Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Chelsea Thompson
Rising Canadian country artist Taylor-Rae is poised to make waves once again with the release of her new EP Honest.
Honest is a collection of six tracks that showcase Taylor-Rae’s raw originality and dynamic versatility as displayed in the EP’s title track “Honest”. The EP also includes the enormous power-ballad “Are You Still Up,” which debuted at #3 on the iTunes Country Chart.
Taylor-Rae’s journey as an artist is a testament to her authenticity and resilience. Edmonton-raised, Nashville-based artist Taylor-Rae has been making significant strides in the country music scene, solidifying her position as an artist to watch. Her exceptional vocals and infectious personality have led her to surpass over 4.4 million total career streams to date.
In 2023, Taylor-Rae re-introduced herself by debuting her hit single “If This Is Love,” which accumulated over 1.5 million streams and reached the Top 60 on Canadian Country radio. The song also secured her the title of Rogers Media’s “One To Watch”. She later took home two British Columbia Country Music Association Awards for Female Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for “If This Is Love,” produced by Dan Swinimer
Taylor-Rae continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances and earn accolades from industry peers, having previously performed at the Cowboys Music Festival, Calgary Stampede, and the Boots and Hearts’ Emerging Artist Showcase, which she placed in as a runner-up. Showing no signs of slowing down, she is also gearing up to return to the stage at Boots & Hearts this summer.
I had the opportunity to chat with Taylor-Rae about her musical journey, her new ep and what’s next.
Kat: Can you share with us a bit about yourself and your musical journey so far?
Taylor-Rae: Well, I grew up singing with my Dad and always looked up to him as a vocalist. I wanted to be just as good as him so I would practice everyday on a mini karaoke set in my room.. You could say I come from a competitive family haha!
When it came to following the “dream,” he had encouraged me to pursue an education in the business end of the industry, so I ended up moving to Vancouver for school and after I graduated I started a band. We performed everywhere we could and I would have to say that my band is a huge part of who I am as a performer and vocalist. Getting to play shows with them, to this day, is still one of my favourite parts of getting to be a part of this industry.
Over the past couple years I’ve gotten to work with some incredible producers from Dan Swinimer, Brad Hill to Kate Malone. If you know me, you know I’m LOUD and love to dig into vocals, so working with producers that believe in the vision really allowed me to find a sound that felt authentic to me.
Kat: Can you share the inspiration behind your new EP Honest?
Taylor-Rae: Honest the EP is something I’m really proud of. This EP has been a journey of finding my lane in Country music and learning to believe in what comes most natural to me. I’m such a huge fan of every song in this project and wrapping it up with the title track “Honest” feels full circle. It is a song about second guessing and overthinking, something that I have done a lot of throughout the process of creating this EP.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from the EP?
Taylor-Rae: I hope people are able to find themselves in the songs.We all experience so many different situations in our lives, but the feelings we have can be so similar. I’ve noticed when I’m playing these songs out, people can find a meaning in them that is completely different from what I initially wrote the song about. I think that’s pretty special and one of the things that makes me feel lucky to create music.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Taylor-Rae: To be honest, It’s hard to pinpoint one part haha! Everything has its challenges. From picking the right songs, to making sure they’re brought to life the way you envision, to then figuring out the release plan. There’s different challenges with each moment, but it’s always really exciting to see how things come together.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far?
Taylor-Rae: I’ve been pretty lucky to have a few big highlights thus far. Last year I was named “One To Watch” by Rogers Media and had my first charting radio single with “If This Is Love”. That was something I had dreamed of, so to see it come to fruition was pretty surreal. We’ve also gotten to play some incredible shows, like New Years in my hometown opening for Josh Ross. I’m sure Boots and Hearts this summer is going to rank pretty high up there as well!
Kat: What have you learned along the way that you would like to share with other aspiring artists and creators?
Taylor-Rae: Something I’ve learned is that there is a different path for everyone. What works for one artist, might not work for the next. Try not to focus on what everyone else is doing and trust your gut. Easier said than done, I know haha! I also think surrounding yourself with a support system is absolutely imperative. The people who will be there to celebrate the huge moments and also be there when it all hits the fan. This industry is incredible and unpredictable all at the same time so having people in your corner can make it just that much easier.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you for the balance of 2024?
Taylor-Rae: Lots of music and shows! I’m getting ready to head back into the studio to work on a new project, so 2024 is shaping up to be a really exciting year!
Connect With Taylor-Rae
Instagram: @taylorrae.official
Twitter: @TaylorRae_Music
Facebook: /taylorraeofficial
Website: https://taylorraeofficial.com