There is something magical about the wilds of Tasmania. Some of that magic has been picked up by Claire Anne Taylor, who was born into her father's hands in the family barn in the state's ancient Tarkine wilderness.
Almost a decade after winning the Bluesfest Busking Competition and relocating to Byron Bay to record her debut album 'Elemental', Taylor is currently on the road touring her third album, 'Giving It Away', which was recorded at MONA's Frying Pan Studios with Chris Townend (Portishead, Silverchair, Tim Finn).
When Townend first contacted Taylor about recording in the studio, it was still under construction, and Taylor was in the bubble of new motherhood – an album was the furtherest thing from her mind. However, with inspiration and a "swanky studio" to record in, 'Giving It Away' was born.
"Despite it being such an amazing new space and me feeling a little bit out of my depth, the songs really had a good sense of themselves already because we'd workshopped them with the bands down in the Huon Valley where most of us are based," Taylor says.
"So I think that translated really well, and it was nice to record in a different space like that because my last album, I recorded most of that at home, so I was ready for a new challenge of recording in a swanky studio."
The album has been heavily inspired by the turmoil Taylor and her family have felt as they have come to terms with her son's diagnosis of Angelman syndrome, a complex genetic disorder that causes developmental disabilities and affects the nervous system.
Music became Taylor's comfort within the chaos of adjusting to a new way of life. "It felt like the ground beneath my feet just fell away and I felt like I was treading water for a long time and music and my guitar was something I could really lean on, and it just brought some stability into my world again," she says.
"I think when you're given such news that is completely out of your control, you need to find things that bring you that sense of peace and comfort, and music has definitely been that for me."
Music has also helped bring Taylor and her son closer together. "I still remember the first time when he was such a little baby and I would sing to him and the way he would just, his whole face would light up," she says, "and it's still the same – I think one of his biggest ways of communicating is through music, he loves to tap on drums and play piano and stuff like that.
"So it's kind of beautiful that we have this way of talking to each other through song."
Taylor has brought her family on the road with her for this tour, and says she's looking forward to bringing them to The Gum Ball (Hunter Valley) with her this month because the sense of community and family created by the event is second to none and she knows the site will be user-friendly for her son's needs as well as the crowd it attracts being friendly.
"I know that I'm going to feel so at home with him just wandering around in his walking frame; I feel like everyone he would go up to would be a nice enough and down to earth person to hang out with him, it's just got that sense about it," she says.
"It's sort of hard to explain unless you've been there and then when you go, you get it. It's not one of those real commercial festivals that feels like it's lost its soul. It's definitely alive and well there."
Claire Anne Taylor joins Dan Sultan, Tropical F... Storm, RVG, Emily Wurramara and a stack more at The Gum Ball (Hunter Valley), which runs 26-28 April.
The Gum Ball 2024 Line-up
Dan SultanTropical F... Storm
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds
The Lachy Doley Group
RVG
Hard-Ons
Gareth Liddiard
Teeny Tiny Stevies
Coterie
Dallas Crane
Emily Wurramara
Battlesnake
Vaudeville Smash
Bullhorn
Melody Pool
Marvell
Karl S. Williams
Queenie
Dave Wells
Checkerboard Lounge
Burger Joint
Claire Anne Taylor
Jet City Sports Club
Junior Burger
Radium Dolls
The Main Guy & The Other Guys
SF Wrens
Sitting Down
The Bures Band
Joe Mungovan
Salarymen
Chimers
Don't Thank Me, Spank Me
Georgie Winchester Special
Joey Leigh Wagtail
Butterknife
Dashville Progress Society
Claire Anne Taylor 2024 Tour Dates
Thu 18 Apr - Upper Lansdowne Hall (NSW)Fri 19 Apr - South West Roxy Cinema (NSW)
Sat 20 Apr - Lowanna Community Hall (NSW)
Sun 21 Apr - Wauchope Arts Hall (NSW)
Fri 3 May - Jetty Theatre (Coffs Harbour)
Sat 4 May - Brunswick Picture House (Northern Rivers)
Sun 5 May - Dust Temple (Gold Coast)
Fri 10 May - The Citadel (Northern Rivers)
Sat 11 May - It's Still A Secret (Brisbane)
Sun 12 May - The Majestic Theatre (Sunshine Coast)
