Fresh Find - Shane Michael Taylor
- Freshly Brewed Country
- Oct 19, 2015
- 7 min read
We are honored to announce the inspirational Shane Michael Taylor as our latest Fresh Find here at Freshly Brewed Country!
At first glance, Shane Michael Taylor's story may seem similar to that of many other country artists in the industry today. He had dreamed about pursuing a career in music since he was a young boy growing up in Waterbury, Connecticuit. He enjoyed riding horses, listening to country greats like John Denver and Garth Brooks and eventually writing his own lyrics. What audiences may not realize when they first listen to Shane's songs, however, is that he has overcome more obstacles and adversity in his three decases than most people could imagine facing in a lifetime.
Shane navigates the world in a wheelchair. Everything from eating and showering to getting into bed requires the assistance of someone else. In addition, he struggles to communicate verbally as a result of being born with a severe form of Cerebral Palsy, a developmental disorder affecting movement, speech and posture. Making excuses, however, was never an option for Shane.
Shane taught himself to type with his nose at the age of five, at which point it became clear to everyone around him that he was not going to let his physical condition limit him in any way. "I learned to adapt to the world instead of letting it adapt to me," he notes. "When I am faced with a challenge, I try to find something that works and I don't stop until I do."
After tackling typing, next up was learning to balance. Shane was unable to sit upright and suffered frequent concussions as a result of always falling over and banging his head. At the suggestion of his mother, 6-year-old Shane began attending an after school camp at a local equestrian farm in his hometown, where kids learned to care for, look after and ride horses. In six weeks the determined youngster went from "Humpty Dumpty" (as he called himself) to riding with little support. "One day I got to ride a horse in the farm's annual show to 'Standing Outside the Fire' by Garth Brooks," remembers Shane. "The song spoke to me."
It was that moment, and Shane's newfound confidence, that ignited a passion for country music within him. Music then became an integral part of Shane's life, from insisiting that country radio be played when he got home from school to experimenting with writing his own lyrics in his teenage years. After years of struggling with communication, writing songs became a way for Shane to connect with others.
Fueled by an unrelenting desire to shatter stereotypes and follow his dreams, Shane earned college degrees in both music business and sound recording at the University of New Haven, and began making frequent visits to Nashville to co-write with prominent Music City songwriters such as Lorna Flowers and Mason Douglas.
Now, after years of honing his craft, Shane Michael Taylor is releasing a debut album of his songs entitles I Will Stand in the fall of 2015. Featuring top-notch vocalists like Clare Dunn, Mason Douglas, Josh Helms, Trent Jeffcoat and chart-topping pop icon Tiffany, this project includes 13 tracks all co-written by Taylor.
Complete with songs about persevering through both the highs and lows of life ('Livin' This Rodeo'), not overlooking small acts of kindness ('Everday Heroes') and knowing that lost loved ones are always with us ('Looking Up to You'), this album proves that Taylor has the songwriting chops to compete with today's top tunesmiths.
When he is not writing songs, Shane tours the country as a motivational speaker encouraging people to never give up on their dreams, no matter how big or small they may be. He has also penned an audio-book, Living This Rodeo: A Journey from Fantasy to Reality, that details his life journey. "We can either hang our heads and get thrown around," says Shane, "or we can hang on tight during the wild ride of life and get where we want."
Be sure to preorder Shane Michael Taylor's debut album today.
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We know you want to know more about Shane Michael Taylor so be sure to check out our interview with him below.
FBC: What made you want to get involved in the country music world?
SMT: I believe that country music has a way of connecting with people at a different level than most otherkinds of music. As someone who has always had struggles with communication and relating to others on a deep level, the ability to connect with people is very important to me. Country music provides lets me do just that.And in a world where so much hatred is turned into humor and entertainment, I think that country music provides an alternate source for entertainment that’s more positive and uplifting. Sometimes we as country artists get rowdy, and sassy, but it’s almost never out of hate. Even sad and depressing songs can be uplifting if a listener connects and relates.
FBC: What was your favorite song growing up?
SMT: Wow! This is quite the loaded question. I would say that it would be “Go Rest High On That Mountain”by Vince Gill. Everything about that song is beautiful and comes purely from the heart and soul. It has a very strong healing power like nothing else I’ve ever witnessed- I feel as though Vince is right here giving me a great big hug when I’m sad and miss someone who’s passed on.
FBC: What challenges have you faced in the music world?
SMT: The same challenges that everyone else faces. It’s a funny thing, I got lectures upon lectures about howmuch more difficult I would have it because of my disability, which makes complete sense... We hear about the “big bad cutthroat music business” and shrug it off. As kid, I don’t think we realize the reality of how the business really is. We hear about artists persevering over the struggles but until you get into the business full throttle and experience all of the ups and downs of “going for it”, you can’t fully understand it.
That being said, I realize now that I leveled my professional playing field by pursuing a career in the music business because rejection is just part of the game for everyone no matter who they are. I see it as a good thing. If you’re not experiencing rejection on a daily basis, it means you’re not working hard enough. As a songwriter, my songs get judged on their own merits. Meaning, when Luke Bryan is driving his truck around listening to a pile of demos for his next album and my song is playing, my disability is irrelevant. And to me, that’s a very powerful thing.
FBC: What song of yours is your favorite and why?
SMT: This is a tough question. They’re all my favorite, but there is one song that I feel best sums up me as a person. That song is called Warrior Cowboy. It’s about standing up for what we believe in, regardless of what others may do or say to hurt you or try to bring us down. The hook of the song is “The spirit cannot be destroyed, in a Warrior Cowboy.” Even when we’ve been knocked down, the individuals that we were born to be will never, ever be destroyed.
FBC: Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?
SMT: I get my ideas from anywhere and everywhere. If something impacts me in a big way emotionally, I doeverything possible to pursue the idea and hopefully turn it into a lyric.
FBC: Who is your country music idol and why?
SMT: Garth Brooks, because he has a genuine way of connecting with his fans. He can make everybody in a 20,000-seat area feel special and connected to him and the music. That really inspires me as a songwriter and an artist. And as a fan, you can just feel the love he has for us.
FBC: What inspired you to produce your audtion book, Living This Rodeo?
SMT: I always wanted to share lessons I've learned from my life experiences and how I got to where I am today so that others can be inspired to become who they were born to be regardless of challenges or battles they're facing. I also wanted to put my music career and songs in context in a deeper way so that I could connect with fans at a much more personal level and really get to know me, and the experiences behind the music.
FBC: What has been your favorite speaking event?
SMT: My favorite speaking event so far has been the keynote address I did for the University of New Haven,where I graduated from. It was such a humbling and surreal experience to be able to go back and speak to 200-plus students sitting where I sat a few years before that to share the lessons and strategies I’ve learned that led me to where I am. It meant a lot to me to be able to show them that I sat exactly where they were sitting and serve as proof that they too can become who they were born to be regardless of adversity. The whole vibe in the room was so electric- it was just an unforgettable experience.
FBC: Where do you plan on taking your career next?
SMT: We plan to keep working on getting the music out to as many people as possible, and finding new ways to do that. For example, I'm currently brainstorming ideas on how to tie my songs together in a way that can be turned into a storyline - something that can be done in a live setting aside from concerts and speaking.
FBC: If you could give any piece of advice to your fans what would it be?
SMT: That would be to go out and live life. If you know you were born to do something, go for it. Don’t giveup when times get tough. When others try to hurt you or get you down, they can never destroy who you are on the inside. And when you feel hopeless and all alone, you’re not. I know the feeling and so do many others. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength.
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Stay up to date on the latest Shane Michael Taylor news by following him on social media.
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