Julian Taylor
Exhibitions & Theatrical, Music
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Julian Taylor is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter who has been part of the musical fabric and landscape in Canada for over two decades. Born of West Indian and Mohawk descent, Taylor was raised in Toronto, where he was influenced by a diverse range of musical genres including soul, hip-hop, blues, Americana, and 1990s alternative rock. As a teenager in 1996, Taylor co-founded Staggered Crossing, which signed with Warner Music Canada. After Staggered Crossing disbanded in 2007, Taylor stepped back from the mainstream industry and became a staple of Toronto's local music scene, running an influential open stage at Noonan's, Dora Keogh's pub. In 2014, he resurfaced with the Julian Taylor Band and the release of "Tech Noir" (2014), followed by "Desert Star" (2015). These albums showcased his fusion of funk, rock, R&B, and pop, with Taylor noted for his strong hooks and genre-crossing style. Taylor describes his sound as very much "the Toronto sound"—referencing the Yorkville scene that produced the rock/R&B/soul/country hybrid of The Band, where Bruce Cockburn later sung with reggae star Leroy Sibbles. Taylor's solo breakout came with the 2020 release of "The Ridge," a largely acoustic, roots-inspired album reflecting on personal experiences and family history. It earned him two Juno Award nominations (Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year), a Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of the Year, and a Polaris Music Prize nomination. In September 2024, Julian Taylor released "Pathways," his third solo album following the acclaimed "The Ridge" (2020) and "Beyond the Reservoir" (2022). Co-produced with Colin Linden, "Pathways" explores themes of identity, resilience, and self-reflection. In addition to performing, he hosts the syndicated radio show "Julian Taylor's Jukebox," airing across Canada and the U.S.