I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of the gatekeepers. Even in an era where doing it yourself has never been easier, the patronage of entities like book publishers and record labels remains important.
The case in point that revived my thoughts on the matter is the new EP I Call This One by Gileah Taylor. Taylor blends folk-country sounds with a desert-noir vibe on her latest release for Velvet Blue Records. The soft, forlorn ballads that comprise the four-song EP hit a sweet spot for me during this oppressive summer heat.
I came across clips from I Call This One during an increasingly rare journey into Instagram. It was being promoted by Velvet Blue Records, which I follow because the label puts out recordings by some of my favorite bands (Fine China, Starflyer 59, etc.). I was immediately drawn to the lushness of “The Last Century,” paired with the understated video of Taylor making her way around with her guitar in tow.
Without the support of a record label I trust, I never would have come across Taylor’s work. The concept of exposure is much derided these days when that is all that is offered to an artist.1 Combined with a true partnership that honors an artist’s commercial intent, though, exposure can bring much value.
Gileah Taylor – I Call This One
Velvet Blue Music | Bandcamp
-
Hence the popular meme invoking the line “You have died of exposure,” from the game Oregon Trail. ↩︎