Spotlight On: Taylor Pollock – Producer, Bebeluna

Taylor Pollock is a multi-talented engineer and producer, as well as being the lead vocalist of Cosmorat.  Knowing both Taylor and Bebeluna’s interests, work ethic, and personal goals, we knew they’d be a perfect match both personally and professionally.  We caught up with Taylor over email to learn more about their time on the project.

Hi Taylor, thanks again for taking part in ReBalance ’24 – it’s been a pleasure seeing you work with Bebeluna, and hearing the results of your time together. Can you tell us what made you take the project on? 

I was approached by Ruth about doing some production work as part of the ReBalance program.  Ruth explained the intentions behind the project, and how it would connect women and nonbinary producers and artists to collaborate.  I was particularly excited about this because working as a studio engineer, I have had so many people tell me I was the first woman engineer/producer they have gotten to work with.  I think it sounded like a one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet other women and nonbinary artists and collaborate.

In your time as an engineer and producer, you’ve worked with a variety of different artists and writers. Being an artist yourself, do you think you approach working with new acts differently? 

I think that being an artist helps me with a deeper level of empathy in the studio.  I’ve been in nightmare sessions where I felt I wasn’t being listened to, and I have been in situations where I really struggled to perform a part or describe how I wanted something to sound.  When you are an artist, every element of a song can be very personal.  It becomes an extension of a person and their world. Knowing how it feels to work on my own music, I try to approach production in a way that feels careful and passionate.  It’s all about making the studio a safe space to be able to express and share their art with me.

How do you adapt the way you work to each new project? Do you find it’s best to let the artist lead, or for the engineer to take control and guide the session?

I like to have a chat with artists to get a general gist of how they usually work, whether it’s alone or with others.  I think it’s very important to learn how to read a room and people’s emotions.  Sometimes people don’t feel confident enough to tell you when they don’t vibe with something, which is always ok.  I think my most important takeaway from working with new people is trying to learn their boundaries, what they like, what they want to do versus what they want me to do.  It’s all about creating the vision, and the best way to achieve that is to create an environment where an artist feels comfortable enough to open up and really dig their nails into the creative vision.

How do you balance the creative direction of a project with any technical requirements?

There are many studio techniques and tricks you can use to achieve a big-sounding record without a million-pound recording studio.  I’ll try to manage expectations with something like hiring an orchestra, but you can always fake it well enough with VSTs and layering things.  I think limits are only there if you put them there!

Do you have any current favourite production tools or techniques?

Not really at the moment.  I like to ebb and flow with whatever a project needs.  I suppose my favourite thing to do at the moment is record and produce drums.  I think drum sounds are integral to executing a vision.  There are so many ways you can do it, and it’s different every time.

Are there any producers you look up to? Where do you take inspiration from? 

I’m obsessed with Shawn Everett and his approach to production and mixing.  I also love David Wrench’s mixes.  I’ve been trying to find inspiration for producing in more visual mediums recently.  I have been enjoying looking at paintings and thinking about how they would sound.

Thinking back to your time at Albion Rooms, Margate, how was it working with Bebeluna? Any key moments that stand out for you? 

Working with Bebeluna was a dream!  They were so open to trying new things as well as telling me exactly what they wanted out of the song.  It was such a great collaboration.  I think what particularly stood out to me was how easy it was to communicate our visions to each other.  Even in the demo stages when we were trying to lay down drums (neither of us play drums), we knew exactly the vibe each was trying to bring to the song.  We both trusted the process so much that when I hear the end result, I feel so proud of the work we have accomplished.

What’s been your biggest lesson from the last few years of your work? And what advice would you give anyone starting out in engineering/production?

I think this has to be an ego-less job.  My philosophy as a producer, engineer, and artist isn’t necessarily about putting YOUR fingerprints on something.  It’s about following your intuition to what you think will serve a song or project best.  Naturally, you’ll probably develop your sound over time as it is about taste to an extent, but it isn’t about you, it’s about feeding the belly of the creative beast.  You’ll only get bitten if you make it all about you!

Do you remember any key advice you were given when you were younger that’s helped you?

One of my favourite teachers from school (shout out to Matt Ellard) once told me that there are a million ways to do things, and you can achieve a good sound with anything as long as you know how to use your ears.  He really inspired me to try things even if they weren’t “technically” correct.  Figured out how to get some really cool productions and sounds because of this.

Any words on ReBalance or your time being part of the programme?

I am very thankful for being asked to be part of this wonderful initiative.  I hope that you can hear the love Bebeluna and I put into the tracks.  I hope this inspires people to put their art out there and to reach out to more women/trans producers, artists, and engineers!

Lastly, any favourite tracks you’d like people to listen to right now – either that you’ve worked on or just in general?

I’m honestly just listening to my friend’s music and the music I am working on.  I am surrounded by so much talent and art at the moment, and I am so grateful that any of my beautiful friends share it with me!