'I Want Your Love’ is the new debut single by Ryan Taylor, a Sheffield musician who has provided session vocals and keyboards for Nicola Farnon, The Dizzy Club, and Julian Jones. Turning his hand to solo work for the first time, this track is a dance-funk Prince homage, loaded with analogue synths, slap-bass, and heaps of sexual innuendo.
Taylor recorded and produced much of this track live via his YouTube, allowing his fans to engage with his creative process in real-time. Claiming a ‘dedication to authenticity’, he hopes this interactive technique will allow a unique and immersive experience for fans around the world.
The track itself is infectious and heavy on the groove, with an instantly memorable hook. The Minneapolis Sound influence is loud and clear – it encompasses elements of funk, soul, Italo-disco, synthpop, new wave, and even rock guitars and a rap verse, much in the style of late superstar Prince and his protégés The Time and Sheila E. There are even a few direct homages to Prince in the lyrics, with lots of mentions of purple, and the line ‘strip right down to your underwear’ referencing ‘D.M.S.R’ from the 1999 album. While it’s a little derivative, this is an iconic style that has been sorely missing from mainstream music for decades – no-one else since Prince has ever quite captured the same funky, danceable and sexually-charged energy, but with this track, Ryan Taylor comes close.
The vocals are layered with contributions from guest vocalist Emma Rossi, who recorded her contributions remotely from Mallorca. The duet between her and Taylor contrasts brilliantly, with Taylor’s voice switching pitch between verses to bassy, low tones á la Prince. It draws comparison to tracks like ‘Erotic City’, except in a more high-energy, contemporary style.
The track’s biggest strength is certainly its production. Taylor effortlessly draws together synth effects with the vocals and fantastic slap-bassline (provided by Alex McGibbon). The end result is an infectious, catchy synth banger that wouldn’t be out-of-place in an ‘80s movie training montage. If Ryan Taylor can develop this style further and put more of his own spin on it, then we have a lot to look forward to.
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