Meet Taylor Carroll | Music Producer & Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Carroll and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been a musician since I was young, and while I didn’t always know I’d pursue a career in the music industry, I did know music and musicians would always surround me. Like any young person, I explored many career options and opportunities, but it wasn’t until I landed an internship at Bear Creek Studio, the legendary recording studio outside Seattle, that I realized recording music was a viable option for me as a career. In the years that followed, I worked with countless successful music producers and engineers that further inspired my passion for producing music, and helped me realize I could make a living at it. It certainly wasn’t a hasty decision, or one made lightly, but something that just seemed right for me after years of experience in the world of music. At this point it’s difficult to imagine myself doing anything successfully in a non-creative field, I’m not sure I have the skills for that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve had the privilege of beginning my career and developing my craft in Bear Creek Studio, one of the most beautiful studios in the northwest, and have done almost all of my work as a producer and engineer its walls. My history there, having started as an intern then eventually becoming the studio’s manager and chief engineer, allowed for me to observe and work alongside some of the industry’s leading music producers. Throughout all the years and after all of the sessions, I learned so much more than technical know-how and the best ways to capture sound; the most important lesson I learned is how to be a collaborator. Anyone can learn to put a microphone in front of a source and turn a knob until it sounds like music, but what isn’t easily learned is how to make everyone in a recording studio feel comfortable with themselves, and how that can affect an artist’s performance. To me, everyone involved is essential, from the songwriter, to the hired session musician, event to studio assistant or intern acting as a fly on the wall when they’re not getting someone coffee. Every opinion matters when creating art. Egos often tend to get in the way of progress while creating music, and the most valuable thing someone can do when working with a musician is shed themselves of that ego. I like to think when I sit down with a band or songwriter that I come to them with openness and allow them the space to be vulnerable. I am proud of the records I’ve helped make over the last few years and I believe the magic captured in those songs came from that vulnerability and not because I put the microphone in the right spot. I also believe I’m still at the beginning of my career as a music producer, and I can’t wait for to see what projects I have in store for me next.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Seattle area has so much to offer, I’m sure I could take them nearly anywhere and they’d have a wonderful visit. I’d definitely want to take them somewhere outdoors, maybe on a good hike through Discovery Park, or out on my boat on Lake Sammamish or Lake Washington. For lunch, I’d take them out to a great Thai restaurant, of which there are plenty in the area. Some notable Thai restaurants would be Thai Tom, Araya’s Place, or Kati Vegan Thai. I’d also want to make sure we saw some local art, so we could walk around Pioneer Square and pop into some of the many galleries down there. Then, of course, we’d want to see some live music at one of the many great music venues we have like the Paramount, the Moore Theater, the Crocodile, the Tractor Tavern, the list goes on. Then finally, we would want to get pizza at Cornelli Pizza before popping next door for cocktails at Sol Liquor.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would most definitely like to shoutout Bear Creek Studio and its owners Joe Hadlock, Manny Hadlock, and Ryan Hadlock for giving me the opportunity to first intern, then manage their beautiful facility. I’d also like to shoutout all of the amazing producers, engineers, and musicians I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years, of which there are too many to name.

Website: taylorjamescarroll.com

Instagram: @taylorjamescarroll