INTERVIEW: Stephen Taylor of Smokecharmer

Words by Trenton James K. Photo by Nathan Sanchez Photography.

I recently caught up with Stephen Taylor, guitarist and songwriter for the up-and-coming band Smokecharmer. Smokecharmer has been slowly leaking songs on their YouTube channel and Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming services, making waves with their creativity and new sound. Stephen is no stranger to making sonic soundwaves; his history includes working with some iconic musicians as well.

RRX: What were your early influences that helped you decide you wanted to become a musician?

ST: KISS of course! Somehow was infected with them around the age of eight or nine, if my math is correct. I remember pulling out the Tupperware and the wooden spoons and setting up a kitchen set! From the smallest bowl to the largest, I had a full-on imaginary Peter Criss set up. This made me want to join the school band. Had a couple friends that were already in the class, on drums, so I set out to do the same. Got sticks and a practice pad, then went in to interview for the class. The instructor had me do this 4-limb challenge right away, to show him if I was ambidextrous. Well I wasn’t prepared for that! I was told I’d never play drums, and was thrown on the tuba! Lil’ ol’ me on the tuba! Ha! To this day, I still can’t play drums worth a damn! We visited family in Valparaiso, Nebraska one summer, which had a few older cousins to hang with. I remember walking inside their house after learning how to drive an old truck in the backyard. There was a record on the player, and a set of headphones plugged in. Curious me slaps on the headphones, cues it up, and drops the needle. The album was Black Sabbath “Paranoid;” “War Pigs” cranked through headphones! I had, up to this point, never heard guitar that way. The stereo imaging and crushing sound – I believe it was at this moment I became fixated with the strings.

RRX: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?

ST: You might not realize it now, but you’ll be telling that tuba story for the rest of your life!

RRX: How did you get introduced to the Housecore Records family?

ST: I was recruited by Marzi Montazeri. We were jamming together prior to him landing the gig with Housecore.

RRX: You initially played bass for Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals for the debut “Walk Through Exits Only.” For the second album, “Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue,” you were sharing guitar duties with Mike DeLeon. How did that switch come to be?

ST: I was brought in to play bass after WTEO was recorded. I had been a guitar player up to this point in time. This would be the first time I’d ever attempted to play bass in a band. So we grind it out, take it to the stage. We did a few tours that way. The vision was for a two-guitar band. It was on the European tour that we met Mike, I heard him warming up for M.O.D. He was grinding out, checking his rig for the day. I introduced myself, and chatted it up. I proposed him for the second guitar player. Unfortunately, Marzi ended up leaving the band shortly afterwards. A few ideas were present for the next record. Philip and Blue and I had to start writing for it. Like I said, I’d always been a guitar player. I didn’t know how to write songs on a bass, so I picked up the guitar to grind it out. Bringing riffs to the jam session, we get sidetracked from Illegals mode, and wrote the ugliest, darkest brutal voodoo recording called “Metatron Nganga.” At this point, I was asked to stay on guitar, ultimately bringing in Mike and finishing the writing of “Choosing.” I really wanted to stay on bass, I was having fun with it. But here is where we transitioned to a two-guitar band live.

RRX: When The Illegals started the Vulgar Display of Pantera tour run, what was it like playing Pantera classics in arenas for people who have been vying to hear those songs live again?

ST: Well, quite honestly, it never felt right to me. In my mind, I kept telling myself, “You’re not supposed to be doing this,” but you can’t let your bros down. So you strap up and attack it with everything you have. And it is electrifying, powerful. It was never supposed to be my spot to stand on; I did it ’cause I was asked. Grateful for the experience, honored the man best I knew how. No regrets! That’s a heavy weight to bear, and a whole lotta work, with little support we had at that time.

RRX– Your new band Smokecharmer has a dark and heavy, yet very soulful sound. How did the band come to be, and if you can, explain the writing process that helped create such an original sound?

ST: This is just the way my music is. It’s everything I’ve soaked up along the way. My time with the band 16 Horsepower, and the different music I was introduced to, played a big part in the way I try to create atmosphere. You can hear it in the En Minor compositions of mine. Tempo/dynamics was the mantra. I mix up the fretboard with alternate tunings; I drone, brood, rejoice. I owe a great deal to David Eugene Edwards and Jean-Yves Tola for their influence on me. On the Smokecharmer writing, I set out to write simple song structures, and have each instrument add its own simple layer. Assembling this band became the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted in my life! Surrounded by some righteous players now, it feels good to finally release these songs to the wild.

RRX: Does Smokecharmer have a full-length album in the works with a release date? Should we expect any tours or appearances in the near future?

ST: We’re slow dripping singles to YouTube. We may compile to a physical copy at some point if there’s interest. We’re all cities and states apart, so hopefully the stars align soon to debut it.

RRX: What equipment do you use and abuse for Smokecharmer? Is it different from other musical projects?

ST: I’ve been running pretty much the same set up I have for years now; Mooer GE200 into whatever power amp. I just so happen to be running it into my Rivera TBR-1SL – into Omega cabs lately! Slave to the grind!!! Usually on the Ernie Ball Axis or Gibson SG 1 guitars.

RRX: Do you have any interesting stories from touring you would like to share?

ST: Ride out of Russia is one to experience. If you ever want to feel like you’re living in an Indiana Jones movie!

RRX: Where do you find inspiration to create original music?

ST: I often find it right in my backyard, sitting in the garden.

RRX: What advice would you give to the young musician just starting out?

ST: Be confident in your delivery.