Celeb Secrets has always had a knack for discovering the stars of tomorrow, and we’re proud to say that Taylor McIntosh has officially been added to our list of talent that’s set for a bright future.
At only 18-years-old,Taylor is an accomplished singer/songwriter and musician who is highly-skilled in playing both piano and guitar; a break dancer; and actor.
Finding music at a young age, McIntosh has collaborated with Grammy-nominated producer Tommy Marolda, Richie Sambora, electric guitarist Ernie White and world-class Saxophonist Steve Golden, and credits Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, and John Mayer as his musical inspirations. He’s also a member of breakdancing group Break Ninjaz, won USA Battle of the Year and went on to place 5th against teams from around the world in Battle of The Year, marking the highest finish for a U.S. team in nearly a decade. In addition to his musical and dance background, Taylor has showcased his talents as an actor with roles in the short films Hollow Me and Do You Know What It’s Like? as well as Cached, and Black is My Favourite Color.
Celeb Secrets sits down with the young entertainer to learn more about his budding career, how he balances it all, and what we can expect from him in 2021.
Take a read at our full Q&A with Taylor below and don’t forget to give him a follow on Instagram at @itstaylormcintosh.
CS: Hi Taylor, so nice to meet you! Can you tell us more about what inspires you the most about singing and songwriting?
TM: “I think the biggest thing that inspires me is life experiences and imagination. The more I live my life, the more source material I have to pull from. I observe my surroundings a lot. People, places, feelings I have in those places all inspire me. Of course, a lot of songs I have written are not my personal experiences but rather writing from my imagination. How I would feel or what emotion might be attached to an idea. I think a good songwriter doesn’t necessarily have to go through something personally to write an amazing song. But I will say I can hardly wait for Adele’s new album! Without a doubt, it will have a lot of great songs! I think as a songwriter I can be inspired by movies, other musicians, theater, art, and even seeing other people’s heartaches and triumphs. With singing, I am inspired by other singers! When I hear an incredible vocal performance I want to get better. I’m always trying to improve my singing because I want people to feel what I feel when I hear an awesome vocal.”
CS: So I’ve heard you’re really good at piano and guitar. Which one do you like better? Or if you feel like you’re better at it?
TM: “I’d like to think that I am pretty good at both guitar and piano, but as of right now I am better at piano. Although I have noticed that I write more songs on guitar than piano. I think it has to do with being able to hear melodies easier on guitar, but I really don’t know. However, I do write on piano still. There is something about the guitar and the way you can play chords and specific notes with the strings that makes it magical to me. Strumming patterns and vibes seem to be easier to achieve on the guitar. That being said, I still play the piano every day and many of my songs are written on the piano.”
CS: You’ve collaborated with some top notch people in the music industry, especially Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi, what is it like getting to collaborate with such big influences?
TM: “It’s just an honor to even be able to collaborate with all the people I have collaborated with. Richie is a Rock God so having him on any of my songs is a dream come true. To hear that Richie Sambora loves one of your tracks and wants to be on it…that doesn’t happen very often! Plus, getting to work with other musicians like Ernie White has been amazing. Ernie is so talented it’s unbelievable. I love being able to have him feature his guitar skills on my songs, I think it really helps set them apart, especially since you don’t hear guitar solos as much anymore. Ernie is one of the greatest guitar players you have never heard of. I want to honor these amazing musicians in my music. That is why I try to include them. That includes one of the great sax players you have never heard of, Steve Golden. He’s just incredible and has played with almost everyone: Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross etc.”
CS: If you can collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
TM: “The two people I would want to collaborate with, dead or alive, are John Mayer and Bob Marley. I think John is an extremely talented songwriter and he is one of my personal inspirations. He also seems like a cool guy to hang out with and talk about deep subjects. Bob Marley has become one of my all-time favorite artists, being able to have collaborated with him would’ve been so awesome. Waiting in Vain is a masterpiece in my opinion, and I listen to that song almost every day.”
CS: You have a new single “Clair in the Moonlight” which is inspired by “Clair De Lune,” what or who is the inspiration behind the song?
TM: “There’s no specific girl that this song is inspired by, but rather an idea if that makes sense. The idea and feelings you get when you first fall in love with someone, it’s that initial infatuation that one experiences with another. Clair de Lune itself was the biggest inspiration for the song, because Clair de Lune translates to Moonlight in English. So I created Clair in the Moonlight. And I just imagined me and a girl at night in a romantic setting.”
CS: Not only are you a singer/songwriter, but you also dance. When did you start dancing?
TM: “I’ve been dancing my whole life pretty much. My mom was a professional dancer, so she would tried to teach me all the time. I specifically remember being really little and having her teach me how to moonwalk in the kitchen. I didn’t start break dancing until I was a little older, and it quickly became one of my biggest passions.”
CS: You competed on World Of Dance with your dance group “Break Ninjaz,” what was it like dancing on the biggest stage in front of JLO, Derek Hough, and Ne-Yo?
TM: “It was a really cool and super fun experience. I had a great time being able to perform with my crew and all my friends in front of such big names in the industry. Derek especially was really nice to all of us. I got some really good TV face time that I didn’t expect to get. I cracked a funny joke and it made it onto the show. J-Lo was harsh but honest. They cut a lot of what she said, probably so it wouldn’t hurt our feelings. I think she was right though! We could have been a lot better. That being said, the preparation for that show was exhausting.”
CS: I see you’re also getting into acting a little more, is that something you want to pursue more?
TM: “I’ve actually been acting for a while now, and I definitely hope to still be able to pursue some sort of career in it, even if it’s just getting to be in some movies. What’s great about music and acting is that they both crossover into one another, so I don’t see a reason why I can’t pursue both. Both require you to release inner emotion in the hopes that other people feel what you’re feeling.”
CS: What is something you like to do when you’re not working?
TM: “I usually play video games or hangout with friends and family when I have downtime. I’ve been playing video games ever since I was really little so I have sort of grown up with them. Also, in my family movies are big deal so I love just getting to chill and watch films with my family. I was really into sports when I was younger. Basketball specifically, but I didn’t reach my current height until it was probably too late. But I will still go outside and shoot the basketball and practice, if only to beat my Dad and brothers. In the last year I’ve picked up golf, and I’ve fallen in love with trying to hit that dang ball.”
CS: You are a very talented person, but since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any secret talents? Or something a lot of people don’t know about you?
TM: “I used to be super into magic, to the point where I thought it might be something I could do as a career. I used to be really good, but I haven’t done it for a while. I bet if I practiced for a day I could be decent again. Something about it fascinated me. To this day I love to watch great magicians.”
