We recently connected with Abigail Taylor and have shared our conversation below.

Abigail, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I think being a musician or an artist includes taking risks in all forms. The biggest risk for me though, personally, is my songwriting. I create fictional (although sometimes they can be real) stories in my brain and write about them in a way that is metaphorical. When I write a song and perform it, I am playing a character that I created. I like putting on my artistic hat and playing the part of somebody’s crazy ex-girlfriend. In my career, if I can manage to represent a narrative that somebody else has lived through and do it well enough to make them feel something, I have done everything right.

Abigail, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I began performing at the age of eight years old with a passion I knew I had always had for music. I was obsessed with Taylor Swift, just as I continue to be today. One year for Christmas my parents had got me a karaoke machine which allowed me to curate live performances in my bedroom. Before I knew it, I received my first guitar by the following Christmas and was singing as many Taylor songs as I could muster. My first performance was at my elementary school talent show. Afterwards, my music teacher believed in me so much, he encouraged me to continue performing for the students on the cafeteria stage during lunch time on occasion. Following this, I began doing open mic nights wherever they allowed live music, then I was playing acoustic shows on the breaks of other bands, next I began receiving my own acoustic shows, and now I do full band shows as an opener or headliner. I am most proud of my songwriting and my passion for storytelling, always with the intention to relate to or with people. I enjoy the idea that all human beings are simply art, put on this earth to make one another feel something, whether it be good or bad. I find joy in playing different characters through my songwriting and performances, it makes me feel closer to those who may have actually experienced being the character in which I am portraying.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think being a musical artist is an extremely interesting journey in itself, there is a lot that coincides with a creative career path. In retrospect, I think resilience comes with finding enough peace in yourself to let go of the opinions of others. To me, it is all about control. Everything you do as an artist is a performance, whether it be an interview, a live show, a conversation with an audience member, or a business meeting. Knowing that I am able to control every performance I put on is what will always keep me grounded. I can control myself, my reactions, and my opinions, but I cannot control the perception that others have of me. As soon as I let go of being obsessed with how my music may go over, if people like my appearance, if I am writing songs that are “good” enough, all of these silly things that can reach no measure, that is when my career began. Letting go of the idea that your creativity can be deemed unacceptable is the most resilient thing to do as an artist. Creativity is not measured by good or bad, it is not measured by relatability, and it is not always meant to appeal to the eye — It is solely meant to make people feel something.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I just want to be a person that makes other people feel comfortable. I want to be unconventionally creative in a way that allows others to feel comfortable in being themselves. My biggest hope is for others to just appreciate me as I come and for there to be an genuine openness in that aspect. I love meeting and observing new people and connecting with them in different ways, so I feel like my music is always going to be a healthy outlet for that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.abigailtaylormusic.com
• Instagram: @abbysrodeo
• Facebook: @Abigail Taylor Music

Image Credits
Payton Templeton Steve Hansen