I have spent countless hours thinking about what name other than my own name would be cool for performing? Shakey Graves, The Tallest Man on Earth, Sting. There is something that equals the epitome of cool when it just works. I first came across the music of Joshua Taylor in a place I meet a lot of new faces and voices over the years, The Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge (Thanks, Tom Bianchi). Taylor’s voice was striking in its subtlety. At times a hushed whisper that quickly escalates and opens it range, flying high and brushing clouds with its torn edges. There is a gorgeousness in that. Impressive and awe-inspiring.

Going under the moniker “Truth of a Lyre“, he is a fairly recent transplant to the area…hell, even to the country. Having been named the best unsigned live act in the UK, received BBC Radio 1 Airplay and packed out famous music venues in England Josh’s band left him at the altar. Naturally he flew half way around the world with a guitar to Boston to start again… And while the artist may garner comparisons to a Marcus Mumford tinged vocal or “if Ed Sheehan grew balls”, there is much more to the depths of this young songwriter. The emotion seeps out of his fingertips and mouth and covers the audience in swells.

This latest video sees the artist in an empty room, bare and sparse allowing his voice and lightly picked acoustic guitar to shine and be the star of this video. The lights ever so slightly illuminating his stage of a few area rugs strewn about, playing to an audience of ghosts, the whispers of his voice rising and falling with the story of his song.

Give a listen. I think you will be hearing and seeing a lot more of this gent in the coming year…