From these modest baby-steps as “Harry & Alfie”, the brothers Hudson Taylor developed their songwriting skills and live performance chops on the streets of Dublin and other European cities. Drawing on inspiration from classic rock idols like The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beatles – seeing AC/DC aged eleven was a revelation – to more contemporary influences like Fleet Foxes, Villagers and The Tallest Man On Earth; Hudson Taylor released their debut album, the breezy, acoustic-driven “Singing For Strangers”, in 2015. The brothers released the ‘Feel It Again’ 5-track EP in spring 2018, which delivered two huge airplay hits in the shape of ‘Feel It Again’ and ‘Run With Me’. 2019 ended with the release of instant classic new festive song – ‘How I Know It’s Christmas’ – and a run of six consecutive sold out nights at Dublin’s famous Whelan’s venue the week prior to Christmas. Hudson Taylor’s long-awaited second album – ‘Loving Everywhere I Go’ – was released by Rubyworks on Friday 28th February 2020, and Harry and Alfie will be back out on the road in Ireland, the UK and Europe to promote the release.
FACTS:
1: There’s a lot to be learned about yourself from a bit of meditation.
2: We’re both environmentally conscious chaps but one thing you can’t avoid about being in a band is that it is not the most eco-friendly job when you add up all the air travel you do.
3: Ireland could learn a lot from German society, particularly with regards its social system, health system and transport infrastructure.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
We draw inspiration from our individual experiences within our family of origin, living at home in Ireland & abroad in the UK, politics, other artists, our travels with the band.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
We started by uploading videos to YouTube and eventually ‘Busking’ on the streets of our home town Dubln. In August 2008, we brought a guitar on a family holiday to northern Italy. We were staying on a campsite beside the beach and we took ourselves and the guitar onto the beach and began playing cover songs. We met other holiday makers there and it was in fact 4 German people who told us we should upload videos of us performing the cover songs we had been playing on the beach.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
An ever changing list & and in no particular order
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Villagers – Where Have You Been All My Life?
Paul Simon – Graceland
Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Over the years this has changed dramatically. For one thing it is soon to be my home as I plan to move there later this year. But in short here it is, Burgermeister, Museums, rich History, cycling in Tempelhofer Feld, really great music audiences.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
We come from the suburbs of Dublin, south of the city and grew up next to the seaside, so anywhere beside the sea along the Dublin coastline.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Live a Yogi life, practice Yoga and a Yogic way of life, Teach it.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
I don’t buy music anymore really at all, just listen a lot on streaming platforms. I think the last thing I bought was our own CD that was in a shop in Dublin just for the odd experience of doing that.
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Conor J O’Brien, the songwriter and singer in the band Villagers.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Best gig as a performer for me was the very last headline show we played at the end of last year, which was the end of the decade. It was a home town show in a lovely venue called Whelans. There was something about the energy in the room and the intense presence of it all that made it really special to me.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
We use the voice recorder on our phones all the time to capture song ideas, and the note taking functionality as a way to write lyrics on the go. Also, the making of demos of new songs as a way to present new material to our manager and record label.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes, we have two sisters, one younger and one older. Both are very supportive of our career. Our older sister is part responsible for our music taste as teenagers. Our younger sister is also a musician and makes incredible music of her own. She currently has just one song out in the world and it’s called ‘Fcuk Fear’ and her artist name is HALLI. There’s more to come. Her voice also features quick a lot on our brand new album.
Hudson Taylor’s latest album ‘Loving Everywhere I Go’ is available on Bandcamp. The duo plays Frannz Club on Wednesday, 25th March 2020!
Photo © Ed Cooke
