Exclusive Interview: Tayler Holder Talks New Single “I Hope”, Establishing Himself as an Artist, and More

Fans know Tayler Holder as a social media influencer who amassed over 1.1 billion likes on TikTok and over 6.1 million followers on Instagram. But before he discovered his passion for content creation, Tayler was busy honing in on his sound and message as an artist.

With singles like “Human” and “100 Rounds”, Tayler has quickly proven there’s no limit to his talent.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Tayler about establishing himself as an artist, his new single “I Hope”, and more.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Tayler: Music has always been a goal for me. I grew up in a super small town. No one was doing what I wanted to do. I didn’t know how to make music. I always had this strong passion for it, but I didn’t understand how to put it all together. Coming out here to L.A. and having such great success with the whole social media side of things led me to meet people in the industry: artists, producers, songwriters, etc. I got to go into the studio and learn the creative side of it. I slowly built out my own music and sound.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that you’ve spent the last few years really honing in on your sound and figuring out the message that you want to get across with your music. What has that process been like? What has had the biggest impact on the artist that you are today?
Tayler: I’m very hard-headed and very indecisive sometimes, so the process has definitely been all over the place. I went from making R&B music to rock. I tried ballads. I tried all this stuff. I was doing a little bit of everything. I’ve done some country, too.

I went through a couple of things in life, but I never talked to people about my problems…I’m really bad with that. Everyone was like, “Go to therapy.” I was like, ”I can’t fu*king talk to people about my problems.”

I turned and leaned into my music. I started writing songs about stuff that I was going through on a daily basis and all these real moments because I felt like I was going through stuff that everyone else was going through–that’s easy for people to connect to. I’m really in that direction of country, pop, and urban. It’s really cool.

PC: In life, and especially in this industry, people will try and put you into certain boxes. You got your big break on social media, but music actually came first for you. Has it been a challenge to reintroduce yourself as a musical artist?
Tayler: That’s definitely been one of the hardest things that I’ve had to do so far. It’s easy to be the “hot guy” on the internet, get followers, and do these videos, and I’m thankful for that and will never take for granted what TikTok has done for me, but at the end of the day, it’s also been a bit of a curse as well because I got put in this box. It’s really hard to make people believe in me as an artist and make that crossover to being an artist. That’s the one thing my team and I have been trying to figure out. We’re headed in the right direction. It’s a slow process, but it’s definitely going in the right direction though.

PC: You’ve been incredibly open about the fact that during the height of your career, you were probably at your lowest. How has music created the outlet for you to explore those experiences? Has it ever been nerve-wracking to tap back into those experiences?
Tayler: It’s always nerve-wracking. I’ve said this in the past but you would think that after doing this for so long and being in the public eye for so long, I would be more comfortable going out in public or being in front of thousands of people. It’s actually made me more insecure and more closed off because of how judgemental everybody is. It’s definitely not easy, but going back there and writing these amazing songs, it’s definitely helped me get back there. Like I was saying earlier, I don’t really talk to people about my problems; I’m more about figuring it out myself. I turn to music like it’s my therapy. It’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like work to me.

PC: You’ve dropped a couple of singles so far in your career. If you had to pick one that best represents who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Tayler: It’s my current single: “I Hope”. I have dropped a couple already but I’m going to say this one. I wrote it about a girl that I was talking to at the time and shortly after I found out that she was not quite over her ex. I used that as inspiration to say, “I hope he can give you everything that I don’t.” This is the direction that I want to go in terms of theme, sound, vocals, and production. It’s honestly one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever written.

PC: Earlier this year, you released “Human”, and it’s probably one of, if not your most, vulnerable songs to date. Has it always been easy for you to tap into that side of your artistry?
Tayler: I’m very nervous to release stuff like that because I don’t know what people are going to say about it. I have so many songs that are so sad, and even sadder than this one. It’s easy for me to hone in on it because it’s stuff that I go through every day like everyone else. I’ll just go into my studio and write the songs–that’s why I say it’s so easy for me to do that and write my music because it doesn’t feel like work, it’s my therapy.

PC: Like you were saying earlier, you struggle with stage fright. How are you able to calm your nerves ahead of a performance or ahead of a new single dropping?
Tayler: Just like everybody else, I get nervous. It’s normal. If someone says that they’re not nervous, they’re lying. That’s part of life. I’ve learned to realize that I’m just going to go out there, be me, and do what I know. At the end of the day, it’s going to happen. Life is going to continue to happen how it’s supposed to happen. Whether they accept it or not, I’m going out there and being me.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2022, what can fans expect from you? Are we leading to maybe a larger body of work? Is there a tour in the works?
Tayler: We’re working on a lot of new music. We have a lot of singles coming out right now, right after the other. We’re just pushing on music and making people realize that I’m an artist. We’re in talks to do some shows this summer. I’m excited for that.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Tayler: This always takes people by surprise, but I listen to a lot of worship music. I’m either crying in the car to some heartbreak sh*t or I’m listening to worship music. I don’t really listen to hip-hop or R&B unless I’m in the car with a bunch of homies, and they’re like, “Yo, stop all this sad sh*t. Turn it off.” [laughs]

PC: First album you bought?
Tayler: Justin Bieber.

PC: First concert you attended?
Tayler: I actually think the first concert I ever went to was Russ’ concert, which was a couple of years ago. I never went to a concert before then. My friend was like, “Let’s go.” I was like, “All right, sick.” Russ invited us out, so I was like, “All right, let’s go.”

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Tayler: I would probably say one of Justin’s albums. I’ve listened to him a lot; he’s been a big inspiration to me. Through his music, I’ve learned a lot about runs and vocal performance. I studied him a lot because I really felt his style of music. He’s super creative and talented.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Tayler: Everyone’s is like Madison Square Garden…well, it’s now Crypto or at the AT&T Stadium in my hometown Dallas. That’d be crazy one day to perform at.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Tayler: Chocolate Milk.

To keep up with Tayler, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Pick up or stream “I Hope” today.