By Chris Spiewak
Evolution is important in the career of any artist. No songwriter or performer wants to lose fans because “all of their songs sound the same.” The best artists are not afraid to go off in a different direction every now and then, like renowned local singer/songwriter Taylor Tote of Tinton Falls. Revisiting her earliest music influences, Tote has a new EP coming this month, entitled “21Min Drive” with some fantastic modern pop sounds that are so popular with today’s audiences.
Ms. Tote’s career has been on a steady ascent for the better part of the last decade and she has matured into a genuine star. It seems like just yesterday that Aardvark Smile, the band that she fronted in 2013, won the Stone Pony’s Rock to the Top competition over 100 other young bands. No one doubted that she was on her way to a successful music career. She released her first solo CD in 2015 and continues to write and release her own material. A different learning experience for her was being a part of Remember Jones on a tour in the summer of 2019. “It was a wonderful opportunity; I learned so much from (band leader) Anthony D’Amato and the whole experience helped me grow as a performer,” she said. Every Remember Jones show is a high-energy soul/pop event with the most talented musicians and vocalists. Tote’s powerful, sultry and soulful voice made her a perfect fit for the group. Unfortunately, the world would soon change forever and live music as we knew it would disappear for a long while.
At one of her shows in 2017, Tote met rap and hip-hop songwriter and producer Russell Hayden of Morganville. The two became fast friends and soon began collaborating on material. Tote, who grew up listening to The Back Street Boys and Britney Spears, thought that she would change things up a bit with a more modern pop sound. With Hayden’s experience with hip-hop and techno music, they decided to put their minds together to record and release a new EP during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was not an easy task, but they somehow produced, recorded and engineered four new songs in just three weeks in January 2021, completely virtually. Tote gives much credit to Hayden, who wrote or co-wrote all four songs. This EP is quite a departure from Tote’s blues/rock and pop/rock history. It has a sound and mix that reminds one of Katy Perry or certain Taylor Swift songs. The title, “21 Min Drive” signifies the time needed – 21 minutes – to drive from Tinton Falls to Morganville. In a normal world, these would have been easy trips for Tote and Hayden, but the pandemic dictated virtual activities.
Track 1, “Selfish,” is well done with a perfect flow from verse to “hook” to chorus and back again and again. Featuring an infectious dance groove, it is nearly impossible for one to keep still while listening. Although Tote did not want this EP to be about the pandemic, the first two tracks deal with relationship issues, which somehow seems appropriate during these times of quarantine and lack of personal interaction. Track 2, “Lowkey Stressed,” is another well-written song with an unexpected, dramatic and very cool chorus which certainly emphasizes the “low key stress” feeling outlined in the song. There is more great rhythm in this composition, as there is across the entirety of this EP, but that is to be expected from Hayden and his years of experience.
The third track, “Atypical,” is about realizing who you are and being comfortable in your own skin when others may think otherwise. There is some fine vocal work on this track as Tote perfectly delivers the lyrics in what seems like 16/4 time in a 4/4 time song; one must listen quickly but it works so well.
The final track is an R&B ballad entitled “Flawless,” detailing human introspection and maintaining a steady focus in life. A perfect slow-dance number, this mix will test even the strongest sub-woofers out there so warn your neighbors and turn it up. You can get her latest music and updates at Taylortote.com or Taylor Tote Music on Facebook.
This young woman is not afraid of change. She is on a constant journey to better herself as a musician and will draw from any music genre to obtain the sound that she is after. She will graduate soon from music industry studies at Marymount Manhattan College, preparing her to fully understand and engage the music business in many different facets. More now than ever, the sky is the limit for Taylor as she expands her horizons in search of even more success in the years to come.
Chris Spiewak is a 40-year veteran of the Shore music scene.
This article originally appeared in the March 11, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
