Artist Interview: Q&A with Taylor James Donskey
This tireless supporter of the Twin Cities music community has a lot going on—including a new single of his own & an upcoming concert to celebrate it!
Taylor James Donskey’s "What Do You Think (of love)” single artwork.
If you’re even a casual follower of the Minneapolis-St. Paul music scene, you’ve probably encountered Taylor James Donskey, even if you’ve never seen him performing his own music. You might’ve seen him holding it down on bass or another one of the many instruments he plays for any one of countless acts in a variety of genres. Or maybe you’ve seen one of his Twin Cities Songwriter Rounds, a fun and frequent song-swap slash interview that brings together an eclectic mix of local musicians. Or perhaps (like me) you pass him nearly every week in Twin Town Guitars getting ready to teach a bass, ukulele, guitar or piano lesson.
Believe it or not, Donskey has time for all that and a music career of his own, and he just released a new single on Nov. 7. When we heard the fantastically vibrant “What Do You Think (of love)?” and found out he’s planning to celebrate its release with an upcoming show, we decided it was time to learn more about this ubiquitous and hard-working music community super-connector.
Carol Roth: Tell me about your latest single, “What Do You Think (of love)” What inspired it, how did it come together?
Taylor James Donskey: Ah! Yes! “What Do You Think (of love)” was the very first tune we tracked. It had the most going on music-wise so we tackled it first. It utilized over 20 separate instruments including an orchestra glockenspiel. (Upon which I also learned the legendary glockenspiel part for Springsteen’s “Born To Run”). I tracked over 8 different acoustic guitars to achieve the shimmery-est sound. I call it a “guitar-bouquet”. The music was inspired by those wonderful California/Wall of Sound productions that came out of Laurel Canyon in the 60’s. Start big, get bigger.
The lyrics are sort of sung with a knowing smirk. I tell folks, “This one’s about that one jaded friend of yours.” It’s dedicated to the performers and artists out there who are working hard trying to make themselves heard, but letting ’em know it’s alright to let loose and rush with the current once and a while.
CR: And that’s sort of the theme of the new record, correct?
TJD: Yeah, I’d say so! This new one is earnest fun.
CR: This is the first single off your upcoming album JoyRide. Talk about the album—sounds like it was written in the pandemic? How did that affect your creative process?
TJD: Sort of! My first record, Paper Over It, was released in January of 2020 with high hopes to bring the record and a live show to a wider audience. Those plans were dashed, and a period of inert-ness crept up. I am not one for sitting still, even while sleeping, so it was perfectly natural that a new record full of rockin’ sounds would emerge. I took part in a few song-a-day challenges early in the lockdown period which provided some foundations to a few tunes, but others were written or in a loose arrangement around the time the first record was released.
The sounds on the record were inspired by classic rock, a sound that I actively railed against in my youth. I tell folks “I used to hate Tom Petty” because when I was a kid “he just took four chords and made a lot of money” *teenager angsty shrug.* But with even a hint of age I realized that I simply was, and still am, jealous of one of the finest songwriters in history. I’m sure you’ll hear Tom and a variety of other great sounds that are more towards the cusp of what listeners take for modern music these days. (A place I’ll happily sit)
Taylor James Donskey. Photo credit: Isabel Fajardo.
CR: Did you have the arrangements all worked out before going in the studio?
TJD: Arrangements were predetermined through a few periods of drafting; after which rough demos were recorded for studio tracking purposes.
CR: Are you a lyrics-first or melody-first songwriter (or something in between)?
TJD: I’ll waffle between all sorts of methodologies. This record has elements of both the lyric or melody first dynamic. Some tunes on the record had a full re-write even after primary instrumental tracking was complete. I do enjoy a good mumble demo from time to time, but lately I’ve been free associating; literally writing the song and the words simultaneously on the spot. Sometimes I’ll do it live on stage. (I did another song-a-day that lasted from this January to the final days of June; for something like that, you just gotta make songs up on the spot. I think I got pretty good at it?)
CR: You’ve got a show coming up to celebrate your single. Tell me about that—who’s playing with you?
TJD: Aster Café on November 25th ! 8pm doors. Apocalypse Girlfriend (formerly known as Anima) will be opening the evening. I’ll then be joined on stage by Dave Mehling and Andrew Wozniak. We’ll try to recreate that guitar-bouquet!
CR: Do you have a regular band or more of a rotating cast of characters?
TJD: Bands for my records have usually come together as needed. I do work with some folks that remain great sources of inspiration and so they tend to stick around in my mind. As a sideman myself, I am always interested in playing with lots of folks, so I keep my ears out for folks who might be able to make things happen now or in the future.
Taylor James Donskey. Photo courtesy of the artist.
CR: You’re a busy guy! Discuss. I know you play for a bunch of different acts, you teach, you host songwriter rounds—what are your most active projects or activities right now?
TJD: All of them! And if I had to pick a favorite, it would be all of them.
CR: You do a lot of work connecting with artists and sharing the spotlight with others. What advice would you give to newcomers or emerging artists for networking, getting hooked into the local music community, etc.?
TJD: Be out there! Connect in spaces, because sometimes they get taken away for years at a time. Spend more time observing rather than engaging, but when you do engage, do it with vigor and enthusiasm.
Bring snacks but let places know your dietary restrictions. Drink water, it's free, for now. Carry a little cash. Tip your waitstaff, and if you already have, do it again. Tip music of all kinds, from stage to street corner. Always ask for a Venmo too! If you need late night food after a gig, I vote Los Ocampos, Taco Taxi or Mickey’s Diner (by Willy).
People are just people, with dreams and insecurities not so different from one to the next, but ask someone about either and watch them become truly unique. I’m just out here trying to remember people’s names; a skill I’ve never quite mastered, but so far this technique’s been wonderfully helpful.
Taylor James Donskey. Photo credit: Isabel Fajardo.
CR: Any upcoming shows or other plans you’d like people to know about?
TJD:
~ Performing ~
Nov 25th Aster Café 8pm doors — BUY TICKETS
Dec 7th Palmer's Bar for Max Markin’s Songwriter Rounds
Dec 16th KJ’s Hideaway with Cassandra Cole
Dec 29th Second Single Release at 331 Club
Every Tuesday in February at 331 Club (Release Residency, get a physical copy before the record is released!)
February 17th Big Turn Music Fest 5pm American Legion Red Wing
~ Hosting ~
I host the Minneapolis Songwriter Rounds every 2nd and 4th Thursday at the 331 Club.
I host the St. Paul Songwriter Rounds every 1st Thursday and 3RD Sunday at The White Squirrel (This will change to 2nd and 4th Sundays in February!)
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Carol Roth is a full-time marketing copywriter and the primary music journalist and social media publicist for Adventures in Americana. In addition to studying the guitar and songwriting, Carol’s additional creative side hustle is writing self-proclaimed “trashy” novels under the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley!
