Early in her career, she performed lead duties for the band Termite until their breakup in 1997, when she decided to make a go as a solo artist. As a performer who was professionally trained at the Peabody Conservatory in Johns Hopkins University, Angela now brings a seriousness to her music writing that is, in some ways, over our heads.

Rooted in classical music, science and math, her music has earned praise from the wandering tastes of critics in the DC metropolitan triangle while satisfying less sophisticated ear pallets for Lilith Fair judges, reaching the regional finals in the 1998 and 1999 tours.

Her latest album, Songs for Strong Girls, showcases her crossover appeal that finds fans among critics and in the mainstream. From the independent label Skinny Girl Records, Angela displays her 7 years of conservatory training and her Madonna-like pop appeal on tracks like "Don"t You Know" and "Chicago 89". Still, the material girl hasn't released anything like Angela, who sings along with a strong rap performer mysteriously named "Ms. Olene" on "Don"t Give Him Your Love For Free". With the refrain of "Make him work, make him work," it's quite clear that this is indeed a song for strong girls.

If you visit Angela's website, look at the list of awards that she's won and at the other artists that have won the very same; you"ll see that she's at home in a pantheon of performers who still write, perform and live the songs they sing. Perhaps it's this direct connection to her music that moved Ms. Taylor to the top of the voting when she won Best Solo Music Artist in Baltimore in 1999, as decided by the readers of the Baltimore City Paper. In addition to teaching what's described as "computer music" at the Peabody Institute and being a freelance engineer and producer, Angela is performing limited engagements at the Kennedy Center (with the Next Ice Age) in Washington, DC during late September (20th - 22nd).

Artists like Angela Taylor lend another layer of diversity to the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia music scene that many of us lucky souls who live here take for granted every day (like the Washington Monument and the White House). If you don't live in the area, come visit us - we rock. If you do live here, well, you have no excuse.