London based soul-pop singer-songwriter, performer and vocal coach Anouska Taylor is back with a heartfelt new offering, ‘Runaway’. Having recently spent 12 years living in Melbourne, highlights from Anouska’s career as a performer include her soloist performance for the ‘Carols by Candlelight’ concert attended by over 25,000 people (Melbourne) and singing at her own sold-out Eva Cassidy Unplugged show (Recital Centre, Melbourne). As a solo artist and singer-songwriter, Anouska is now stepping into the spotlight and enriching the acoustic pop landscape with her soulful sound.
To anyone new to your music, name 3 words that best describe your sound.
Soulful, evocative, dramatic
What made you decide that music is the right path for you?
I really have never known it any other way. I must have been singing when I was born! I don’t remember ever not singing. It’s always been how I express myself most authentically and how I come alive.
What’s your writing process like? Do you write the music or lyrics first?
Always music first. I have to be able to connect emotionally with the music first (that’s the test) and then the lyrics are literally the last piece of the puzzle.
Do you prefer performing live or recording, and why?
I think they’re very different so difficult to compare. Performing live is in some ways easier as you have to just keep going and get caught up in the moment. People are more forgiving if things go wrong because it’s more authentic, it’s raw and spontaneous. Recording is under the spotlight much more, it’s more controlled and there’s nowhere to hide. But the flip side is things can also be fixed in the mix. So both utilise different skills and I enjoy both for different reasons.
What’s the best advice you’d give to your younger self?
Write, sing and perform what you love. Often when we’re starting out (I did this), the tendency is to try and please others and seek external validation. What will other people want to hear? What will others like? Who’s popular right now? If you perform what you love first, then your audience will find you and you’re going to enjoy the process much more as you’re being more authentic to yourself.
You can follow Anouska Taylor on Facebook, Instagram and on her Website.
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