Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Foster Taylor.
Hi Colin Foster, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a non professional musical family in the greater Nashville area— my dad and brother played guitar, and my brother was in a band with his friends throughout high school (which was elementary school for me). We would routinely visit with extended family, and there was always music being played, and even specific trips for jam sessions. I never played much of anything. I wanted to play guitar like my brother and dad, but I just never felt naturally talented in that and probably didn’t have the patience to learn. I tried to get into playing drums and I think I had natural rhythm for that at a young age. Ultimately I didn’t end up contributing much musically with the family, I just kinda watched. Growing up, my music taste was essentially my dad’s music taste. I didn’t listen to hip-hop AT ALL, in fact I disliked it. I loved The Beatles, and tolerated the folk, jazz, or whatever else my dad would put on in the house. Entering my teenage years, I remember hearing quite a bit of 2000s pop and kind of liking that, but despite being surrounded by music, I wasn’t genuinely invested in it. That is until I discovered Mac Miller. Finding Mac Miller and his music totally changed and birthed my true love for music, songwriting, and the journey of a musician. I became obsessed with his music, his journey— I was a super fan. This was around the time I was 13 or so, and found myself growing my social circle for the first time in my life. A lot of my friends were listening to hip-hop and loved to “freestyle”. I never really participated at first, but they always encouraged me to. I continued my passion for Mac Miller’s music and discovered that singing along to it, I kind of had the rhythm and voice down. I could *kinda* sound like him. I started freestyling with my friends and came to really enjoy it, and thought I was pretty good at it too (I’m terrible at it now). Finally, I became friends with a few people who were actually recording their raps and putting them on SoundCloud. The stars kind of aligned and I ended up making music with them for a little and learning the basics of recording, before I decided this is something I was good at, and maybe actually had a chance to succeed. Then, eventually after getting my own budget equipment, I started making songs on my own. I continued learning, honing in, and putting out the music I was making as I entered high school. Around this time, I discovered G-Eazy, who became another Mac Miller situation. I was so inspired by his sound and his journey. Heavily studying these two idols who shaped me, I started to find a voice and sound, which essentially was a hybrid between Mac Miller and G-Eazy. Surprisingly, the music I was posting was actually getting a little traction. I had a pretty big social life in high school and kind of became known as “the guy who raps,” but don’t worry, this was usually not a good thing. I got a lot of judgement for it but nevertheless it spread the word, which helped the numbers, and the people who actually gave it a chance typically liked it. A small local crowd eventually turned more into a widespread small crowd from all over the place, listening to my music on SoundCloud. I kept narrowing in on who I was as an artist, what my sound is, and was seeing a small but exciting amount of presence online. Graduating high school in 2016, I decided to go to Belmont University for college to study songwriting and learn the music business. In 2017, I wrote a song I called “fool”. This comes into play later. Anyways, I kept getting better at my craft, expanding my knowledge and creativity, growing my numbers, and learning a lot of basics, technical tips, and business jargon at school. Then, in I believe 2019, a YouTube channel called Promoting Sounds posted “fool” on their page (I had reached out to this channel so many times in hopes they’d post my music). Somehow, in 2020, this caught the attention of a few record labels based in the UK. I was probably a month away from graduating at this time. I ended up signing a deal with a label called Relentless Records, who was extremely interested in the “fool” song. It went on to release officially as “fools” in 2021, and shockingly went “viral” somewhat. I didn’t have much to follow it with at the time and was in a tough mental health spot. I ended up getting connected with some super cool producers and writers over the next few years as I continued making music under the label. These collaborations lead to me completing and releasing my debut EP “less than three,” which is a collection of Pop Rap songs, not very similar to my viral song “fools”. Shortly after this, the label and I parted ways, and I went back to my roots of making music alone in my room— writing, recording, mixing, and mastering it myself. I decided to hone in on (but not box myself into) the sound of “fools,” which I consider to be Lofi Rap. Since then, I have put out several singles and have many songs in the works that will be released soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have struggled severely with my mental health over the course of my journey. I struggle to create constantly. You may not see it from the outside, but it is a big deal for me to create and complete songs. I run into writers block daily, get demotivated by the state of the industry daily, and struggle to find success as an independent artist without selling my life to social media. I gained a lot of fans OF my viral song, but I did not gain nearly as many fans of ME. Despite the huge accolade I have of that song having nearly 150 million plays on Spotify alone, I still feel like I am operating as an unknown artist. It is very strange and frustrating. The state of the industry, and ways I have been treated in the industry, makes this industry a very questionable place to *want* to be. I love creating music, and finding a way to do that for a living in this day and age without also being a professional comedian, content creator, controversial tiktok star is a huge huge struggle in itself, not to mention how small the earnings are even with success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make Lofi rap music, and also pop rap/ pop/ alternative pop. I am typically known for my Lofi rap music. I’m most proud to be able to make music that is helping people with their mental health and lives daily. I get all sorts of messages about how my music has helped and changed the lives of people and I just think that is so crazy and such a blessing. I am just glad I can transport emotions through the vessel that is my songs. I think what sets me apart from others is the raw, relatable, conversational lyrics in a well presented way that almost feels like…feeling a story with your ears.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My manager and best friend, Joey Hyland, has been by my side for over a decade now. He has been my right hand man and a lot of help in finding new opportunities for me, connecting me in the industry, planning out releases, giving feedback on songs, and simply being there for me as a friend.
My idols, mainly Mac Miller also G-Eazy, really shaped me early on and got me into making music, so without them I wouldn’t be here for sure.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://linktr.ee/foster615
- Instagram: http://Instagram.com/foster615
- Facebook: http://Facebook.com/foster615
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/foster615
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/c/foster615
- Soundcloud: https://SoundCloud.com/foster615
