Overview

Hello world! My name is Ian Taylor, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Los Angeles, CA.

I have been writing songs for many years, using it as a conduit of authentic heartfelt passionate expression. Music and songwriting has been a companion to me through the most joyous times of my life and through the darkest periods. I’ve used it to heal through heartbreak and depression and to celebrate great successes. After years of refining the craft of songwriting, studying song arrangement and vocal harmony, performing at countless open mics, bars, festivals, community song circles, impromptu jam sessions at my friends houses that would last for hours, and playing in numerous bands, I now find myself ecstatic with anticipation to show the world what all these years of dedicated focus has manifested into.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my first ever, professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Bryan Fennelly in Boston, MA. Bryan is a Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Bryan and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing a demo version of one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This first song is called “The Great Unknown,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund this initial recording process for "The Great Unknown" on my own, to create an album of songs with full production and studio quality, costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Bryan and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Everyone speaks the language of music. It has this profound power to touch the hearts of many and is a great ally to us to help steward the healing process that is needed on this planet. It can help us to tear down the barriers that divide us and cross the bridges of understanding that lie in between us all. Through years of honing this message into my songs, I’ve finally come to a deep sense of readiness to share my creations with my community and contribute to the healing of the world at large.

In my experience as a musician and singer-songwriter, I’ve learned that music comes alive in community—I have to thank my musician friends that influenced me to explore different styles and genres, my family and family friends that supported me by attending my first gigs, early diehard fans that came out to see me perform even if there were only 3 people present, and singing ecstatic harmonies with friends in celebration of life. 

While I’ve never executed a music project to this caliber before, I have managed and coordinated large scale creative projects, like completing 3 full-length self produced home recorded albums in one year, fronting an electronic rock band, starting a 6 piece folk rock band, and even organizing educational workshops. All the while, I’ve been passionately devoted to refining my songwriting, to writing lyrics, and to honing my singing voice. With your support, I will be able to take those next steps and create something beautiful and new that you can say you’re a part of.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.