By Courtney Grimes
Hodges Taylor grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, with dreams of making it big-time on the music scene. In 2003, he began looking to make his dream into a reality and relocated to Hollywood, beginning his solo career. For the first time, he was exposed to numerous genres of music that he had never heard before, all sorts of twists and turns on what is deemed “normal.” From there, Hodges developed his very own, unique style of music, drawing on all of his new resources and influences such as ska, punk and alternative rock.
Quickly gaining attention, Hodges turned heads as he played one show after the other, from California to Vegas to Texas (including performances at The Masters Cup and the music industry’s CES week), and eventually released his first EP, My Scattered Brain. In the process of launching his new self-titled EP, Hodges has chosen the famed Viper Room in L.A. for his CD release party (March 5). From Santa Monica, California, Hodges took a minute to chat with Gibson.com about being the small fish, sharing a stage with legends, and the itch.
CG: What was it like when you first moved to L.A. from Texas?
HT: I was excited and it was very, very different from Texas and I was excited about that challenge. It was the typical little fish in a big pond but I was excited. It’s really changed my music a lot. Obviously lyrically you’re gonna have a lot more to write about because you’re in a different environment. When you’re in Texas you’re influenced by the Texas country. But getting to L.A., you’re getting out there and getting a different feel and approach. I lived in Santa Monica and I could see the ocean – very different from Texas.
It brought a little more vibe to the music. When I was in Texas, I was into hard rock but when I got out to California, I just heard all sorts off different things. That’s the first time I was a solo artist. Naturally when you get into a different environment, you get different observations and I think that helps with the process. It has to be natural, you can’t force anything and that’s what I’m excited about this new EP. It crosses so many different genres. I’m influenced by great songs.
CG: Tell me about your first musical experience on a stage.
HT: I played a battle of the bands, and that was the first time I truly experienced the bite. I was so nervous, it was our first debut live in Texas in Fort Worth. We played on a college campus and there were probably 200-300 people on the lawn, you know, just watching the bands. And we got up there and it’s one of those things like your adrenaline’s pumping. You can remember it happening but you can’t really reflect on it. It was all from the soul, your head has to let go. If you think - you’re dead. That was an amazing experience, we brought the house down. 
CG: What was it like to share a stage with Les Paul at CES?
HT: Honestly I was just wanting to not make a fool out of myself. These are legends -people who have done so much to music. They mean so much to it. To be a part of that, I just wanna make sure I hold up my end of the bargain. Then I get to sit back and watch greatness. That was just awesome. I was just like ‘WOW! I just got through playing and Les Paul is walking up on stage!’ But it wasn’t a glamour thing, like, ‘Oh I’m with the stars.’ It was like, ‘Man this is great music this is what I want to be a part of.’
CG: Tell me about your Gibson guitar.
HT: The SJ-200? It’s the best. When I first started playing, a buddy of mine had a Gibson, it was a full body, a Special, maybe a J-100 Special? But the way it played, it was to my style, and that low end you just gotta beat the crap out of it, it just sounds so, so good. When I got this one I was just in heaven. It sounds so good. It fits my style which is very rhythmic, with hints of Dave Matthews. I dig into my guitar like I dig into my lyrics. It’s definitely my own style.
CG: Tell me about the new album.
HT: Being an artist it’s so hard, I have so many songs. All these songs mean something different to me. There are a couple songs like “It’s Alicia” and “Scattered Brain,” which are very strong songs with excellent messages. Then you got songs like “Emotionally Drained” – that typical thing where you doubt yourself as a human being, or as an artist… everybody in Hollywood is an actor. I gotta keep working as a musician but stay true to myself. So many ideas are coming to me…
CG: What advice would give someone just starting out?
HT: Obviously, be true to your influences and to your writing and who you are, but at the same time figure out what you’re all about. Listen to every genre of music and figure out what you’re about. Listen to everything. Start writing from the beginning, though. And in my opinion music and lyrics go hand in hand. The music has to sing the lyrics. That’s key. You start writing from your heart you’ll find the right vibe for you. There’s a spiritual side to music I think.
CG: As a new artist, what has been the hardest thing to accomplish so far?
HT: Whether or not the music will speak to anybody. The first thing you gotta come to grips with is - are you writing the truth? Are you writing what is coming from you? Are you trying to do what you like or what’s honest from you? And that’s what it took, for me to move to LA. I didn’t know. I dabbled in hard rock, then just acoustic stuff, I didn’t know until I got to L.A. and heard all these types of music, and now I’ve finally found the truth of what comes from me. The hardest part is just coping and dealing and wondering if it’s going to speak to anybody. Even though it’s the truth, does it speak to a broad majority? Can other people relate to what you’re saying?
CG: What has been the most fun?
HT: That itch and that feeling of getting better. You practice and you practice and then finally one day it just comes…