ListenSD Exclusive Interview with Taylor Bickett
If you’ve ever opened your notes app at 2am to process your quarterlife crisis, Taylor Bickett probably already wrote the soundtrack to your life. The Indiana-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter first captured the internet’s attention in 2022 when her single “Quarter Life Crisis” went massively viral on TikTok, racking up over 45 million streams and spawning nearly half a million fan-made videos. Celebrities from Drew Barrymore to Kevin Jonas jumped on the trend but it was the song’s gut-punch relatability, that feeling of being caught between who you were and who you’re supposed to be, that made Taylor’s name stick. Since then, she’s toured with artists like Ron Pope and Charlotte Lawrence, and is continuing her musical journey in San Diego on May 2nd (get your tickets here), opening for Devin Kennedy. We were able to chat with Taylor to get more insight into her musical mind and what lies ahead.
Listen SD: Is there a line from one of your songs that still hits you differently every time you perform it?
Taylor Bickett: In my new song, “Goldstar,” there’s a part at the end where I change the chorus lyrics, and it gets me every time. The line is: “you can rest, you can learn, you can make mistakes.” Sometimes, when I sing it, it makes me think of a younger me. Sometimes I think about the person I am now. Or the people I love who I wish would treat themselves more kindly. Sometimes I think about all of those things simultaneously.
LSD: You have a way of capturing really specific emotions. What’s the most unexpectedly relatable response you’ve gotten from a fan?
TB: Last year, I released “The Crime,” a song based on my own experiences with violence and the fear that comes with being a woman. It’s one of the heaviest songs I’ve ever written, but also one of the most important. Soon after, I got a message from a woman who listened to the song and was so moved by it that she decided to finally open up about her experience with domestic violence. I couldn’t believe that the song I wrote to process my own feelings had inspired someone to share their story, especially something so vulnerable. It was such an emotional, special moment, and it reminded me why we make art in the first place.
LSD: Is there a song in your setlist right now that feels especially different live than it does on the recording?
TB: I play my song “IDIOT!” at almost every show, because it’s a fun, upbeat love song amongst my more introspective, serious tracks. Since I normally play solo acoustic, it sounds a lot different than the recording, but there’s something I love so much about when it’s stripped back. I also have a chance to get the audience involved, singing “I think that I might be in love with you” over and over again. That’s something magical that could never quite be captured in a studio verison.
LSD: Was there a moment when you realized music had shifted from a passion to something you wanted to pursue seriously as a career?
TB: I’m not sure there was one specific moment, but I do remember being a senior in high school deciding between going to business school or going to music school. I felt pressure to take the safe path, and I almost did, but my passion won out. I just couldn’t imagine not giving this everything I had.
LSD: How do you balance writing for yourself versus writing something you think listeners will connect to?
TB: I think it’s pointless to try to write what you think people will like. That’s not to say I haven’t tried. I’ve let external pressures influence me in the writing process and it has never worked. I think that’s because what people truly like is to see someone in their element. That energy is infectious. And it only comes from doing what you want. I try as much as I can to tune out the outside noise. It’s easier said than done, though.
LSD: What’s something about your creative process that would surprise people?
TB: Maybe it’s not that surprising, but I often write in my head before sitting down with an instrument and working out the chords. I know a lot of people who start with the music first, and build from there (which I do from time to time) but I really like to give the phrasing and melodies as much freedom as I can before putting them inside a structure.
LSD: What song, by any artist, do you wish you had written?
TB: “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. I can’t listen to or sing it without tearing up. I almost don’t wish I wrote it because I’m afraid I wouldn’t love it as much.
LSD: What’s coming up next for you?
TB: My debut album, “Nothing I Can’t Undo,” comes out on July 17th. I’ve been working toward this milestone for so long, and I am beyond excited to finally share this body of work that feels so true to me and my artistry.
Don’t miss Taylor at the Voodoo Room at House of Blues on May 2nd! Get your tickets HERE!
To support Taylor, you can follow her on Instagram (@taylorbickett) and find her other socials and merch at taylorbickett.com.