Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Davey.
Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My father is a producer and ever since I was a tiny baby I’ve been singing and making music with him. I remember at the ripe age of three I was perusing the toy aisles when I spotted a monster in a box at Target, which inspired my very first original song, “Monster in the Box at Target.” It was about as literal as it sounds. I would strum an out of tune guitar aimlessly and yell the one and only lyric, “Monster in the Box at Target,” until I felt satisfied enough to stop. After my first hit, my father started working up tracks for me to improvise lyrics over. As a four year old, my vocabulary was surprisingly expansive, including words like “flower,” and “wish,” and “flower.” Once I was a little older, I picked up my first instrument, the ukulele. I learned a very basic chord progression and played it until I had enough muscle memory to sing over it. Once I was confident enough on ukulele, I’d learn the same on guitar. In middle school I had the opportunity to join a rock band class among my peers, and I was in sixth grade when I was offered my first solo in front of a crowd. I was terrified. I would’ve said no if I had the confidence, but I didn’t, and maybe if I had that sort of confidence I would’ve said yes anyway. So a few months later, in the middle of a rock band concert showcasing covers of Nirvana, Rush, and AHA, I sat alone on stage with an acoustic guitar, and I sang a slow pop song. I didn’t even wait for the crowd to finish cheering before I walked off stage. I told myself I was never going to play a solo again because of how terrifying it was. I told myself the same thing the second time. By the third, though, I was ready to play a fourth. I’d finally become a little confident playing in front of people I’d been around since kindergarten, I’d finally found some sort of belonging. And then I went to high school. I left all of my closest friends so I could pursue writing at an art school. I found my place pretty quickly in the Literary Arts conservatory; writing creatively was encouraged. I finally felt like I could share my work without being judged. I’m in my senior year now, and I’m not sure I’m ready to leave it all behind. It’s helped me genuinely want to share my work with crowds completely voluntarily, and I’ve grown close to people I never would’ve met otherwise. Despite my apprehension to leave after I’ve finally grown comfortable again, I’m grateful for what I’ve found here and the support that I’ve received.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I doubt any artist would describe their journey as “a smooth road.” My biggest struggle personally has been anxiety. When I first started I could barely bring myself to play in front of a few middle schoolers and their parents, not because it wasn’t something I wanted to do, but because I was so scared of failure and judgement that I’d feel my chest imploding. Even the thought of raising my hand in class was enough to make me nauseous. More than anything, I wanted to want to put myself out there. Every time I’ve wanted to go up on stage, every time I’ve wanted to speak in front of a class, every time I’ve wanted to make a new friend, anxiety has slashed me down onto a dirt road and run tracks through my knees. It isn’t easy to keep walking after that. I tried medication thinking it was a cure-all and it would kill whatever was holding me back, but it didn’t. It just made my chest a little less implode-y. Anxiety isn’t something you can just decide doesn’t affect you anymore. Eventually you get so used to being uncomfortable that it becomes your own version of comfortable. There’s always going to be someone who isn’t in support of what you’re doing, and I’ve grown to accept that because alongside them are people who will support you unconditionally. I’ve come to enjoy the cheers before walking off stage. Most times I even wish I could stay up there a little bit longer.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love all forms of writing, though I’d consider myself a songwriter. Something I love so much about any form of art is that it’s an expression of self, and songwriting is how I express myself. Most of the time I’m not even sure what I’m feeling until I write about it. I always believed the best writing comes from a place of sincerity and authenticity. The best time for me to write is the latest hour of the night in a sleeping city, just before my eyes become too heavy to keep them open. There is something about that serene state of mind that inspires the rawest, most genuine writing.
I currently have three songs streaming on all platforms under the name “Wallflower,” and several songs in the works. This year, my biggest goal is to release a song that is entirely written, recorded and produced by me. I know it could never surpass my magnum opus “Monster in the Box at Target,” but as I’ve learned, if you succumb to the fear of failure, you’ll soon become the monster in the box. In all seriousness, though, I’ve thankfully learned to write a bit less bluntly since then. I’ve found that no matter what I write, the topics always tie into themes of time and death. If you’re feeling a little existential, listen to a song or two so you can make it a full on crisis.
In the fall I’m going to start my journey at Belmont University, studying music. I genuinely can’t wait. I’ve never been the type to wish time away, but my whole life I’ve wanted to focus on music and music only, and I finally feel like that lifestyle is within my reach. I’m finally learning how to produce, and my love for sound grows every day. I always tell myself that someday, I’ll be so much more than the girl who lies awake at night imagining all the cool things she could be doing. Now is when I decide to get up and really start doing those things.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Another thing I’ve struggled with a lot is comparison. Being at an art school, I’m surrounded by people who are extremely talented, and extremely willing to share those talents. Talented writers, talented singers, talented musicians, people who are insanely good at exactly what I want to be good at. I found that I was falling into a cycle where I’d beat myself up because I wasn’t more like someone else, then get angry at myself for being jealous. No matter what I was doing, I always imagined that someone else could be doing it better. I think the most important lesson I’ve learned and am still trying to internalize is that art is subjective. It doesn’t matter how much you idolize someone, or compare yourself to them, there will always be someone who would prefer your art over theirs anyway. The hardest part is realizing that doesn’t matter either. Art shouldn’t be a popularity contest. You should create for yourself and yourself only, and it shouldn’t matter what anyone else creates because your art is an expression of you. I’ve learned to express myself in my own way while appreciating the unique talents of everyone around me. It’s our uniqueness that sets us apart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w411flower_
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6oEbym0PIeczbx9OIiWe0U
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/wa11flower
