Mikala Taylor
Mikala Taylor is the creator/writer of BACKSTAGERIDER.COM, an editor/interactive producer, and was the former associate editor of Suite101.com from 2007-2008, where she managed 800+ international contributing writers. She is currently a Manager of Online Content for Tourism British Columbia and a freelance music writer and photographer.
Mikala grew up in Toronto and has a BA in Magazine Journalism. She spent several years as a freelance writer and editor for various publications including Exclaim!, Chatelaine, Marketing Magazine, Canadian Business, the Globe and Mail, Poz and is proud to have had a few of of her words published in renowned music magazine, NME's student guide. She is the recipient of a 1999 Kenneth R. Wilson national writing award.
Her relentless pursuit of adventure, love of traveling and fixation on all things music eventually took her to study in Copenhagen, (straight As in competitive beer drinking and high-cheekbone appreciation!) then on to London, England in 2000.
In England she was a columnist and editor for a trendy, London-based dating website, which was followed by a stint as deputy editor of the UK's second-largest student website/community where she covered the UK music scene extensively. She has interviewed bands including Green Day, Oasis, Blur, The Verve, Manic Street Preachers, White Lies, Flaming Lips, Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, The Charlatans, Duran Duran, Nigel Kennedy, The Hives, Pavement, Lou Barlow/Sebadoh, Mike Doughty/Soul Coughing, Eagles of Death Metal, Hot Chip, Louis XIV and many, many more.
In 2003, she became Assistant Producer of Interactive at LIVINGtv, one of the UK's top 10 television channels, now owned by Virgin Media. There, she co-produced the interactive element of programs such as Most Haunted, Most Haunted Live, Britain and America's Next Top Model, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy UK and the music festival Party in the Park. She also appeared on-air on Most Haunted Live and MH Live: Access All Areas as its interactive presenter. In 2007-2008, she was also an international reporter for "Imagine", the creative and content development division for UK television channel ITV.
Fed up with London's shoddy quality of living and increasing stresses, she packed up her iPod and English husband, and moved west to Vancouver. As creator of backstagerider.com, she welds together her 25+ years of experiences around musicians and bands with new reviews and interviews with alternative/indie/dance bands. As Editor-in-Chief for hellobc.com and manager of Online Content and SEM, she spends the better part of her day job pottering about the astoundingly beautiful province of British Columbia in tiny float and propeller planes, and writing and editing Lonely Planet-style travel information.
When not glued to her computer, Mikala is a music junkie and attends as many live gigs and club dates as humanly possible. She’s also an obsessive foodie, passionate traveller and collector of designer/urban vinyl toys and artwork.
Latest Articles
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Grizzly Bear Live at the Vogue in Vancouver
Grizzly Bear the band visited Vancouver's Vogue Theatre on October 14 and brought with them stunning harmonies and a truck-load of indie rock cred.
Oct 15, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Nicky Wire On Making Journal for Plague Lovers
Armed with a critically-acclaimed new album, Journal for Plague Lovers, the Manic Street Preachers have returned to North America in a celebratory mood.
Oct 4, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Nicky Wire Remembers Richey Edwards
The Manic Street Preachers have returned to North America after a 10-year absence with an astounding new album, Journal for Plague Lovers.
Oct 4, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Manic Street Preachers Interview with Nicky Wire
In an exclusive interview, Wire talks about what it means to remember Richey and how the Manics have brought his memory back with new album Journal for Plague Lovers.
Oct 4, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Interview with Franz Ferdinand: Touring Tonight
Stylish Scottish superstars talk touring with Green Day, their newest album Tonight and changing up -- and letting loose -- during concerts.
Aug 16, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Eagles of Death Metal Live in Vancouver, July 20
What is it about rock retreads Eagles of Death Metal that resonate so loudly with fans? At live shows, it's charisma and pure dumb fun.
Jul 26, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Mike Doughty Live in Vancouver at St James Hall
Singer-songwriter Mike Doughty's live shows are honest, uncomplicated and full of life. Makes a change from the years with his former band, Soul Coughing.
May 17, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Cold War Kids Live at the Commodore in Vancouver
California's Cold War Kids' second-ever Canadian gig at the Commodore Ballroom was greeted by hyper hipster kids, wide smiles and lots of sing-songs.
Apr 22, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Q&A With Dean Wareham, Author of Black Postcards
In 2008, Dean Wareham, lead singer for seminal alternative New York rock bands Galaxie 500, Luna and Dean & Britta, released a memoir.
Jan 15, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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Dean Wareham on Black Postcards and Andy Warhol
Black Postcards: Unreleased B Sides & Notes from the Road (Penguin Press) is a quiet masterpiece memoir about a rather unusual subject: the mid-level alt-rock front man.
Jan 15, 2009
- Mikala Taylor
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