What do Sting, Pat Benatar, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Government Mule… Read Full Bio ↴What do Sting, Pat Benatar, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Government Mule, and Pink Floyd all have in common? In addition to the obvious fact that each has enjoyed massive commercial success, all of those artists are fortunate enough to have availed themselves of the vocal talents of singer/songwriter and guitarist Machan. Now, with the release of Motion of Love on NuGroov Records, Machan is truly stepping out from the background with a CD that showcases the many facets of her exotic adult-pop-meets-jazz sound.
Machan’s reputation as an accomplished professional has earned her the respect of her musical peers, some of the most illustrious of which join her on Motion of Love. The CD features guest appearances by jazz greats John Medeski, John Scofield, and Randy Brecker, and Brazilian percussionist Portinho, as well as strong musical contributions from Government Mule’s Danny Louis (who also just happens to be Machan’s husband!) Not to be overlooked is Machan’s first-class guitar playing that sets thetable for this feast of talent.
It’s no surprise that Machan has followed a musical path. Her mother was a Japanese jazz vocalist who met Machan’s father when he booked her trio, which also featured pianist Toshiko Akioshi, into a post WWII officers club in Yokohama. Raised in the US, by the age of twelve Machan had taught herself to play the guitar, emulating her early musical heroes such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and had begun to perform in venues around her hometown. By the age of 16, she was supporting herself as a performer. She studied jazz theory and vocal performance at William Patterson College, and soon found herself sharing the stage with artists ranging from Pink Floyd to George Benson to Sting. The lessons she learned from her experiences in the world of pop superstardom resonate for her now that she’s committing her self to her solo career: “The guys in Pink Floyd were mega rock stars yet they were down to earth and wonderful to work with. They taught me that success doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch with reality or change who you are. You decide who you want to be and what to do with that kind of power.”
A few years back, following an extensive tour with Sting, Machan finally felt the confidence to strike out on her own as a performer. “Even though I had some great experiences, working as a background singer wasn’t what I really wanted to do. When I was younger, I hadn’t found my direction or my voice as an artist, so I hid behind other artists.” Machan began to find her own way with her debut self-titled release, which reflected the singer’s myriad influences, softly weaving her inviting vocals around warm Brazilian rhythms and adult pop melodies, spiced with hints of jazz and world music. “Now I feel like I’m back on the path that I started down when I was a teenager. I’ve come back to my own main road now, and I am so happy to feel back on track.”
Motion of Love sustains the mellifluous momentum of Machan’s signature sound, enhanced by an even greater depth and meaning. “I hope that people will feel like I’ve shared more of myself with them, this time out,” she explains. “I hope that my music will touch or inspire them in some way. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants – to contribute and make a difference?”
Machan’s reputation as an accomplished professional has earned her the respect of her musical peers, some of the most illustrious of which join her on Motion of Love. The CD features guest appearances by jazz greats John Medeski, John Scofield, and Randy Brecker, and Brazilian percussionist Portinho, as well as strong musical contributions from Government Mule’s Danny Louis (who also just happens to be Machan’s husband!) Not to be overlooked is Machan’s first-class guitar playing that sets thetable for this feast of talent.
It’s no surprise that Machan has followed a musical path. Her mother was a Japanese jazz vocalist who met Machan’s father when he booked her trio, which also featured pianist Toshiko Akioshi, into a post WWII officers club in Yokohama. Raised in the US, by the age of twelve Machan had taught herself to play the guitar, emulating her early musical heroes such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and had begun to perform in venues around her hometown. By the age of 16, she was supporting herself as a performer. She studied jazz theory and vocal performance at William Patterson College, and soon found herself sharing the stage with artists ranging from Pink Floyd to George Benson to Sting. The lessons she learned from her experiences in the world of pop superstardom resonate for her now that she’s committing her self to her solo career: “The guys in Pink Floyd were mega rock stars yet they were down to earth and wonderful to work with. They taught me that success doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch with reality or change who you are. You decide who you want to be and what to do with that kind of power.”
A few years back, following an extensive tour with Sting, Machan finally felt the confidence to strike out on her own as a performer. “Even though I had some great experiences, working as a background singer wasn’t what I really wanted to do. When I was younger, I hadn’t found my direction or my voice as an artist, so I hid behind other artists.” Machan began to find her own way with her debut self-titled release, which reflected the singer’s myriad influences, softly weaving her inviting vocals around warm Brazilian rhythms and adult pop melodies, spiced with hints of jazz and world music. “Now I feel like I’m back on the path that I started down when I was a teenager. I’ve come back to my own main road now, and I am so happy to feel back on track.”
Motion of Love sustains the mellifluous momentum of Machan’s signature sound, enhanced by an even greater depth and meaning. “I hope that people will feel like I’ve shared more of myself with them, this time out,” she explains. “I hope that my music will touch or inspire them in some way. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants – to contribute and make a difference?”
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Machan Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Machan:
Everywhere I Go Yesterday a sad goodbye I told you that it wouldn't be…
Go With It You gotta go with it Flow with it Everybody just gotta go…
Go With It A You gotta go with it Flow with it Everybody just gotta go…
Love'em Leave'em Travelin' around the world Checking out every boy and girl W…
Love'em Leave'em A Travelin' around the world Checking out every boy and girl W…
Never Gonna Break Your Heart Never gonna break your heart I'm never gonna tear us apart N…
Never Gonna Break Your Heart A Never gonna break your heart I'm never gonna tear us apart N…
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away …
Talkin In My Sleep A Oh oh oh Yeah Toss and turnin' all night long Tryin' to…Talkin' in My Sleep Oh oh oh Yeah Toss and turnin' all night long Tryin' to…
Talkin' In My Sleep A Oh oh oh Yeah Toss and turnin' all night long Tryin' to…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@Tom_576
Totally love these interviews - thank you JT. One of my only life regrets is to not have seen PF live. Loving the remastered videos and content like this brings it as close to life as possible.
Ms Taylor you are a beautiful singer and soul. You were part of a soundscape and ‘visual’ that for many is indelibly etched for ever. The GGITS on DSOT is sublime, especially the way your three vocal styles compliment each other. I’m in awe of what you have experienced and achieved and I know I’m not alone. Bravo - and thank you ❤
@highproject6153
David - "well, do you want to go on a tour then?".......Does a one legged duck swim in circles??? BEAUTIFUL story from Machan, warms my heart.
@roccojamison89gooker51
Machan Taylor is fun to watch in the video for Delicate Sound of Thunder. She has a playful attitude and a powerful voice.
@fabioalbertolopezbarrrera1699
GREAT
@LMH61
Ms Taylor, what a career you have...performing with so many greats and very, very diverse sounds...testament to your talent.....(admittedly, I only became aware of you via the legendary Bobby Caldwell and saw in comments that you sang with Pink Floyd, and I was scratching my head (as their sound is so very different) and then saw how many people you have sung with, including Hiroshima, Pat Benatar. Wow!
@comodoregoatknuckle6301
Oh my. Your channel is gold. I'm so glad it popped up in my recommendations. Your interviews are so interesting and your style is just great. Thank you so much.
@karlmathew1342
Sorrow is my favourite song of all time.
@simondodd918
I agree with and appreciate the point about Momentary Lapse not being a Gilmour solo album. So with Rick benched, what is it that accounts for how different Momentary Lapse is from David’s solo albums? It has to be Nick, doesn’t it! It kind of slights Nick, who never struck me as a a “shut up and drum” kind of guy. I think he would have had opinions about the material and would have played a role shaping it, even if it’s as simple as “I like that” or “I don’t like that” or “that’s pretty good, can we repeat that bit?” Roger never really understood or respected that kind of contribution, which is why only one of his solo records sounds even vaguely like Pink Floyd.
@evelynrossetto3143
AS AN OLD BOOMER YOUU2 ARE SO CUTE!!!
@fredcloud9668
Where do they find these interviewers?