Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor Borton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Taylor, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve always liked to sing, whether it was in the car or in my bedroom. I would buy a new cd any time I was able, just to sing along to. Throughout elementary school, I found myself always writing poems and stories. I started taking guitar lessons with the cheapest, little guitar my parents bought me at age 12. I stuck with it for a few years and managed to buy my Taylor guitar at age 14, which I currently still play. My parents only ever listened to traditional country music, though they don’t have a musical bone. That style/genre ended up becoming my favorite, especially the story telling aspect.
Every summer we would go on family vacations, if it was my choice I chose Nashville every time.. so we made the trip more than once. I thought it would be cool to live there, but honestly that’s as far as my thought went.
As time went by and I came upon Highschool graduation, I was just excited to be done with school. I had no intention to go to college, I really didn’t have a clue what to do.
With some research, I found a tech school with a 6 month audio engineering course at Blackbird Studio in Berry Hill, TN. If I was going to study anything, it was going to be music. Without hesitation, I ended up applying and getting in. At age 19, I packed and left my hometown of Youngstown, OH.
Since I left at such a young age, I don’t think it ever sank it what I was actually doing. I was never scared or worried about anything, I just left.
From that point on, I was 100% sure music is what I wanted to do. I to this day don’t enjoy anything else, or have the patience for it. Now living in Nashville for about 4 years, it still didn’t sink in. I have to remind myself that I’m only 15 minutes from Broadway and Music Row. That’s a pretty cool feeling and I’m lucky my parents let me go!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Nashville-based country and folk singer/songwriter/guitarist Taylor Borton is creating a stir with the release of her debut single, “Give A Damn.” The song illustrates her true demeanor and independence, and was featured on Nashville’s local Radio Sobro and written about by Anchor Publicity. Her single “Native” promotes a sense of belonging in a new place. This song features a harmonica, in which she added to her sound in 2020. She wrote it for her friends and fans to relate with her and remember they’re never alone. Today’s Country Magazine wrote about her ability to silence a whole room during her live performance in 2022, in their words “turning a crowded bar into a true listening room. ” Her singles are available on leading streaming music platforms, with her latest “Glove Box Lighter” on YouTube with a hot new Music Video.
Putting her own twist on traditional country, folk and Americana styles, some of Taylor’s influences include John Prine, Loretta Lynn, and songwriter Lori McKenna. Taylor says: “I’m a strong believer in fate and my gut told me to travel the road of music, so I had to.” That was enough reason to buy her first guitar, at age twelve. Having a guitar in her hands and the strength of her voice gave her confidence, and by the age of fifteen she began to write down her own stories for everyone to hear. In her free time she mentored students at a local music store, up to high school graduation.
With a yearning desire to live in “Music City”, Taylor moved from Youngstown, OH to Nashville, TN at age nineteen. She graduated from The Blackbird Academy, where she studied audio engineering. The learning experience is one she said she’ll never forget, meeting so many influential people. Taylor plans to stay in Nashville to focus on her songwriting career. With music festivals like American Roots Festival, Water Lantern Festival and Motorcycle Revival at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch already under her belt, her biggest goal is to tour and perform around the world. “Chasing a music career is more of a challenge than anything, but that’s what makes it so worthwhile”, says she. Taylor Borton is poised to gracefully continue that chase, with hope you’ll come along for the ride.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
As a musician, speaking for myself and whomever may relate to this topic, we don’t only create music.
Musicians/artists are business owners that have to know how to run one. We are the products, and need to know how to brand ourselves and stand out. Until you get far enough in your career with a large fanbase, a strong social media platform, an income to support yourself.. etc… you learn how to do everything yourself.
From creating a logo for a website to promote yourself, to booking live shows to grow your fanbase, to saving up enough money to even record the music to have a product.
Long story short, there’s a lot that goes into a musical career. Society is what we need to grow. Buy merch, listen to music and tell your friends to, tip the artists even if it’s one dollar. Anything makes a difference for us. Follow my journey if you’re reading this!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The biggest reward is the impact you make on others. As a songwriter, I write true, real things that have happened to me. I write to be relatable, to say what other people aren’t sure how to express.
Imagine going through something terrible, like a breakup, divorce, a loss of someone and then writing about it. Not only is that a form of therapy for the writer, but for the consumer. You have to be vulnerable, and for a lot of people that might not be easy.
Music for me is a sense of healing. If you can listen to my “product” and simply feel heard and a little less lonely, that’s pretty rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taylorbortonmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorbortonmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorbortonmusic/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCk7qKKhhRGGZRm-EVWKCXVA
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1K6Y4fgHFd5onDC5iWBMrc?si=TseQuJ_uTFO7siVNTSqI5A Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorbortonmusic?_t=8UqK6GzwIIA&_r=1