Five Minutes With: Jazz/Folk-Songwriter Loryn Taggart

Multi-talented artist and boundary-pushing singer-songwriter Loryn Taggart has boldly made her mark in the music scene, earning significant acclaim even before dropping her first album. This Hungarian-Canadian musician grew up in the Prairies, taking a daring step at the age of 16 by leaving her family behind to chase her musical aspirations in Toronto. Transitioning from gigs with a local bar band to commanding stages solo at iconic venues like Horseshoe Tavern, Rivoli, Cameron House, and Le Verre Bouteille, Loryn swiftly garnered attention, earning nods from prestigious awards including the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the 18th Annual Independent Music Awards, and the SoundClash Music Awards. She also emerged as the runner-up for the Cobalt Prize for Innovative Blues Songwriting.

Now residing in Montreal, Taggart’s talent didn’t stay under wraps for long. Prior to the global shutdown in 2020, she toured alongside Canadian folk musician Donovan Woods. In a standout moment in 2021, she auditioned for and clinched the role of David Bowie in an international tribute tour celebrating Bowie’s ‘The Berlin Trilogy’ era. Teaming up with La Tribe Agence and Moment Factory, Loryn mesmerized audiences at esteemed venues like Place Des Arts, Canadian Arts Centre, and the Amphitheatre Cogeco, delivering iconic Bowie tracks like “Station to Station” and “Heroes,” making her one of the pioneering female artists to do so.

Following the passing of her father, Loryn Taggart embarked on the creation of her debut album ‘The Lost Art of Pulling Through.’ Conceptualized as a journey through grief and the redemptive power of creation, the album delves into themes of overcoming loss, navigating through anger, self-doubt, and creative stagnation. In 2022, she joined forces with Marcus Paquin (known for his work with The National and Tim Baker) and collaborated with fellow musicians from the David Bowie tour to commence recording her debut album. Set for release in September 2023, Loryn is thrilled to share her music with the world, made possible by the support of FACTOR Canada.

Loryn Taggart

Name:

Loryn Taggart

Genre:

Jazz/Folk-Songwriter

Founded:

2011

# of Albums:

1 LP 1 EP

Latest Album:

‘The Lost Art of Pulling Through’

Latest Single:

Tell Me How

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Feist & Cage The Elephant

Favourite musician now:

Feist & Cage The Elephant – old habits die hard.

Guilty pleasure song:

1234 – Feist or Sneakernight by Vanessa Hudgens

Live show ritual:

Pre-show – Panic about why I do this for a living. During the show – lots of instrument solos from the band, lots of audience calls and responses and as much comedy as possible. Post Show – Question why I don’t do this every single night of my life. Without fail.

Favourite local musician:

Wyatt C Louis

EP or LP?

LP!!

Early bird or night owl?

Is Mid-day an option? I love sleeping in, I love going to bed early and my favourite meal is lunch. Noon is the best time of day.

Road or studio?

Road for sure. Performing is a high like no other.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Oui! I have a very busy summer that I’m over the moon about. I’m playing a Mariposa Folk Festival showcase audition in Orillia, I’m playing NXNE on June 13th in Toronto and I’m playing a great show in Montreal in July. I will take a short break to go off and see The Eras Tour in Europe, then I’ll be back to release new music at the end of the summer.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Bridgette or Char Bar

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Stephen Ave

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Fish Creek. It’s where I grew up, and I find it very nostalgic. It’s where I went for brownie camp, it’s where I used to explore during the summers.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Commonwealth

What is your favourite music store in your city?

MCC forever