Following a decent set of festival shows and dates, Sean Taylor has picked up his guitar and is ready to strum for you once more - and fresh from a slew of German dates the modern troubadour arrives at The Stables on Sunday (December 4).
He'll perform solo, and alongside his band at the show, with material from his highly acclaimed release The Only Good Addiction is Love, a dead cert to figure in the live environment.
Radio 2 bods Bob Harris and Mark Radcliffe are fans, Eric Bibb reckons our boy 'swings,' while Classic Rock forecasts 'his talent might yet puncture the mainstream.'
The new album, Flood & Burn, which is set for release early in 2017, might just be the one to do it...
But what about the sounds that shaped him? Sean went On Track with Total MK, and shared his dislike of those reality TV shows....
The song that first awakened your musical senses
John Martyn 'Small Hours' ... It was recorded outside by a lake and you can here birds on the water at night. I have always loved ambient music and that song is beautifully ambient.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
I'm a CD's man. Still. I have never downloaded music in my life. I love albums and being taken on a journey ... Most importantly the audio on CD's is so much better than mp3's as well.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
I went to Glastonbury in 2000 when I was 16. I stayed up for three days listening to amazing music and being part of an unbelievable atmosphere. The whole of Glastonbury shined at night like 100,000 fireflies. I thought I like it here ... It felt like home.
Your best on stage memory ...
So many but the gigs I have played with double bass player Danny Thompson (John Martyn. Pentangle, Nick Drake) were a dream come true. Danny is a hero of mine and to share the stage with him and become friends is something I will never forget. No one plays like Danny he makes the instrument sing and is the master ... Legend
And the worst gig you've ever done
Well I have probably tried to blank it out but I remember playing gigs at a few golf clubs (not sure how that happened) in Scotland. It was full of American golfers talking about what handicap they had and I had no idea what they were talking about. They were talking about bunkers and being in the rough and I was playing my songs. Very strange couple of gigs. But I survived and so did they ...
What made you take up singing/guitar
I love music it's like an addiction. First thing I do when I wake up is best a record on and it's with me all the time. Writing songs and singing was something I had to do. I had no choice in the matter it is like steam train and it's with me all the time.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you'd have written
'Waiting Around To Die' by Townes Van Zandt is a masterpiece. He was such an incredible songwriter and that song is perfection. Anyone who had ever sat down to write a song knows how special Townes was. The lyrics, the melodies and the stories take you to a dark and magical place.
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
I still feel very proud of an early song I wrote called 'Calcutta Grove'. It is very natural and free flowing. It's also based on a true story of feeling lost at Christmas and walking along the Regents canal in London when 'Morning was green and blue' ... I'm proud of that song.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I wouldn't want to as I'm happy as me. If you try and copy another artist or artists you forgot who you are. So I'm not dodging the question but I feel happy as me ...
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to
I really like Bon Iver and his new album is stunning. He does things that I normally wouldn't like such as electronic sounds and vocal manipulation but it works. The melodies are incredible and very inspiring. The last two albums he has put out have been sublime.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
Well I'm not sure if you can call it music but I hate reality tv/talents shows. Britain has got talent/X Factor. I hate all those shows. They reduce music to a manufactured karaoke contest. I have travelled all over the UK and let me tell you there is loads of talent in the clubs all over the place but you won't hear it because Simon Cowell and the rest of them dominate the airwaves. Music is a magic thing and these shows make people forget that magic ... Vile.
Finally, plug your show at The Stables in Milton Keynes - what can we expect?
Well I'm very excited to play the Stables I have heard lots of great things about it. I will be joined by Robyn Hemmings on double bass and Paulina Szczpaniak on percussion, two beautiful musicians ... Can't wait.
For more on Sean click here
