Nolan Taylor has built a name for himself this year as one of the most authentic artists in country music.
For better or worse, with authenticity often comes austerity, and it shows in Taylor’s growing catalog. With several songs containing hard hitting, brutally honest lyrics that deal with real life issues set to a hauntingly melodic tune carried by Taylor’s spectacular vocal prowess, his music is amazing, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
With his most recent release “Wicked Ways,” though, Taylor strays slightly from the rest of his catalog thus far with a slightly more light hearted, feel-good love song that is optimistic in nature and is more sonically upbeat than one may expect given its title.
Sure, this is all relative, of course. The song starts out with a very grim, Taylor-esque lyric, “The sky is blue and so am I, been fighting these demons inside my mind.” But hey, it ain’t all flowers in country music.
Give Nolan Taylor’s new single “Wicked Ways” a listen for yourself.
“Like change them skies back to clear as day
Nighttime, evenings breezy with rain
I’d do anything to put a smile on your face
Give you health if you’re feeling off
Lend you my eyes to help you see in the dark
I’d give you marigolds every single day
I can try to change my wicked ways
I just want you to wake up with a smile on your face…”
Taylor, who is often as thoughtful and reflective on social media as he is in his music, gave thanks to the fans on Instagram today while announcing the song’s release:
“’WICKED WAYS’ is officially born to the world & I can’t thank you enough for all the love and support thus far.
I read your messages over and over about how you connect to the music and how it helps you, well I want you to know that none of this would be possible without YOU & I find peace through you.
So thank you, so sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I love you Stream it anywhere you like to stream music.”
Based out of Cincinnati, OH, an unassuming hotbed for authentic country music that also features the likes of Arlo McKinley and Jeremy Pinnell within its scene, Nolan Taylor’s music is as good as it comes.
This guy is the real deal, and he’ll only continue to blow up from here. I love to see the good guys win.
While we’re on the topic, though, check out some of his other music.
“68”
“Darkness”
And give this awesome cover of Ray Lamontagne’s “Jolene” a listen, too.
