Finding ways to work with artists at all stages of their careers is an important part of Taylor’s artist relations program. We enjoy thinking of innovative ways to collaborate with both new artists and more established players. Earlier this year, we had the privilege of teaming up with three of our artists to capture their live performances.
Our latest Taylor Soundcheck features Tennessee-based artist Greylan James, who recently won ACM’s Song of the Year award. Taylor Soundcheck is a series we launched a few years back that showcases live acoustic performances by Taylor artists. The series provides fans a glimpse into these close-up, intimate performances, and every session highlights the artist’s signature sound.
We are also excited to introduce our newest artist series called Goes Acoustic. This video series spotlights Taylor artists, each performing one of their original songs with a small band, adding an extra layer of musical depth to the performance. The intimate setting captures the raw energy and authenticity of their music. The goal was to create an engaging and insightful series showcasing artists’ musical talents and offering a quick glimpse into their journeys. We linked up with R&B singer-songwriter Tone Stith to kick off this new series.
Finally, the Acoustic Sessions, another of our ongoing artist video series, continued this spring with a handful of new performances including an appearance by singer-songwriter Lauren Ruth Ward. The Acoustic Sessions invites Taylor players to share stripped-back versions of their original work, putting the focus on songwriting, lyrics and solo musicianship. Watch Lauren perform her song “SELF LOVE” below.
Check out all three artist performances below.
Greylan James Plays “Ain’t Thinkin’ Bout You” on Taylor Soundcheck
From the moment his Papaw gifted him his first guitar at the age of five, Greylan James knew he was meant to be a musician. The Knoxville-raised singer/songwriter has been manifesting his vision of country music stardom since his earliest days, from those cleats and cowboy hats he wore to school to playing every sort of live show imaginable from tailgates to patios and dive bars to funerals around his hometown. Since moving to Music City eight years ago, Greylan has become a “celebrated songwriter” (Country Now) earning cuts from some of country music’s most notable artists, including Kenny Chesney, Chris Young, Cole Swindell, Darius Rucker, Chris Janson, Bailey Zimmerman and more, most recently earning his first No. 1 with Jordan Davis’ smash hit “Next Thing You Know,” which is also currently nominated for CMA Awards Song of the Year, marking Greylan’s first-ever nomination. To date, Greylan’s songbook has amassed more than 650 million streams. And while Greylan has undoubtedly been incredibly successful penning hits for others in the writer’s room, he’s ready to strike out on his own with the recent release of his anticipated debut single “Young Man” (BMLG Records). Co-written alongside esteemed Nashville songwriters Jacob Davis and Josh Miller and dedicated to Greylan’s late grandfather, the reflective song of notching wisdom from one’s elders is his most personal song yet. After joining Old Dominion and Cole Swindell on the road in 2023, Greylan will support Scotty McCreery’s CAB IN A SOLO TOUR and Adam Doleac’s WRONG SIDE OF A SUNRISE TOUR in 2024. (From GreylanJames.com)
Tone Stith Plays “Lonely” on Taylor’s Goes Acoustic
New Jersey-born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Tone Stith has been building influence behind the scenes in the world of R&B and hip-hop since 2015, when he co-wrote Chris Brown’s platinum single “Liquor.” Since then, he’s been developing his own signature sound, working with artists like H.E.R., 2 Chainz, Ty Dolla Sign and others. In 2023, Stith released his first EP, P.O.V., which he has followed up with a handful of singles, most recently “5 Minutes,” which he recorded with Shantel May. Tone’s silky vocals, highly personal lyrics and snappy guitar-playing are helping put him on the map across genres, and that unique instrumental style is sure to guide him to the next level and beyond in the coming years. Tone Stith and his band recently joined us in the studio for our “Goes Acoustic” series to perform his song “Lonely,” with Tone playing his Taylor T5z Pro. You can hear Tone’s music on streaming services everywhere.
Lauren Ruth Ward Plays “SELF LOVE” on the Taylor Acoustic Sessions
Originally hailing from Baltimore, LA-based singer-songwriter Lauren Ruth Ward writes vulnerable, intimate lyrics full of love, pain and passion, powered by her unmistakable vocals. Lauren has already found success in the indie scene and beyond, kicking off her recording career with 2018’s Well, Hell, which she followed up in 2020 with her second full-length, the aptly titled Vol. II. Since then, her confident vibrato has found its way across pop culture, including a cover of The Cure’s “Pictures of You” on the soundtrack for Hulu’s original series Little Fires Everywhere. This year sees Lauren touring on her latest release, the Self Electric EP, and joining us on the Taylor Acoustic Sessions with this rendition of her song “Self Love,” which she performs on a Taylor T5z hybrid electric-acoustic guitar.
