Doreen Taylor Interview On 'Magic,' Her Tour, Rock Roots

It's hard to pick one thing that really has made the difference. There's certain things, like work for charities, being able to make my music, to be able to help others. I was just made the honorary chairperson for the anniversary of Big Brothers and Sisters, which is a huge honor, and that's all because of my music. Ultimately, I believe people are put on this Earth to help others and if my gift is music than I really want to cultivate that, offer it back and help others. That probably means most in my career.

I would have to say my music album. I guess I kind of have to! I'd bring Magic. I love anything by Bon Jovi, anything by Genesis, anything by Sting. I love Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails. Anything by these groups who are really at the top of the list. And movies? I've loved Die Hard most of my entire life. I had a crush on Bruce Willis, so I kind of watched it a lot growing up. I'd have to bring that one. I liked The Mechanic. I typically gravitate towards action or horror movies. I'm not a girlie girl. I don't like romantic comedies or any of that kind of stuff. I don't know though, I don't watch a lot of movies, I don't watch a lot of TV. So I would probably end up building something on the island before I would actually watch a movie.

I've always been a fan of country as a performer. I have my Master's in Opera from Temple University. I did a national tour for Phantom of the Opera and a one-woman show in Las Vegas and in Atlantic City, where I was doing pretty much everything. I was doing pop-rock/Top 40/country, all within five minutes of each other. We used to joke about it, "a jack of all trades, master of none," but it was really true that I was doing so much that it was confusing for so long. But my heart was always in southern rock, my heart has always liked Skynyrd and ZZ Top. That kind of country twang but rock and roll. I'm able to bring my own thing. Magic is my own my own song writing and finally my own thing. When I open my mouth, and you hear my voice, it's that southern rock kind of style. My voice is kind of unusual, it has eclectic genres in there.

I loved it. I got to explore a different side. A lot of times when you're in the studio recording music. Although I love that, this a break from that — it is basically like acting. We were in a movie set in Los Angeles, [the director] made an epic kind of music video. It was truly amazing. A lot of hard work. You don't usually meet the group of people who are in the cast until that day. You never really know the people. But it's a very cool kind of atmosphere. I really just loved shooting it. I want to do it again. We're actually talking about getting back to L.A and shooting again.

Rock and roll. I think that's pretty much more of what I am anyway. The live show that we've been doing when I'm on tour is rock and roll. It has a country influence, but it's rock and roll. I jump on stage and do some insane rock and roll kinds of things with my voice. There's no question I'm a rocker at heart.

In my first memories of being a child, I just remember having these baby xylophones. I would always go to that before I would go to a doll. And I would play it and making that sound was very happy for me. I would play and actually be able to play by ear. A lot of kids can make noise, but I was actually able to make music. I didn't even know what I was doing. So I really believe that it was in me from very early on, and it kind of grew with me.

We wanted to make it very different. A lot of people with a rock concert listen to music and then they leave. I said no, we really are going to use the influence of Atlantic City, my theatrical background and use all of my strengths and put them together in one Magic show. And really pull out all the stops, so it actually grabs you. You don't even see me for about the first five minutes of the show. We have a lot of stuff going on, and it grips you in the moment and doesn't let go until the very end.

It's hard to pick one thing that really has made the difference. There's certain things, like work for charities, being able to make my music, to be able to help others. I was just made the honorary chairperson for the anniversary of Big Brothers and Sisters, which is a huge honor, and that's all because of my music. Ultimately, I believe people are put on this Earth to help others and if my gift is music than I really want to cultivate that, offer it back and help others. That probably means most in my career.

The tour continues on into 2015 and then we're going to be back in the studio recording, making some new music. But we're all talking about a huge international tour at the end of 2014. We're talking about Europe, especially England, Asia and Canada. And also the U.S., more in the home towns across the country. So another tour, more recording, and along the way, some things you won't even expect. So it's an exciting time.