Taylor, Maria
In The Next Life
I teamed up with one of my favorite songwriters and producers, Nik Freitas, to co-produce this record. I love his music and what he brought to these songs. I called in help from many of my super-talented friends and family. I balanced my femininity with beautiful male backing vocals. "If Only" features Conor Oberst. "It Will Find Me" and "Pretty Scars" feature Joshua Radin. There are also appearances from Nik Freitas, Macey Taylor, Jake Bellows, Louis Schefano and the female exception, Morgan Nagler. One of my dearest friends and favorite poets, Brad Armstrong, was my lyric coach for this record. Writing a record and raising two kids has many challenges. I would find myself in ruts with the lyrics and Brad would help me with different approaches and steer my brain away from the obvious. I even co-wrote lyrics to "Theres Only Now" with one of my favorite lyricists and friends, Morgan Nagler. My connection to this record was also the impetus for self-releasing under my own label, "Flower Moon Records" (from which the German Grand Hotel van Cleef label have licensed the album for Europe including the UK). In The Next Life sums up my past, my present, and my future. Im so fortunate to have this life to write about, these friends to write it with.