Taylor Lang, an artist whose talent has spanned more than a decade in various bands, is now stepping into the spotlight with his first solo release, Broke But Never Broken. The single, set for release on September 20, 2024, marks a deeply personal and transformative moment in Lang’s career. It’s a song rooted in reflection, resilience, and a new artistic direction.
Reflecting on his years spent in bands, Lang reveals a struggle familiar to many artists: the challenge of creating music that aligns with external expectations. “I’ve spent a long time in bands trying to lock in ‘that sound’ I thought others would want to hear from me,” Lang admits. His past projects, including his time as a frontman for the award-winning grunge rock band Crack the Lens and the Calgary-based folk-rock trio Blaeser—which earned a nomination from the YYC Music Awards—helped shape him into the musician he is today. But with his solo venture, Lang is finally embracing the freedom to create music unencumbered by those pressures.
Broke But Never Broken represents a new beginning in that journey—a long-awaited solo project where Lang can deliver something that speaks to his heart and soul. “It’s a new direction for my songwriting, my recording process, my soundscape, and basically everything else,” he explains.
At the core of Broke But Never Broken is a deeply personal story. The song serves as a tribute to Lang’s upbringing and the sacrifices his mother made for their family. “It’s something I couldn’t understand until I was much older,” Lang says, reflecting on the profound influence these experiences have had on him.
The title itself hints at a central theme of endurance—despite hardships and challenges, there’s an unbroken spirit that carries through. Lang’s intention was to capture this emotional complexity in a subtle yet powerful way: “It’s subtle, but it’s meant to creep in and grab you by the heart and not let go for a while.”
Lang’s ability to weave together complex emotions with rich musicality is enhanced by his skills as a multi-instrumentalist. He’s known for his genre-bending fusion of folk and fingerstyle techniques, a style that feels fresh yet familiar. The influence of artists such as Dan Mangan, Donovan Woods, Jon Gomm, City & Colour, and The Tragically Hip is evident in his sound, which combines introspective lyrics with intricate guitar work.
His long musical career has seen him move through a variety of styles and sounds, but the folk-infused, fingerstyle-driven foundation he’s laid in his solo work reflects both his past influences and his evolution as an artist. Broke But Never Broken carries forward this evolution, showcasing Lang’s ability to blend storytelling with sound in a way that feels deeply personal and universally relatable.
To bring this track to life, Lang teamed up with JUNO-winning producer Russell Broom, whose work with renowned Canadian artists like Jann Arden, Kyle McKearney, and Ian Tyson has made him a staple in the music industry. In January 2024, Lang entered the studio with Broom, marking the beginning of this new chapter in his musical career.
Broom’s production expertise has helped elevate Lang’s vision, providing a polished yet authentic sound that amplifies the song’s emotional depth. The result is a track that feels both intimate and expansive, resonating with a wide audience while staying true to Lang’s core message of resilience and personal growth.
For Taylor Lang, Broke But Never Broken is more than just a song—it’s a declaration of artistic independence and a statement of his enduring creative spirit. After years of honing his craft in bands and playing music that sought to meet the expectations of others, Lang is now carving out his own path.
The single’s release marks the beginning of an exciting solo career that will undoubtedly continue to evolve. But with Broke But Never Broken, Lang has set the stage for a body of work that is deeply personal, musically sophisticated, and emotionally resonant. It’s a song that invites listeners into Lang’s world, offering a glimpse of the journey he’s been on—and the road ahead.
As he steps into this new role as a solo artist, Taylor Lang is ready to make his mark in the music world, on his own terms. And if Broke But Never Broken is any indication, that mark will be one that resonates long after the music fades.
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