Introducing Interview: Eric Taylor Escudero

Brazilian born Eric Taylor Escudero has always been influenced by the folk-rock of the ’60s and ’70s, and has – after playing in several rock bands over in Sao Paulo – released three solo EPs prior to his brand new debut album, We Were Young And It Was Morning.

With his sweeping, emotion-strewn vocals and impressive instrumental arrangements, Escudero’s distinctive sound is somewhat reminiscent of the likes of Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble or the charming folk music of Johnny Flynn.

We caught up with Eric to find out more…

Hey Eric, how’s it going?
Great, thank you!

So, how did you first get into songwriting?
I was very young when I started, around 13 or 14 years old. It always seemed like a natural thing to do. As a teenager I was really impressed by the way songs were written, the words that were chosen, and the way the music was created as a whole. Seemed like a very noble thing to do, so I did it.

What are your biggest influences – musically and non-musically?
Musically, there is Oasis, which was the first band I really liked. But also Idlewild, Bright Eyes, Johnny Flynn, Ryan Adams, Sigur Rós, etc. My main non-musical influences are writers and poets such as Robert Frost, John Keats, and Brazilian poet Casimiro de Abreu.

What’s your album We Were Young and It Was Morning all about?
It’s about the passing of time and life in a big city. It’s an album that is full of nostalgia and beauty.

Have you got any funny stories from being on the road you could share with us?
I don´t know if it’s funny, but this was surely our most awkward moment on the road:

Me and Ana Luísa Ramos were in Salzburg and had to play in Vienna, so we crossed Austria by train and played the concert. It was winter and the night was terribly cold, and we left the venue and looked for a place to spend the night. Since we had to be back in Salzburg by noon we caught an early train; we didn’t know that it was a holiday in Austria, so the train was full of kids travelling around the country. There was some problem with the train and the tickets, so a lot of people were gently asked to leave their seats and find other places to seat. All of that in impeccable German, which I don’t speak at all. Of course we were late to Salzburg and finished our journey walking in the rain. Still, I really liked Austria and hope to go back there one day!

Where’s been your favourite place to perform live?
I’m happy to perform in any venue where people are interested and really enjoy the music. I was really happy to play in Denmark, which is a country I like a lot. Also, playing in open spaces like parks or really small venues, with an interested audience, is usually really nice.

What have you got planned for the next few months?
I intend to release a few promotional and live videos, and play as many gigs as I can to promote the album.

How does the English music scene differ from Brazil?
I think the way people relate to music is a bit different. The Brazilian audience is really used to seeing cover bands, so few venues have space for independent musicians to show their work. There are fewer cultural/arts centres as well, and less money is spent on arts in general.

Huge thanks to Eric for answering our questions!

Find out more at his website or Twitter.