Ottawa Based Singer-Songwriter Rory Taillon Reflects on the Past & Silver Linings on ‘Now It’s Quiet’ Album feat. Loss-Tinged Focus Track “Reunions”

Alternative folk singer-songwriter Rory Taillon is sharing his fourth full-length album, the beguiling and vulnerable Now It’s Quiet. The record’s main theme centres on loss, “whether it is the loss of someone you love, the loss of a friendship, loss of an ideal, or the loss of contempt towards something that hurt you,” explains Taillon.

The album’s focus track, “Reunions,” faces grief head on as Taillon contemplates the need for reunions “if our childhood friends keep on dying.” His rich, classically trained voice is coupled with simple acoustic guitar on this subtle yet powerful arrangement.

Taillon drew inspiration on Now It’s Quiet from losing one of his best friends, silver linings, and reflecting on things in his past that continue to bother him. Contrary to the album’s subject matter, Taillon‘s experience working with frequent collaborator and co-producer Dean Watson was wonderful.

“He has a new studio in his home just across the river in Quebec,” says Taillon. “My amazing wife and I spent the better part of the week there recording this album and it was a great experience filled with lots of conversation, emotions, laughter, coffee and some collaboration. One of my best and most stress-free recording experiences to date.”

1. What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?
I really enjoyed working with Dean Watson again in his new space. This is the third album I’ve done with Dean as engineer and co-producer. I really like how he and I work together when we record my music because he allows me to perform like I would at a concert and captures that energy really well. It was a great experience also because my wife was able to join us for the whole time so I was really happy and grateful to have her be a big part of this album. I even got her and Dean to add some little bits of percussion and instrumentation to really have them on the record.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
Even if there are only a handful of full of people at your show, perform like you would if you were playing a packed theatre. If someone has chosen to give up their evening so that they can see me perform, I want them to see a great show and have an awesome experience.

3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
I would love to tour with Dan Mangan. I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and I think our sounds would work well together. That and he is just a lovely guy and I think we would have a great time on tour.

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
I think the dynamics I use in my voice and the fact that my lyrical content touches on a lot of dark subject matter sets me apart. I love connecting with someone after a show through my music even if what drew them to a song was the shared experience of grief or a struggle in their life. I also love shaking a room with my voice one instant and then pulling the listeners in with a whisper the next.

5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
Zombie by Charlotte Cardin. The song is really fun and it lyrically speaks to my social anxiety in a way that I love. It’s also a song that my wife and I immediately star dancing around the kitchen to when it comes on.