Don’t Quit Your Day Job, David Taillon and Emil Belisle!

JG: What band(s) are you in and what do you do in them?

Both: Impending Reflections

DT: Lead guitar

EB: Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion

JG: How long have you been at this rock ‘n’ roll thing?

DT: I started learning guitar when I was 10, but did not get more serious about a band thing until 14 or 15.

EB: I started playing drums when I was around 7 years old and was in my first rock band in elementary school. I’ve been in a few bands and really got serious in high school.  My first band with Dave started at that time, so we’ve been doing this together for many, many moons. We are family — you could call us music brothers!

JG: What do you do to pay the rent?

DT: I am a project manager for Ocean State Risk Management, a small risk management firm in Johnston, handling mostly heavy contracting.

EB: I am the director of graphic services for Brown University.

JG: How did you end up with your current day job?

DT: That is a long story. I started out as a pipe fabricator and commercial driver back in the day. The company I worked for was awarded a very large project at Pfizer in Groton, Connecticut, and I was one of two people in the company who had the qualifications to do that environmental/risk job, as I recall. I did not want it, but the owner persuaded me to go. It turned out to be a good move. That was 20 years ago.

EB: Ultimately I have always had a creative side coupled with being a technology geek. I started my career over 25 years ago as a graphic designer and offset press/bindery operator. I literally fell in love with the industry and continued to push myself to learn every aspect I could, such as web design, photography, audio & video and so on. 

I believe we are all put on path for a reason. Mine has lead me to work at such a wonderful institution as Brown University and I also have a side business (Visual Concept Group) with a wonderful and talented partner (Lyn) that offers design, video, photography and DJ services.

JG: What drives you to keep at music if you need to have the day job to pay bills?

DT: Music drives me regardless of what I do for work. My musical partner Emil likens it to a fire that can be in full conflagration or it can lie almost dormant, like an ember. It is always there, however. The job is ancillary, though equally important to help fund this endeavor.

EB: Music is in my DNA and has touched my soul. I cannot put into words how it feels to use music as a way of creative expression. Dave gave you my thoughts, an ember at times just waiting to be reignited. Impending Reflections did just that. Although Dave and I played in cover bands early on for a number of years, writing original music is something we have been doing for as long as I can remember. I consider myself extremely lucky. I have a day job that I love and at night my alter ego comes out to play. In this band I get to do it with my son Ryan (who now sits behind the drum kit), my brother Dave and his son Jon, and Scott who is such a close family friend and a second son to me. Being able to write and perform live at a number of great local venues and huge festivals such as Laconiafest during Bike week with all of them — I call that living the dream.

JG: Besides the income, what keeps you at your current day job?

DT: I think the neat thing about my job is that it differs in scope and location throughout the year. For instance last year I was working on the jetty rebuilds in Newburyport, equipment replacement at Amgen in West Greenwich, new roads and hotel at Naval Station Newport, and I am currently finishing the Deep Water Wind Sea2Land project. Some of these jobs have difficult schedules, like 6- to 10-hour days. But the upside is that added income helps to fund the music project.

EB: I have a passion for my industry, so it really isn’t fully like work to me. The bonus is I get do what I love at a wonderful place and get to work with so many great people. I sincerely care for everyone within my organization and want to see them succeed. My position offers me the ability to utilize all I’ve learned and most importantly, allows me to continue expanding my knowledge into new areas.

JG: Does anything in your day job correlate to your musical endeavors?

DT: Some members of our clientele have come to see us perform, others have our CDs and are fans on social media. The owner is supportive too, helping to flex a schedule if there is a conflict, allowing me to use my company truck to haul equipment, paying for the side step and removable hitch installation so we can tow a trailer. He said if we ever get to the big time I can only leave the company if he can manage the tour. I imagine he would be quite good at that. Last year there was an emergency for one of our clients and we had to back out of a show. There is give and take all around.

EB: I think many aspects correlate. The creative energy is high in both, just applied to different mediums. The drive I have to always put forth the best possible product, while working collaboratively. I try not to let my two worlds collide, but it is inevitable. My current superior and co-workers have been so supportive of the band, with some coming to some shows and purchasing our studio CD Kindred. Many people seem to find the family aspect of the band to be very unique and such a feel-good type of story. 

JG: Where can anyone interested find you during your day work and/or night work?

DT: You can find out more about Ocean State Risk Management’s services by going to the website: Go2OSRM.com. 

EB: You can learn more about Impending Reflections at facebook.com/impendingreflections or reverbnation.com/impendingreflections. Our full-length studio album Kindred is available on iTunes and for digital streaming on all the popular sites, such as Spotify. Contact us at impendingreflections@gmail.com or learn more about Visual Concept Group at vcgdesign.com