Rad Releases 20 – Annie Taylor
It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2020 rapidly approaches and we quickly want to move away from this year- we take a personal look back on familiar names, labels, promoters, and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been a challenging year for all, the one constant has been how artists and their labels have adapted and produced some of the best records of our time and it’s those releases that have the audience has depended on to get them through the year.
This year the Rad Releases special celebrates 10 years, to mark the decade-long feature we let our favorites take over the site to tell us the records that have kept them going throughout this trying year. Telling us how they’ve adapted, if they’ve returned to a loved record and what we can look forward to from them next year.
Our next takeover comes from Switzerland’s Annie Taylor. We kicked off the year with the news that Annie Taylor was set to release their debut album towards the end of the year. Finally, the time came and despite the madness of the year, Annie Taylor dropped their remarkable record. Annie Taylor forever are the masterminds at creating resilient, pure rock tracks. Annie Taylor have released a crucial record of our time, filled with bold hard-hitting orchestrations each with their own atmosphere. Adding charm to their orchestrations, protruding 90’s surf rock elements, whilst injecting melodic melancholic shimmers to its notes. A must-hear, we chat to the band to find out more about their year in music….
Top Releases:
Death Valley Girls- Under the spell of Joy
It’s just a really fun album with a lot of energy!
L.A. Witch- Play with fire
I think we were all waiting for this album and finally it’s here. Favorite track: I wanna lose.
Soccer Mommy- Color Theory
This was one of the albums I (Gini) was listening to most this summer. I am very much in love with the song “stain”.
All Them Witches – Nothing as the Ideal
Perfect album, great songs, fav. track Rats in Ruin
The best show you have played this year / gig attended (if you had the opportunity at the start of the year)
This year shows were very precious, but the “Sweet Motality” sold out release party (2x) in October was definitely a highlight for us! We didn’t know until that day if the show would actually take place, so we were even more excited to finally celebrate our debut album.
Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
I was listening a lot to Angel Olsen’s “Whole new mess” this year. I really like the arrangements in the songs and the sounds of the simple guitar with her beautiful voice.
How have you adapted with releasing/recording/promoting during this year?
Oh yes, a lot! We originally planned to release our album in early spring this year, right after our tour in the states. But the tour got cancelled and we just started to face the pandemic, so it didn’t feel right to put out a record. We had to stretch the campaign a bit and also released one more song, “sleepwalking”, which is not on the album. But the song actually fit the situation very well, since it felt like “sleepwalking” through 2020…
Best discovery this year?
When I was getting some inspiration on youtube for a music video, I stumbled over “Andy Shauf” and instantly fell in love with his beautiful arrangements. (gini)
As this is our 10th year of Rad Releases, we want to look back on your 10 years- has there been a standout moment/standout record of the past 10 years for you?
Just recently I stumbled over a really old playlist on my iTunes and re-discovered a band, that I think also influenced me a lot. They’re called “School of seven bells” and they have really nice harmonies and I would definitely recommend everyone who reads this to have a listen to the album “Alpinisms”.
Artist/Band to watch for 2021
There are a bunch of albums coming up that I feel really excited about:
Shame – “Drunk Tank Pink” (15.01.)
Julien Baker – “Little Oblivions”
Also our friend Fai Baba will also be releasing new music soon. I’ve already had a chance to listen to some of the songs and I am looking forward to the album coming out.
Plans for the New Year
Right now we are planning to play shows around Switzerland for early next year. We will also tour in Germany and hope the situation gets a bit better, because we would be thrilled to finally play in the UK!
Thank you so much Annie Taylor, we will see you in UK soon!
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