NYCS Swag Spotlight Bree Taylor

“I love what music can do for people because it was always there for me.”

Bree Taylor, our Swag Spotlight artist this week, is a rising singer-songwriter, who plays by her own rules. Throughout our conversation with Taylor, we learned how honest, authentic, and passionate she is about mental health awareness, her refreshing music, and of course her diehard fanbase.

Hailing from Toronto Canada, the songstress always felt a pull towards music. “I’ve been involved in music since I was a little girl,” she tells us, “I always just kind of had this passion for music.” Growing up writing, she had a natural talent for song-writing and story-telling. “I’ve always been involved in writing my own lyrics and poems, so as I got older it just turned into something that I really wanted as a career.” Unfortunately because of the bullying that she endured throughout her schooling, Taylor lacked the confidence to pursue her dream.

About six years ago, Taylor found her courage and decided to quiet the naysayers in favor of creating music that aimed to bring connection and vulnerability to music listeners. She went on to create her first pop album with a talented producer in L.A., but she quickly realized that country music was calling her.

“I always kinda felt a kinship to the country scene, since I was really young, because I always really felt comfortable in more of the story-telling, songwriting side of things,” she shares, “I just felt that country really translated well for me.” This revelation began Taylor’s transition to a more pop-country sound.

Since her transition to country music, Taylor has noticed the lack of representation of females in the genre and has worked relentlessly to create music that showcases the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a woman in today’s day and age. For the singer, being honest with her fans about her struggles with depression and anxiety and bringing awareness to mental health issues is vital to her artistry.

“When I was growing up, I definitely think [mental health] wasn’t talked about […] so I find I try to live by example through myself,” she shares, adding that it has been difficult to find artists that live their truth and express that in their music. Despite that sentiment, Taylor credits artists like Taylor Swift, Madison Marlow, (Maddie & Tae) and Selena Gomez, as well as, actress, Jennifer Lawerence, as people she relates to and looks up to because of the authenticity they bring to their art and the honesty they share with fans.

Taylor continues to create music that showcases different sides of her personality. Most recently, she released “Drive.” To counteract some of her more emotional and sad tracks, the singer wanted to give fans a taste of her fun and silly side. “I do have a more lighthearted side to me where I’m having fun with my girlfriends, and relaxing, and enjoying life, and being silly,” she tells us, “So I wanted to write a song that would show people that side of myself.” “Drive” is fun, sassy, and catchy, but still maintains that integrity that is so important to Taylor and her fanbase.

Of course, she has emotional and deeply personal songs slated to be released this year as well. In just a few days, on January 31st, her new single “Cry” will be available. Taylor gave us the inside scoop about the beautiful, upcoming track that was pitched to her by two talented songwriters. “When I heard it, it was pitched to me as a song that was written about a woman singing to a man,” she shares. “But the way I connected to it was exactly in the way that ‘it’s okay to not be okay,” adding, “I even really took it in a personal way that you could be singing it to yourself.”

The soon to be released song serves as a reminder to people who are struggling with their own demons that we do not always have to be strong. “I really want people to identify with it in their own way,” Taylor explains. “I just think it is such a powerful song lyrically with the message behind it, and I really wanted that to speak for itself.”

Fans can anticipate even more new music this year by the rising artist. She has an EP in the works slated for a spring release, as well as, plans for some live shows in 2020. As Taylor says, “It’s just a matter of making it all happen.”

To keep up with Bree Taylor follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Drive” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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