The Sit down with taylor-rae
In July, rising Canadian country power house Taylor-Rae released her highly anticipated new EP Heaven Right Now. The Edmonton native now calls Nashville home, however that didn’t stop her from linking up with Canadian icon Carolyn Dawn Johnson to co-write the releases title track. We caught up with Taylor-Rae recently to find out more about the release
I gotta say, I really enjoyed your EP.
Thank you – that means a lot.
Before we get into the music, do you mind if we just talk a little bit first about your journey to Nashville and how you came into country music?
Yeah, for sure.
Cool. So you were born in Alberta, Canada, right?
Alberta, yeah.
When was it that you started gravitating towards being in music?
I grew up singing with my dad. And I always wanted to be a singer, but then it got to the point where it was like - I think as kids, you always wanted to be a singer and then it kind of fades away - and I was like 12, 13, and still just dead set on being a singer. So my dad, eventually, let's say at maybe 13 or 14 kind of sat me down. He's like, you know, you might have a shot at this if you want to, but you’ve got to buckle down and figure it out yourself and all that. So I really just kind of went from there, and that's when I started entering the local competitions and stuff like that. But, yeah, it really kind of all started with my dad.
It's cool that they were supportive really, 'cause - and I had no musical ability at 14 - but I think if I did, my mum might have been like, I'm not sure about this.
I know, we always joke about it now because they were kind of always very much like, if you want to be a dreamer, be a dreamer. And so my sister became a professional hockey player and I became a singer. I don't know if they thought it was going to go as far as it did, but they love coming out to everything, so it's been awesome.
That is awesome. Being Canadian, I’m just gonna assume you’re a big hockey family.
Big, big hockey family. So with my sister, it's been cool to see how the professional women's league has taken off. It's been super exciting.
Yeah, it really is gaining traction. I used to live out in Vancouver,
Oh, did you?
Yeah, so I was super excited to chat to ya when I saw you’re Canadian, especially as you spent time in BC [British Columbia] too.
I love that. Vancouver is the best. Where did you live?
I was right on Kits Beach.
No way, it’s so beautiful. I lived just right out of Yaletown.
That’s handy - all the good bars were in Yaletown.
That's very true.
When is it you moved out to BC?
I moved out to BC in, oh, my gosh, so long ago. Probably like 2013. And I went there to go to school for Arts and Business Entertainment management so to learn kind of the business side of the music industry, because my parents were very firm on the idea that if I was going to be in it, I should learn as much as I could about the business side. So I did that, and then I ended up sticking around because through my internship, I joined a choir and started a band and kind of just like found my network there. So I ended up sticking around for quite a while, and it was awesome. It was kind of like where I laid the initial groundwork down for everything. So it's pretty special there.
And there's more country music there than what I expected when I moved there. Like, you said you started a band, were you gigging out there a lot?
Yeah, it surprised me too actually. There is a very kind of niche country music community there, which was awesome because it made it easy to get to know everybody because if there was a country show, everybody who was part of the industry would be there. So it was cool. It was actually a very supportive community, which I loved.
And then there's also quite a lot of Canadians over in Nashville too, right? Every time I've been to Nashville, I always seem to meet at least a couple of Canadians there, which I'm always fine with.
There are so many of us here. It's actually crazy. I like it because I knew moving down here that I was going to have friends kind of built in, which to move to a different country, as you know, it can be kind of nerve wracking. So it definitely made the transition easier, but it is so funny. Like everywhere I go, everybody's like, you Canadians are everywhere.
I gotta say, I really enjoyed your EP.
Thank you – that means a lot.
Before we get into the music, do you mind if we just talk a little bit first about your journey to Nashville and how you came into country music?
Yeah, for sure.
Cool. So you were born in Alberta, Canada, right?
Alberta, yeah.
When was it that you started gravitating towards being in music?
I grew up singing with my dad. And I always wanted to be a singer, but then it got to the point where it was like - I think as kids, you always wanted to be a singer and then it kind of fades away - and I was like 12, 13, and still just dead set on being a singer. So my dad, eventually, let's say at maybe 13 or 14 kind of sat me down. He's like, you know, you might have a shot at this if you want to, but you’ve got to buckle down and figure it out yourself and all that. So I really just kind of went from there, and that's when I started entering the local competitions and stuff like that. But, yeah, it really kind of all started with my dad.
It's cool that they were supportive really, 'cause - and I had no musical ability at 14 - but I think if I did, my mum might have been like, I'm not sure about this.
I know, we always joke about it now because they were kind of always very much like, if you want to be a dreamer, be a dreamer. And so my sister became a professional hockey player and I became a singer. I don't know if they thought it was going to go as far as it did, but they love coming out to everything, so it's been awesome.
That is awesome. Being Canadian, I’m just gonna assume you’re a big hockey family.
Big, big hockey family. So with my sister, it's been cool to see how the professional women's league has taken off. It's been super exciting.
Yeah, it really is gaining traction. I used to live out in Vancouver,
Oh, did you?
Yeah, so I was super excited to chat to ya when I saw you’re Canadian, especially as you spent time in BC [British Columbia] too.
I love that. Vancouver is the best. Where did you live?
I was right on Kits Beach.
No way, it’s so beautiful. I lived just right out of Yaletown.
That’s handy - all the good bars were in Yaletown.
That's very true.
When is it you moved out to BC?
I moved out to BC in, oh, my gosh, so long ago. Probably like 2013. And I went there to go to school for Arts and Business Entertainment management so to learn kind of the business side of the music industry, because my parents were very firm on the idea that if I was going to be in it, I should learn as much as I could about the business side. So I did that, and then I ended up sticking around because through my internship, I joined a choir and started a band and kind of just like found my network there. So I ended up sticking around for quite a while, and it was awesome. It was kind of like where I laid the initial groundwork down for everything. So it's pretty special there.
And there's more country music there than what I expected when I moved there. Like, you said you started a band, were you gigging out there a lot?
Yeah, it surprised me too actually. There is a very kind of niche country music community there, which was awesome because it made it easy to get to know everybody because if there was a country show, everybody who was part of the industry would be there. So it was cool. It was actually a very supportive community, which I loved.
And then there's also quite a lot of Canadians over in Nashville too, right? Every time I've been to Nashville, I always seem to meet at least a couple of Canadians there, which I'm always fine with.
There are so many of us here. It's actually crazy. I like it because I knew moving down here that I was going to have friends kind of built in, which to move to a different country, as you know, it can be kind of nerve wracking. So it definitely made the transition easier, but it is so funny. Like everywhere I go, everybody's like, you Canadians are everywhere.
How has your day-to-day life as an artist changed since making the move from Vancouver to Nashville?
It's just a lot busier. I remember in Vancouver was kind of you have an event every now and then, and then a lot of times, I mean, at that time, I'm booking all my own shows and all that. So I spent so much time doing all the admin side of things and cold calling everybody and trying to get them to book my band and so moving here, it's like, you still do a ton of that stuff and a lot of the admin side of it, but you can go out literally every night and find something great going on and meet people in the industry and the community and it's cool in that way where you kind of, you get what you give out of it, which I like, because, if you have a free week, it's like, okay, I'm going to go to this event, this event, this event, and be productive kind of all week long.
Have you found your writing style’s change because it's such a writer's town, compared to Vancouver, you say you're busier. Has it changed your writing style at all?
I think so. I think, in Canada, I just wasn't doing it as much. So I was kind of looking at what was going on in the industry and going, "Okay, how do I gear my music towards that versus, now, obviously, you're still looking at the industry, but, I mean, I've said before where it's like, there's such a strength in individuality down here, and because there's so many of us down here trying to give this all a go, you have to lean into the things that make you different. And the things that you love. So I found moving down here, I definitely feel more free to kind of explore all of that in this EP was kind of a testament to that, where I went into the project, like the start of writing this project and going, you know, I just, I have things that I want to say, I have a way that I want to say it, and let's see what we can make happen.
I gotta tell ya; one of my best mates, she isn’t necessarily against country music, but she’s not a big fan either. I was prepping this interview and we were going out to dinner. I was like, “I'm chatting to this artist in a few days. I need to listen to this EP, can I play it in the car?” And she was like, “can you stop bringing your work into our dinner plans?” But by the time we got to ‘Drunk Plans,’ she was like, who is this again? And by the time we got to the end of it, I said, “you can go back to the other Taylor now,” but she said “you can play it through again if you want.” Which never happens - you don't know her, but it is a high compliment to this EP that I was allowed to play it through again.
This is so awesome – I love that. It's crazy though, I think country music is such a wide genre now, like, there's so much within it, right? I feel like country music used to be kind of that traditional vibe, and now there's so many pop and other elements to bring others in and that’s awesome.
So your last EP came out about a year and a half ago – would you say your sound’s changed since then with these four songs?
The last EP was kind of a couple years in the making, and I think it was more kind of me really figuring out the kind of artist I wanted to be, like, I think my song, ‘This is Love’ was kind of a turning point for me where I looked at it, and I went, okay, I can make music the way I want to make it and still kind of find that success, which kind of flipped a switch in me a little bit. So then going into the next project, I think I just felt more self-assured, and I obviously knew the industry better. So I knew the directions to take a little bit more, but I definitely think in the writing and recording process of it, I just felt more confident in it. I didn't feel like I needed as much input on the musical direction and stuff whereas before I probably would have reached out to like eight people and been like, ‘hey, what do you guys think of this?’ And I do still think getting those group opinions is great when you're going in to pick songs and all of that stuff, but at the end of the day, it's your music, you have to be proud of it, and I just think I tried to put my thoughts maybe a little more forward than I would have in my past projects.
So it felt a little easier making this one? More comfortable?
Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think you always feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants. And I don't know if that ends. It'd be nice if it did, but I think as you learn the industry more, you can take that all on in a calmer way and not feel like everything is kind of closing in and you have to make these big, stressful decisions. I think when you kind of feel more confident in what you're doing, you're like, the pieces will fall where they need to. And it'll come together. So I'm just going to kind of roll with that for now.
How have you found the reception to it so far? It's been out for almost a month now.
Yeah, it's been great, honestly. It’s been super fun releasing the singles over the past year and just kind of getting the vibe of like, what the audience is feeling for it. And it's been cool to see which singles stick out. Like, I know so many people love, ‘Heaven Right Now’ and that kind of describes the entire musical era I'm in. But then you have ‘Drunk Plans’ which, to me, when I was going to record it, I was like, ‘I love that song, but we'll see if other people like it too?" And then when it came out, it was like everything that I wanted to happen happened, kind of within that first week of it. And it was really cool to see like, okay, you just gotta trust your gut. But yeah, it's been really cool seeing the reception to it all.
It's just a lot busier. I remember in Vancouver was kind of you have an event every now and then, and then a lot of times, I mean, at that time, I'm booking all my own shows and all that. So I spent so much time doing all the admin side of things and cold calling everybody and trying to get them to book my band and so moving here, it's like, you still do a ton of that stuff and a lot of the admin side of it, but you can go out literally every night and find something great going on and meet people in the industry and the community and it's cool in that way where you kind of, you get what you give out of it, which I like, because, if you have a free week, it's like, okay, I'm going to go to this event, this event, this event, and be productive kind of all week long.
Have you found your writing style’s change because it's such a writer's town, compared to Vancouver, you say you're busier. Has it changed your writing style at all?
I think so. I think, in Canada, I just wasn't doing it as much. So I was kind of looking at what was going on in the industry and going, "Okay, how do I gear my music towards that versus, now, obviously, you're still looking at the industry, but, I mean, I've said before where it's like, there's such a strength in individuality down here, and because there's so many of us down here trying to give this all a go, you have to lean into the things that make you different. And the things that you love. So I found moving down here, I definitely feel more free to kind of explore all of that in this EP was kind of a testament to that, where I went into the project, like the start of writing this project and going, you know, I just, I have things that I want to say, I have a way that I want to say it, and let's see what we can make happen.
I gotta tell ya; one of my best mates, she isn’t necessarily against country music, but she’s not a big fan either. I was prepping this interview and we were going out to dinner. I was like, “I'm chatting to this artist in a few days. I need to listen to this EP, can I play it in the car?” And she was like, “can you stop bringing your work into our dinner plans?” But by the time we got to ‘Drunk Plans,’ she was like, who is this again? And by the time we got to the end of it, I said, “you can go back to the other Taylor now,” but she said “you can play it through again if you want.” Which never happens - you don't know her, but it is a high compliment to this EP that I was allowed to play it through again.
This is so awesome – I love that. It's crazy though, I think country music is such a wide genre now, like, there's so much within it, right? I feel like country music used to be kind of that traditional vibe, and now there's so many pop and other elements to bring others in and that’s awesome.
So your last EP came out about a year and a half ago – would you say your sound’s changed since then with these four songs?
The last EP was kind of a couple years in the making, and I think it was more kind of me really figuring out the kind of artist I wanted to be, like, I think my song, ‘This is Love’ was kind of a turning point for me where I looked at it, and I went, okay, I can make music the way I want to make it and still kind of find that success, which kind of flipped a switch in me a little bit. So then going into the next project, I think I just felt more self-assured, and I obviously knew the industry better. So I knew the directions to take a little bit more, but I definitely think in the writing and recording process of it, I just felt more confident in it. I didn't feel like I needed as much input on the musical direction and stuff whereas before I probably would have reached out to like eight people and been like, ‘hey, what do you guys think of this?’ And I do still think getting those group opinions is great when you're going in to pick songs and all of that stuff, but at the end of the day, it's your music, you have to be proud of it, and I just think I tried to put my thoughts maybe a little more forward than I would have in my past projects.
So it felt a little easier making this one? More comfortable?
Yeah, I think so. I mean, I think you always feel like you're flying by the seat of your pants. And I don't know if that ends. It'd be nice if it did, but I think as you learn the industry more, you can take that all on in a calmer way and not feel like everything is kind of closing in and you have to make these big, stressful decisions. I think when you kind of feel more confident in what you're doing, you're like, the pieces will fall where they need to. And it'll come together. So I'm just going to kind of roll with that for now.
How have you found the reception to it so far? It's been out for almost a month now.
Yeah, it's been great, honestly. It’s been super fun releasing the singles over the past year and just kind of getting the vibe of like, what the audience is feeling for it. And it's been cool to see which singles stick out. Like, I know so many people love, ‘Heaven Right Now’ and that kind of describes the entire musical era I'm in. But then you have ‘Drunk Plans’ which, to me, when I was going to record it, I was like, ‘I love that song, but we'll see if other people like it too?" And then when it came out, it was like everything that I wanted to happen happened, kind of within that first week of it. And it was really cool to see like, okay, you just gotta trust your gut. But yeah, it's been really cool seeing the reception to it all.
Speaking of finding a bunch of Canadians in Nashville, you wrote ‘Heaven Right Now’ with Carolyn Dawn-Johnson, how did that come about? Because she's pretty much Canadian country music royalty.
I know, I have been such a fan of her for so long, and I had played in this writer's round called the Song Suffragettes. And the weekend before, I got sent the poster and Carolyn was on it and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I have to be so good because I want Carolyn to think I'm good and cool. So we ended up playing, we had a chat afterwards and we had exchanged numbers. And so when I had this idea of ‘Heaven Right Now,’ and I'm like, ‘I'm just gonna shoot my shot, see if she's interested. And so I sent it to her and asked her if she would be interested in writing it with me and she said yes. And so I tried to go in as prepared as possible, because I'm like, I do not want to have writer's block with somebody like Carolyn because she's just so incredible. And she's honestly, she's such a great energy in the room, so we just kind of bounced off of each other. And it was great; my younger self was freaking out.
I love that, and this EP has landed on a couple of really cool playlists including Spotify and Amazon. You played your first CMA fest last year, congrats by the way, that's like the pinnacle, isn't it? What did it mean to you to be able to play that stage?
It was so cool. I mean, I think moving to Nashville, you have this list of things you want to do, and I was like, okay, I'm sure in maybe three years or something, maybe I'll get to play CMA Fest stuff like that. And then when we got the invite to play, I was freaking out. And it's been super cool. I mean, I definitely think the move down here was the right timing because I was a little bit more clear on who I was.
Who are you some of your influences either just in the genre specifically or and around Nashville, if you get a day off, who do you like to go and see?
Growing up, my number one idol was Martina McBride and I kind of used her songs as, like, my vocal bar, she's such an incredible vocalist, so that was somebody that I always kind of followed. But then now, I love Chris Stapleton. And I also love like Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, kind of everything they're doing. I think it’s really cool because they're just kind of doing exactly what they want to do and they're finding massive success with it.
I know, I have been such a fan of her for so long, and I had played in this writer's round called the Song Suffragettes. And the weekend before, I got sent the poster and Carolyn was on it and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I have to be so good because I want Carolyn to think I'm good and cool. So we ended up playing, we had a chat afterwards and we had exchanged numbers. And so when I had this idea of ‘Heaven Right Now,’ and I'm like, ‘I'm just gonna shoot my shot, see if she's interested. And so I sent it to her and asked her if she would be interested in writing it with me and she said yes. And so I tried to go in as prepared as possible, because I'm like, I do not want to have writer's block with somebody like Carolyn because she's just so incredible. And she's honestly, she's such a great energy in the room, so we just kind of bounced off of each other. And it was great; my younger self was freaking out.
I love that, and this EP has landed on a couple of really cool playlists including Spotify and Amazon. You played your first CMA fest last year, congrats by the way, that's like the pinnacle, isn't it? What did it mean to you to be able to play that stage?
It was so cool. I mean, I think moving to Nashville, you have this list of things you want to do, and I was like, okay, I'm sure in maybe three years or something, maybe I'll get to play CMA Fest stuff like that. And then when we got the invite to play, I was freaking out. And it's been super cool. I mean, I definitely think the move down here was the right timing because I was a little bit more clear on who I was.
Who are you some of your influences either just in the genre specifically or and around Nashville, if you get a day off, who do you like to go and see?
Growing up, my number one idol was Martina McBride and I kind of used her songs as, like, my vocal bar, she's such an incredible vocalist, so that was somebody that I always kind of followed. But then now, I love Chris Stapleton. And I also love like Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, kind of everything they're doing. I think it’s really cool because they're just kind of doing exactly what they want to do and they're finding massive success with it.
You've co-written on all four of these tracks - you've written on a lot of your songs generally - is that something that's important to you, particularly as you’re starting to get traction?
I think so. I mean, I don't really have a massive ego about that stuff, like, if I was pitched a song and it felt like I could have written it and if it really resonated with me, then then I would definitely be open to taking that song. I took a pitch in my last project and ‘Hellbent’ was one of them, and that was a song that felt like it was written for me, because it was just so many of the things that my parents would say growing up. They would always tell me how stubborn I was, and it was kind of this whole song just mapping all that out. And so I definitely think sometimes songs just fit, even if you haven't written them. But I do feel like I have a lot to say at this point in time, so I've been really enjoying being a part of all of my music and having that kind of personal connection to it.
Would you say that this sound that you've landed on with this EP is going to be the base to spring off from and explore more of for a potential full-length album?
I think so. I think I definitely have the groundwork laid out now. I think even in some of my writing sessions, it feels like the sound is just continuously evolving. So I think this is kind of the general basis of my music, but I'm excited to see where it grows and shifts because I definitely love having that country pop fusion. So, yeah, we'll see.
And what are your plans for the rest of this year? Are you going to be touring at all?
Yeah, we have a couple dates that haven't been announced yet coming up in the Fall, but right now, I'm just writing for this next project and then we'll be in the studio late Fall starting on all the new music. It's kind of like the ball never stops rolling, but I also have a song coming out with a male artist in Canada who is incredible. So we'll be announcing that probably in the next couple weeks, which I'm super excited about. So, so I'll keep you posted on that.
Awesome. Please do, but before you go – I gotta ask – Canucks or Predators?
Ooh, Oilers.
Ooh, yeah – I forgot, Alberta.
I'm from Edmonton originally, so I'm a big Oilers fan. But I like, the predators enough, if I go to a game; I just can't bring myself to cheer for the Canucks, even though I was in Vancouver for how many years.
That makes sense. To be fair, I get to more Predators games when I'm over there than I do Canucks anyway, so I’ll let you off.
Yeah, it's a little bit more affordable, right? Like, I remember trying to go to Canucks games and stuff when the Oilers were playing them, and the tickets were astronomical prices. It's crazy.
True story. Alright, Oilers fan, I’ll let ya go, but thanks for taking the time – I’ve enjoyed this and keep us posted on the new music.
I definitely will. Thank you so much.
I think so. I mean, I don't really have a massive ego about that stuff, like, if I was pitched a song and it felt like I could have written it and if it really resonated with me, then then I would definitely be open to taking that song. I took a pitch in my last project and ‘Hellbent’ was one of them, and that was a song that felt like it was written for me, because it was just so many of the things that my parents would say growing up. They would always tell me how stubborn I was, and it was kind of this whole song just mapping all that out. And so I definitely think sometimes songs just fit, even if you haven't written them. But I do feel like I have a lot to say at this point in time, so I've been really enjoying being a part of all of my music and having that kind of personal connection to it.
Would you say that this sound that you've landed on with this EP is going to be the base to spring off from and explore more of for a potential full-length album?
I think so. I think I definitely have the groundwork laid out now. I think even in some of my writing sessions, it feels like the sound is just continuously evolving. So I think this is kind of the general basis of my music, but I'm excited to see where it grows and shifts because I definitely love having that country pop fusion. So, yeah, we'll see.
And what are your plans for the rest of this year? Are you going to be touring at all?
Yeah, we have a couple dates that haven't been announced yet coming up in the Fall, but right now, I'm just writing for this next project and then we'll be in the studio late Fall starting on all the new music. It's kind of like the ball never stops rolling, but I also have a song coming out with a male artist in Canada who is incredible. So we'll be announcing that probably in the next couple weeks, which I'm super excited about. So, so I'll keep you posted on that.
Awesome. Please do, but before you go – I gotta ask – Canucks or Predators?
Ooh, Oilers.
Ooh, yeah – I forgot, Alberta.
I'm from Edmonton originally, so I'm a big Oilers fan. But I like, the predators enough, if I go to a game; I just can't bring myself to cheer for the Canucks, even though I was in Vancouver for how many years.
That makes sense. To be fair, I get to more Predators games when I'm over there than I do Canucks anyway, so I’ll let you off.
Yeah, it's a little bit more affordable, right? Like, I remember trying to go to Canucks games and stuff when the Oilers were playing them, and the tickets were astronomical prices. It's crazy.
True story. Alright, Oilers fan, I’ll let ya go, but thanks for taking the time – I’ve enjoyed this and keep us posted on the new music.
I definitely will. Thank you so much.
