Argentina. Which is the most interesting period in local blues scene?

The most important period was in the 60s, 70s, in which blues and rock bands like Manal, Los Gatos, Spinetta, Pappo emerged, then in the 90s there was another resurgence of very famous bands even to this day, like for example: La Mississippi, Memphis la blusera, Viejas locas, among others.

Are there any similarities between the blues and the genres of local (Argentinian) folk and traditional music forms?

There is a great poetic similarity between blues and Argentine tango. Since it talks a lot about the city, the neighborhoods, the loves and heartbreaks, which is very similar to the poetics of blues.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

And there are many, but one of the most important things I can tell you is that you have to work hard, go and look for yourself, what you want to achieve with music, it doesn't matter if the dream you want is crazy, go and do it, it can go wrong or right, the main thing is that you try and work hard for it.

"The truth misses the great masters, like BB King, Albert King, who put blues at the top of the world. Today the blues scene is good, but we must not lower our arms, we all have to help and work for the blues so that it remains even better known."

(Yulian Taylor, Buenos Aires 2019 / Photo by Silvina Coca)

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music has no language, no borders, it is worldwide. In BLUES FRIENDS, which is the last album I released, in which great artists such as Carlos Johnson, Lorenzo Thompson, Dexter Allen, Tia Carroll, Leilani Kilgore, among others, collaborate, recorded in the United States. I seek to impact society in a musical and poetic way, so that people who do not know the blues, can know it, then play it and in this way, together continue contributing to the culture of blues and rock and roll.

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