Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Taylor Grey

Taylor Grey burst onto the music scene in 2016. Her introspective lyrics and emotional delivery connected with and captured the hearts of listeners around the world. In four short years, she’s shared the stage with artists including Flo Rida, Sabrina Carpenter, Jake Miller, and Jacob Whitesides, to name a few. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of catching up with Taylor following her UK tour with The Vamps to learn more about her and her new single, “Complic8ed.”

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Taylor: I was a really shy kid, so my mom threw me into musical theater because she thought if I could survive on a stage, I would do better in a classroom. It was really academically based from the get-go, but it turned out that I love music. I loved being on stage and I haven’t stopped. It slowly transitioned into writing my own stuff.

PC: With your musical theater background, what did you learn from those experiences that you’ve been able to apply to your career moving forward?
Taylor: That’s a good question. I learned how to be comfortable on stage—that was the biggest thing. That’s where I felt the most comfortable. I still get really anxious when I do public speaking, but when I’m on stage, everyone is like, “Wait, how do you do that? There are so many people.” I guess it’s because you can’t always see them all. It feels like you’re just in this big open space. It’s where I feel the most comfortable. If I have to make a speech, I’ll cry, though. [laughs] I hate that.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Taylor: I actually found my old songbook while I’ve been cleaning during quarantine. It’s from when I was ten to twelve. I loved Taylor Swift when I was that age. Then looking at this songbook, I realized how much of an influence she’s had on my narrative and storytelling.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Complic8ed.” What inspired the song?
Taylor: I was thinking of common phrases. Everyone always says, “Let’s not complicate things. I don’t want it to get complicated.” I feel like that’s a very common excuse that people use or a reason why they’re like, “Oh no, let’s not be more than friends” or, “Oh, I don’t want to be exclusive. Let’s not complicate things.” I thought it was cool to turn that on its head and say, “No. Let’s make it complicated. Let’s do it.” That was the inspiration behind the song, and it’s something that I haven’t heard before. I worked with Imad Royal and we turned it into what it is today.

PC: You’ve had tons of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Taylor: This past year has been a real turning point for me. Last year, I did my first tour and it was international. I was like, “Oh my God, this is the coolest thing ever. There’s a bus!” It made everything feel real. I have impostor syndrome a lot, which I feel like a lot of people can relate to. That was really special.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Taylor: Bowling for Soup! That’s the first thing that came to mind. I was so into them as a kid.

PC: First album you bought?
Taylor: I think it was the Jonas Brothers. My mom got it for me because I was really into them.

PC: First concert you attended?
Taylor: It was Hannah Montana’s Best of Both Worlds tour. The Jonas Brothers opened for her. It was a big deal.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Taylor: I have two. Avril Lavigne’s Let Go album was so impactful. Also, this may be a cop-out answer, but The Best of the Eagles. That was my first record that I got, and it had all their hits.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Taylor: I’d love to headline Troubadour.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Taylor: Sleep! No, that’s a luxury. [laughs] I need headphones. I am such an insomniac and I’m a light sleeper. Every roommate I’ve had is like, “Taylor, oh my God, I can’t do anything,” because I wake up at the slightest noise. So, I have to have these noise-canceling headphones because you’re living with a lot of people in a small confined space when you’re on tour.

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