We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor DeShawn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, I would have started my creative career much earlier than I did. My creative career began around the start of 2020, when an artist reached out to me to do a feature on a song. Without even knowing if I had the ability to write a verse or chorus, I enthusiastically said yes! When I listened to what the artist had sent me, I was so moved that the rest of the lyrics seemed to flow out of me.

Around the same time, I was at a difficult place in my life that required me to reflect on who I was and what was transpiring in my life story. I needed to put pen to paper and write so I could get those feelings out of me. Before writing my first song, “Disconnected,” I thought of myself as “just” a singer. I didn’t think I’d be good at songwriting, so I never tried. So, when I finished my first song, I realized I had the ability to write more. That’s when Hopelessly Optimistic—my debut EP—was born.

Starting my creative career sooner would have required me to believe in myself, my talents, and my place in the world earlier in life. All I’ve been able to accomplish in music has been made possible through the work that I’ve done to know myself and to love myself over the years. If I’d started sooner, of course, I’d be further along, with more projects and more career experience, but I think the beauty of this creative journey is embracing where you are and growing into who you’re supposed to be. Plus, the things I experienced along this journey ended up shaping me into the woman I am today. I’m proud of her.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Taylor DeShawn. I am a singer and songwriter from Indianapolis, Indiana. I love to sing. It is my first love and something I’ve been doing since I was a young girl. I began singing in church with my two older sisters. We sang whenever our parents, who were both ministers, had to preach a sermon. As I got older, I continued singing in my high school’s show choir and my university’s Black popular music ensemble, the IU Soul Revue, which helped me fine-tune my voice and equip me with the tools I needed to be a successful singer. I am currently a worship leader and I perform locally for different events, church services, and weddings. What I enjoy most about being a singer is being included in someone’s special day. It’s heartwarming to know that someone thinks your voice is worthy enough to walk down the aisle to, or that someone wants your voice to be the soundtrack of an event that they worked so diligently to plan.

I appreciate this voice of mine. It’s taken years to develop my sound and to become confident in my abilities, but I’m grateful for the growth that’s come from it all. I am thankful that God has entrusted this gift to me. It’s my desire to use it in the way He intended.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m actually at a pivotal point in my career as we speak. I graduated from Indiana University, where I studied secondary education. I taught social studies for six years at the middle- and high-school levels. Teaching was something that I thought I’d be doing for years to come, but it didn’t work out that way. I wanted to pursue music in a way that teaching wasn’t allowing me to do, so I left the profession. This meant giving up the security of a stable career and doing something that allowed me more freedom to be an artist. Leaving education was something that I felt was necessary for me to break free of my comfort zone. One day I may go back, but for now I am navigating this season of transition and discovery with faith and wonder. Through it all, I can feel myself maturing, learning, and trusting God’s plan for my life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being a singer and songwriter allows me the unique opportunity to document and share my authentic experiences—not just for myself, but for others to relate to as well. No two people are exactly the same, but I wholeheartedly believe that people have far more similarities than we do differences. This is evident on social media, where we share our personal stories and often find that others—sometimes complete strangers—have had similar experiences.
So, when I write a song and others can identify with the heart of my lyrics, I find that to be the most rewarding aspect of my artistry. Having someone tell you that your song helped them deal with tough times or mirrored their own struggles is the best compliment for me.

My songwriting process is almost like writing a personal journal entry. I find it very therapeutic. That being said, my ultimate goal is that at least one person will also find healing through my writing. This is why I’m so honest about my experiences in my storytelling. I believe those authentic moments connect us, and that is what I want my artistry to represent.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taylordeshawn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylordeshawnn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaylorDeShawn

Image Credits

Rebekah Gaillard