Renowned blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor has released a brand new single, ‘Hold Of My Heart’, featuring the exceptional talents of violinist Sav Madigan.
Available now on all major streaming platforms, this twangy, Americana-infused song marks the first release from a slate of material Tayloris set to unveil over the next year, signalling another exciting new chapter in her musical career.
A Nashville resident these days, Taylor is embracing the local music culture and infusing it into her style of blues rock. Following the release of her critically acclaimed album Heavy Soul, in partnership withJoe Bonamassa’sJourneyman Records, she plans to bypass traditional release strategies by delivering a steady stream of high-quality singles, ensuring that new music consistently reaches her fans.
In ‘Hold Of My Heart’, Taylor explores the vulnerable and exhilarating experience of confessing feelings to a close friend, capturing the emotional turmoil and bravery required to take that leap of faith in a relationship. “This song is about telling a good friend that you actually like them as more than a friend,” Taylor commented, “and realising, if only for your own sake and the sake of honesty in a friendship to finally tell them.”
Sav Madigan, known for her multifaceted musicianship and soulful playing, contributes her violin prowess to this track. One-third of the all-female indie-folk-roots band, The Accidentals, she is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and session player with roots in Nashville, TN, and Traverse City, MI. She has worked with a diverse range of artists, including Lainey Wilson, Hannah Wicklund, and Peter Mulvey.
The release of ‘Hold Of My Heart’ follows the critical success of Taylor’s Heavy Soul album, that debuted at #2 on the Billboard BluesAlbumchart. Produced by Kevin Shirley, the album has been lauded for blending contemporary soul-pop with traditional blues roots, showcasing Joanne’s growth as a songwriter and musician. Tracks like ‘Change Of Heart’, ‘Wishing Well’ and ‘Drowning In A Sea Of Love’ have further solidified her reputation as a powerful voice in the blues rock genre.
With a career enriched by acclaim from legends like Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox, Taylor’s Heavy Soul offers a fusion of contemporary soul-pop and traditional blues. Critics have praised the album as a significant milestone in her career, with Classic Rock Magazine describing it as “a winning balance between maturity and raw, gut-punch blues,” and Glide Magazine calling it her “most complete ‘triple threat’ effort yet.” The album highlights Joanne’s expressive vocals and exceptional guitar skills, with standout tracks such as ‘Devil In Me’ and ‘A Good Goodbye’.
Looking ahead, Taylor is set to embark on her Heavy Soul U.S. Tour this Autumn.
