Damian Taylor
Encyclopedia
Damian Taylor is a Grammy-nominated music producer born in Halifax, Nova Scotia
and currently residing in Montreal
in Canada
. Taylor's experience also includes audio mixer, audio engineer, composer, programmer, performer, editor and software designer.
in 1987. Taylor moved to London in 1997. He spent a decade based in the UK where he established his career as an engineer and programmer, working with producers and mixers such as Guy Sigsworth, Neil McLellan, Adrian Bushby, Pascal Gabriel, Al Clay, Jim Abiss, Steve Osborne, Cameron Craig, and Tom Elmhirst, and artists such as UNKLE, Adam Freeland, and The Prodigy. Taylor regularly worked at studios such as Strongroom, Olympic, Whitfield Street, Metropolis, The Townhouse, Chiswick Reach, Rockfield and The Pierce Rooms.
After working and travelling full time with the Icelandic singer Björk
from 2005 and 2011 on two albums and an extended world tour, Taylor settled in Montreal where he custom-built his own studio, Golden Ratio , in the city's Mile-End neighbourhood. The studio was designed with acoustician John Brandt. Taylor returned to Canada to "be involved in the next evolution of Canadian music right across the board" though he continues to work with international artists.
Taylor's Grammy nominated projects include Best Alternative Album for Björk's Vespertine
(2001) and Volta
(2005) , Best Dance Album for The Prodigy
's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
(2004) and Best Remix for Sarah Vaughan
's "Fever" Adam Freeland Remix (2005)
Taylor has worked with notable artists such as Diamond Rings, Kasabian, Frou Frou
, Stateless
, South
, The Whip
, Freeland
, Young Love
, Robyn
, The B-52s and The Boredoms.
Taylor's time as a co-producer in remix teams for UNKLE
, Adam Freeland
, and Guy Sigsworth
(Heavy Rotation) as well as a producer of remixes under both his own name and the Stone Lions moniker have earned him a Grammy nod, remixing tracks of artists such as [Arcade Fire, DJ Shadow
, UNKLE, Björk, Placebo
, Kylie Minogue
, Depeche Mode
, and Metallica
.
Taylor worked as a co-producer on the film soundtrack for Sexy Beast
(2000).
Recent work includes Björk’s multi-media Biophilia and mixing Austra
’s debut, Feel It Break.
For Biophilia, Taylor not only performed traditional studio engineering, programming, and mixing, but he also designed and programmed a series of musical performance systems which were used extensively by Björk during the writing of the album and created the audiovisual experience of Biophilia through iPAD apps.
Damian created a Max MSP patch called Woodpecker via the Cycling 74 website. The patch was designed after conversations with Arcade Fire, and it creates fast 16th note midi sequences from keyboard input. It allows the performer to bring a very electronic feel into a live ensemble, free of set tempos and click tracks. There are options to allow you to vary the feel of the sequence, play triplets, and explore various arpeggiation styles.
He is represented by Liz Hart of Miss Management.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and currently residing in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Taylor's experience also includes audio mixer, audio engineer, composer, programmer, performer, editor and software designer.
Career
Taylor's family relocated to New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1987. Taylor moved to London in 1997. He spent a decade based in the UK where he established his career as an engineer and programmer, working with producers and mixers such as Guy Sigsworth, Neil McLellan, Adrian Bushby, Pascal Gabriel, Al Clay, Jim Abiss, Steve Osborne, Cameron Craig, and Tom Elmhirst, and artists such as UNKLE, Adam Freeland, and The Prodigy. Taylor regularly worked at studios such as Strongroom, Olympic, Whitfield Street, Metropolis, The Townhouse, Chiswick Reach, Rockfield and The Pierce Rooms.
After working and travelling full time with the Icelandic singer Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
from 2005 and 2011 on two albums and an extended world tour, Taylor settled in Montreal where he custom-built his own studio, Golden Ratio , in the city's Mile-End neighbourhood. The studio was designed with acoustician John Brandt. Taylor returned to Canada to "be involved in the next evolution of Canadian music right across the board" though he continues to work with international artists.
Taylor's Grammy nominated projects include Best Alternative Album for Björk's Vespertine
Vespertine
Vespertine, is the fifth studio album by the Icelandic recording artist Björk, released on 27 August 2001. On this album, Björk creates a quiet, introverted world of microbeats and personal lyrics...
(2001) and Volta
Volta (album)
Volta is the seventh studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in May 2007. It was produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Timbaland and Danja. The music of Volta was a new style for Björk, focusing on similar sounding music combining African beats and other instruments with songs in tribute to Africa...
(2005) , Best Dance Album for The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned is the fourth studio album by English electronic dance music group The Prodigy. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2004 under XL Recordings, and in North America on 15 September 2004 by Mute Records and Maverick Records. It was the last...
(2004) and Best Remix for Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
's "Fever" Adam Freeland Remix (2005)
Taylor has worked with notable artists such as Diamond Rings, Kasabian, Frou Frou
Frou Frou
Frou Frou was a British electronic duo composed of Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth. They released their only album, Details, in 2002. Both of them write, produce and play instruments on the tracks, while Heap also provides the vocals...
, Stateless
Stateless
- Society :* Anarchy* Stateless communism, which Karl Marx predicted would follow capitalism and socialism* Stateless nation, a group of people without a nation-state* Stateless society, a society that is not governed by a state...
, South
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
, The Whip
The Whip
The Whip is a melodrama by Henry Hamilton and Cecil Raleigh, first performed in 1909 at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. The play's original production had intricate scenery and spectacular stage effects, including a horse race and a train crash...
, Freeland
Freeland
-Places:Canada*Freeland, Prince Edward IslandUnited Kingdom*Freeland, OxfordshireUnited States*Freeland, Maryland*Freeland, Michigan*Freeland, Pennsylvania*Freeland, Washington-People:...
, Young Love
Young Love
Young Love may refer to:Music*Young Love, Mat Kearney's fourth studio album*Young Love , the debut album of J.Williams, a New Zealand R&B artist...
, Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
, The B-52s and The Boredoms.
Taylor's time as a co-producer in remix teams for UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, Adam Freeland
Adam Freeland
Adam Freeland is an English DJ and producer associated with breakbeat based electronic music. He was a resident of Brighton, moved to Los Angeles where he recorded second album Cope™ but is now based back in Brighton...
, and Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is a U.K. based composer, producer and songwriter. In his career to date he has worked with many famous artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian and Alanis Morissette...
(Heavy Rotation) as well as a producer of remixes under both his own name and the Stone Lions moniker have earned him a Grammy nod, remixing tracks of artists such as [Arcade Fire, DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
, UNKLE, Björk, Placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
, Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
.
Taylor worked as a co-producer on the film soundtrack for Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast is a 2000 British-Spanish crime drama film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, and Ian McShane. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was Glazer's debut feature film, who had previously been a music video director for videos such as Rabbit in Your Headlights for...
(2000).
Recent work includes Björk’s multi-media Biophilia and mixing Austra
Austra
Austra is an island on the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland counties in Norway. The island is shared between the municipalities of Bindal, Leka and Nærøy. The highest point is the tall Romsskåla....
’s debut, Feel It Break.
For Biophilia, Taylor not only performed traditional studio engineering, programming, and mixing, but he also designed and programmed a series of musical performance systems which were used extensively by Björk during the writing of the album and created the audiovisual experience of Biophilia through iPAD apps.
Damian created a Max MSP patch called Woodpecker via the Cycling 74 website. The patch was designed after conversations with Arcade Fire, and it creates fast 16th note midi sequences from keyboard input. It allows the performer to bring a very electronic feel into a live ensemble, free of set tempos and click tracks. There are options to allow you to vary the feel of the sequence, play triplets, and explore various arpeggiation styles.
He is represented by Liz Hart of Miss Management.
Selected Discography as a producer
| Release year | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Biophilia | Bjork Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... |
| 2011 | Feel It Break | Austra Austra Austra is an island on the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland counties in Norway. The island is shared between the municipalities of Bindal, Leka and Nærøy. The highest point is the tall Romsskåla.... |
| 2009 | Invaders Must Die Invaders Must Die Invaders Must Die is the fifth studio album by English electronica group The Prodigy. The album was released on 18 February 2009 on the band's new label Take Me to the Hospital, and was distributed by Cooking Vinyl.... |
The Prodigy The Prodigy The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s... |
| 2007 | Volta Volta (album) Volta is the seventh studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in May 2007. It was produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Timbaland and Danja. The music of Volta was a new style for Björk, focusing on similar sounding music combining African beats and other instruments with songs in tribute to Africa... |
Bjork Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk... |
| 2005 | Teenage Dance Ordinance | A A A is the first letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is similar to the Ancient Greek letter Alpha, from which it derives.- Origins :... |
| 2004 | Sexy Beast Sexy Beast Sexy Beast is a 2000 British-Spanish crime drama film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, and Ian McShane. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was Glazer's debut feature film, who had previously been a music video director for videos such as Rabbit in Your Headlights for... |
Film Score Film score A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects... |
| 2003 | Never, Never Land | UNKLE UNKLE Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined... |
| 2003 | Now & Them | Freeland Freeland -Places:Canada*Freeland, Prince Edward IslandUnited Kingdom*Freeland, OxfordshireUnited States*Freeland, Maryland*Freeland, Michigan*Freeland, Pennsylvania*Freeland, Washington-People:... |
| 2002 | Hi Fi Serious | A A A is the first letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet. It is similar to the Ancient Greek letter Alpha, from which it derives.- Origins :... |
| 2001 | Do Androids Dream Of Electric Beats? Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats? Do Androids Dream of Electric Beats? is an UNKLE soundscape DJ mix, originally recorded for Radio Ape in Japan, Do Androids Dream Of Electric Beats was the first in a line of a series of UNKLESounds mixes... |
UNKLE UNKLE Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined... |
| 2001 | From Here On In From Here On In From Here on In is a singles compilation by Australian punk band The Living End. The new tracks were recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, Australia, and the other tracks were re-mastered at 301 Studios... |
South South South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south.... |
| 2000 | Rebore Vol 1 | The Boredoms |