Julian Taylor Reimagines Joel Plaskett with Warmth and Soul

When someone’s music spans three decades and becomes the unofficial soundtrack for a community, it’s bound to leave a mark. For Joel Plaskett—Nova Scotia's beloved songwriter, producer, and all-around musical instigator—that mark has stretched across Canada and beyond. So when he turned 50 this year, a group of friends, collaborators, and admirers decided to turn the tables on him. Without his knowledge, they began secretly recording a tribute project titled Songs From The Gang, a double album featuring over 20 artists covering selections from Plaskett’s extensive catalogue. It’s a rare, lovingly orchestrated gift—one that celebrates both the songs and the friendships that helped them live.

Among the standout contributors is Julian Taylor, the Toronto-based roots artist known for his soulful voice and layered storytelling. His choice? “Compete With Loneliness,” a lesser-known gem tucked away as a bonus track on Plaskett’s 2009 triple album Three. Taylor takes the introspective original and reinterprets it through his own lens, infusing it with smooth vocals and a retro warmth that feels both classic and brand new.

“There was something about the lyrics that just hit me,” Taylor says. “When I was invited to be part of this project, I spent some time with Joel’s older material, and this one rose to the top. It’s about being alone, but in a way that doesn’t feel desperate. It’s more of a recognition—something a lot of people quietly carry around.”

The intimacy of the cover is matched by its recording process. Taylor tracked the song in a small neighborhood studio just blocks from his home, with longtime friend and producer Tim Bovacanti helping shape the final sound. “I actually played the drums on this one,” Taylor says with a smile. “It’s not something I do all the time, but this track felt right for that kind of hands-on approach. It was laid-back and collaborative. That’s how Joel’s music always felt to me—inviting and human.”

The result is a version that amplifies the emotional undertones of the original without overreaching. Taylor’s signature vocal tone, paired with gentle percussion and shimmering guitar, highlights the song’s bittersweet lyricism. It’s a reminder that songs don’t have to shout to be powerful; sometimes it’s the quiet ones that linger longest.

What makes Songs From The Gang more than just a compilation is its element of surprise. The entire project was kept secret from Plaskett. His longtime manager, Sheri Jones, orchestrated the reveal with careful precision. On April 9, just days before Plaskett’s 50th birthday, she brought him to Ditch Records in Victoria, British Columbia. The visit was framed as a casual drop-in, but awaiting him was a full display of the finished album. Plaskett’s reaction was immediate and emotional.

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Later that evening, a few close friends gathered with him at Burning Rainbow Studio for a private listening session. By the end of the night, Plaskett shared a video thanking everyone involved, visibly moved. “I was really touched,” he said. “Hearing these songs through someone else’s voice—it made me hear them differently. I’m grateful.”

That sense of community and mutual admiration runs through the album. It’s not just a collection of covers—it’s a celebration of the artistic ecosystem Plaskett has nurtured over the years. His Fang Recording Studio in Nova Scotia has long been a creative hub, and his music has always worn its heart proudly on its sleeve. That spirit is clearly alive in Songs From The Gang, which blends roots, pop, punk, and rock influences in the same playful, genre-bending fashion Plaskett is known for.

Taylor’s contribution captures the album’s essence beautifully. There’s no fanfare, no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it’s about connection—artist to artist, song to song, friend to friend. For anyone who’s ever found comfort in Joel Plaskett’s music, this tribute is more than a birthday surprise. It’s a reminder of what music can do when it’s made from a place of care, curiosity, and genuine affection.