About Loantaka

Loantaka Records is an artist-curated community independent record label established in 2017. Based predominantly in Echo Park with offices in Downtown Los Angeles, Loantaka is owned by musician and producer Evan Taylor. 

About Evan

Evan Taylor is a record producer, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and independent label owner, he also owns a studio in Downtown L.A.’s flower district. Growing-up in Madison, New Jersey, Taylor immersed himself in rock, pop, R&B from the 50s, 60s and 70s and the lush productions of Brian Wilson and Phil Spector. His older sister hipped him to essential albums like Pet Sounds, Dark Side of the Moon and Sgt. Pepper's and, at the age of eight he started playing drums, then keyboards, guitar and bass. After high school he moved to Los Angeles for college, yet after experiencing one of musician/composer Jon Brion’s legendary Friday nights at Largo, he was inspired to delve into music professionally. 

Soon he joined the A&R/production staff at CMH Label Group overseeing various projects including producing Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie: Reinterpreting Black Flag the tribute album that recast the 80s punk band’s songs as classic rock, surf rock and country. The album featured Black Flag members Keith Morris, Dez Cadena and Kira Roessler along with Minutemen bassist, Mike Watt, Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri, punk guitarist Joe Baiza, The Plimsouls founder Peter Case and The Chapin Sisters. 

That opened the door to a fruitful collaboration with keyboard wizard and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bernie Worrell, best know as 70s musical director for funk pioneers Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) and his work with the Talking Heads. Taylor wrote arrangements for and joined the 10-piece Bernie Worrell Orchestra, sharing the stage with such famed guests as George Clinton, Boosty Collins, Talking Heads members Jerry Harrison, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, and James Brown/P-Funk trombonist Fred Wesley. With Worrell, he co-produced the acclaimed 2010 Standards album of jazz and pop classics and two EPs: Prequel and BWO Is Landing.

He performed a similar role for former Blondie keyboardist Jimmy Destri, as musical director of Dresti’s band Jimmy Destri and The Sound Grenade, Taylor played guitar, keyboards and percussion at live shows and produced numerous recordings for the band. He also produced two releases for The Chapin Sisters, on which he also played drums: the critically acclaimed tribute album A Date with The Everly Brothers and their recent EP Ferry Boat, released on Taylor’s own Loantaka Records, whose title track Rolling Stone hailed as "moving stuff." 

Taylor has toured with SubPop’s King Tuff, performed with Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish and worked on studio projects with Mike Watt. He is currently recording an album for Bon Tempi, a duo with Theresa Wayman of Warpaint, which he is co-producing with Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark.

"Evan is not only of the most talented and versatile musicians I've ever worked with,” says Destri “but he's been a complete musical director on the road and a partner in recording." Watt says, "I consider myself very fortunate to have gotten the chance to play alongside righteous drummerman Evan Taylor both on stage and in the studio. He's a sensitive man with a buttload of groove and much invention as he gives you a hand with the sticks in hand – he helps Watt work bass better! What greater gift? He's a most generous musician whose moves are all genuine and he's pumped in to have you along to share. it's a beautiful thing and I admire his art much."