Taylor Eigsti: Preparation Meets Presence

In this episode, I sit down with Taylor Eigsti, and this conversation goes everywhere I hoped it would. We talk about preparation versus spontaneity, writing music that leaves room for the present moment, and why the best ensembles feel more like carefully cast films than perfectly rehearsed machines.Taylor shares what it’s been like working recently with Michael League, Ben Wendel, Kendrick Scott, Antonio Sánchez, and others, and we get deep into his compositional mindset—why quantity matters, why “bad ideas” are necessary, and how composition is a muscle that has to be exercised. We also talk about his Grammy-winning albums Tree Falls and Plot Armor, the long studio hours behind them, and why recognition doesn’t always translate the way people expect.Along the way, we hit on collaboration, identity, touring life, teaching, football fandom, and what it really means to show up prepared and fully present for the moment that actually matters—the short window onstage when everything finally comes alive.Music from the Episode:Let You Bee (Taylor Eigsti)Bucket of F's (Taylor Eigsti)Look Around You (Taylor Eigsti)Thank you for listening. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for the show, please email me at [email protected].