Mr. Sykes Interview's Tauros
So I sat down with R&B singer Tauros on in his visit to New York. A man working in the industry since he was 18 years old working with artist like, Tyrese and Monica, Tauros had a lot of valuable information to share. There was a warm atmosphere in the room and he spoke like a seasoned veteran of the business. Soft spoken, but friendly and warm this is what he had to share...
Mr. Sykes: So just tell us what's your name and where your from?
Tauros: Well they call me Tauros that is my name I'm from, Detroit Michigan. I've been kind of traveling the world so I've been in LA for at lest a good eight years. Now I'm in New York doing music so That's basically it.
Now I assumed that Tauros was a stage name, turns out it's the bothers real name (who knew)
Mr. Sykes: So that's your actual name it's not just what you go by?
Tauros: Naw... My mom she's really in to astrological stuff and she used to read my horoscope to me. She would say "Tauros" while I was in the belly but when I came out she was just like "Tauros." It's spelled differently though it's with an "O" instead of a "U"...
Mr. Sykes: So how long have you been singing for?
Tauros: Wow, mmm probley since I was in the womb maybe... Along time
Mr. Sykes: How does the New York Hip-Hop and R&B scene differ from the one in Detroit?
Tauros: Well basically, I spent like the last eight years in LA so when I went back, Detroit, it kind of mimics New York's underground scene. It's based a lot upon free styling and stuff like that. But it's not too different.
Mr. Sykes: So what about LA?
Tauros: A little bit more flamboyant you get a lot of people that rap and sing at the same time. it's really more... how can I say? It's more mmm out there!
Being able to experience Hip-Hop bi-coastally is probely what gives Tauros music such a different sound. It sort of has the fast plusing beats of the west cost along with soulful vocals from Detroit.
Mr. Sykes: So how did you get the opportunity to work with Monica?
Tauros: The funny thing is the industry in LA is different, like it's all about who you know. So you meet one person and you get to meet this person and meet that person, and meet that person and it just keeps going in circles. So as I started to sing for Tyrese, I met people in his circle and I met another person through him. That got me to the Monica Thing.
Mr. Sykes: So if you weren't a singer you'd be?
Tauros: I don't know, I like to help people so some charity work or something like that. Like one of thos kind of people that hand out turkeys or something.
Mr. Sykes: Married/Single???
Tauros: I;m single, I'm looking though, I know you got my myspace.... (Laughs)
Hear that ladies, single black man with a job...
Mr. Sykes: How long was your longest relationship?
Tauros: mmm Longest relationship four years...
Mr. Sykes: Ever been heartbroken?
Tauros: Yes I wrote a song a beat it on myspace it's called" heartbeat."
Mr. Sykes: So what inspired this new project?
Tauros: Basically I've been doing a lot of different kinds of music I got into soul, neo-soul, folk, R&B, everything. Hip-Hop and R&B fused together has been a real passion for me and I've just been real interested in it lately. You just see what I do with it, but I've been getting a good response so far.
Mr. Sykes: So is this your first project?
Tauros: No actually I have, I've done some stuff with a group well we weren't really a group we where like a duo. And I done some other things in the past. That I don't perticularly wanna... It's about me now! (He says Laughing)
Hey we've all done things we're not proud of...
Mr. Sykes: Sierra mist or Sprite?
Tauros: Sprite
Mr. Sykes: Dominos or Pizza Hut?
Tauros: Pizza Hut
Mr. Sykes: Popped Collar or Regular?
Tauros: Popped
Mr. Sykes: Why?
Tauros: It just looks cooler...
Mr. Sykes: N*sync or Backstreet boys?
Tauros: Both
Mr. Sykes: 50 or Tupac?
Tauros: Tupac!
....
Mr. Sykes: Breast or Ass?
Tauros: As far as....(The opposite sex...) both.
Mr. Sykes: Rain or Thunder storms?
Tauros: Rain...
....Mr. Sykes: Hilary or Obama?
Tauros: Obama (Do you think He'll win?) yeah...
Mr. Sykes: If you had the chance to would you sign with a major label and why?
Tauros: I love that question... If I had the choice I would, based upon the agreement. But it would have to be something that's not a long term agreement. I think the worst thing about record deal.... In the past is the fact that you would sign something that would keep you locked in. It's almost like if you worked at Mcdonald's and you didn't have the opportunity to quit. But they made you do fries everyday.
Mr, Sykes: Do you feel like being independent is better for you at the moment?
Tauros: It's better for me as far as I'm able to make the decisions that I want. Kinds of pictures I wanna take, what kind of songs I wanna write, who I wanna work with. With record labels everything is controlled and everything is based upon time. I was talking to some people about Myspace: I can make a song tonight and put it up tomorrow and everybody can hear it. I think It's better to be independent. But with a major label you get backing. You get the money that you need to the extravagant videos...etc
....
Mr. Sykes: Okay...Big Urban Mixtape Question, What are you doing to change the game?
Tauros: Mmm pretty simple I think I have that Alicia Keys kinda thing where it's like the fusing of hip-hop with instruments. I wanna be one of those people that step out by playing instruments and incorporating the "hood" of hip-hop. So you know I think That's how I'm gonna change it.
You can check Tauros out @ http://myspace.com/taurosmusic
