Hidden talents of Universal
For those about to rock…
We salute anyone who has the confidence (and the voice) to stand up on stage and sing.
In addition to her General Manager gig here at Universal Packaging, Kylie Taylor is out there on a regular basis performing as one half of a covers duo and fronting a band performing original numbers.
As a young girl, Kylie was responsible for regularly draining the hot water pipes while tuning her vocal pipes in the shower. While this may have caused some dismay for her parents, these solo performances sparked a passion for music, which followed through to high school.
“A couple of highlights were winning the talent quest with a solo song in intermediate school and being selected as the female lead in the Little Shop of Horrors at high school, which involved both singing and acting,” she says.
The same adrenaline rush felt during those formative years drives Kylie to switch out the laptop for a microphone, moving from management into music in her time away from the office and “focusing some time for myself”.
“I’m very excited about getting back into my music in a bigger way again,” she says. “I have such a passion for it, and it brings me so much joy. I love the rush of being on stage. The reward you get from entertaining people with live music is incredible.”
When there’s a performance on the books, Kylie practises daily to ensure her voice is show-ready. While the natural talent is obvious, she also works hard to hone her skills.
“I work with an amazing coach, who I see every week, and she helps me with the technical aspects of my singing,” she says.
As far as favourite artists go, Kylie can’t go past Stevie Nicks. She especially loves to sing Dreams by Fleetwood Mac and Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. She’s also a big fan of country music, and a recent trip to the States provided some lifelong memories.
“I was fortunate enough to visit Nashville and that was a dream come true for me. Being a country music lover, it was just amazing to be immersed in it there; it was incredible.”
“You have to like who you’re playing with, as the crowd will feel it if you don’t have a connection with your fellow performers.”
Not one to experience stage fright, Kylie has taught herself to turn nerves into positive energy that can be used in the performance. It certainly helps when she can use the rapport with fellow musicians to bolster the stage presence.
“You have to like who you’re playing with, as the crowd will feel it if you don’t have a connection with your fellow performers,” she says. “Thankfully, musicians are creative and fun people in general – and I really enjoy being around great talent!”
Now, the big question: where can you see Kylie play?
Her new duo is currently getting set up to perform at pubs, events, weddings and private parties. Watch this space!
