107: Brit Taylor
On Episode 107, I am joined by Kentucky singer-songwriter Brit Taylor. Taylor released the wistful, melancholy single "Waking Up Ain't Easy" in the early summer. With its traditional country roots with weeping pedal steel and Taylor's own restless vocals and lyrics, she captures a desolate and endless lonesomeness of post-breakup life. During this interview, we talk about being an early morning person, how impacts her songwriting, country music for adults, growing up in Kentucky (and the wealth of talented songwriters from the state), Zoom songwriting, and what she has planned for the rest of 2020.
In addition, Taylor is releasing another stellar song, "Wagon," from her forthcoming debut at the end of the week--Friday, July 31.
This episode's presenting partner is The Blue Light Live.
Interview Transcript
Note: Transcripts aren’t always accurate since they are computer automated and haven’t been edited for spelling, grammar, etc.
Thomas Mooney 0:02
Everyone, I am music journalist Thomas Mooney, and you're listening to Episode 106 of new slang. I hope you all had a great weekend. We start off this week by being joined by singer songwriter Brit Taylor. I feel I came across Britain the most 2020 of ways. And that, of course is via Spotify. When you're making a playlist on there more often than not, there's this recommended songs part at the end. And I almost always check those out. And I'm pretty sure that's where I first heard the song waking up uneasy. And from there, it just kind of felt like it was popping up in these places that I was looking. I know it had a big spotlight on the Indigo playlist as well. At any rate when I first heard waking up being easy, I knew I needed to see who exactly Brit was, and I reached out to see if she would be on here. What I really love about the song is how Brit just captures this delicate restlessness and that melancholy mood it warbles and moans but in like the most fragile of ways. It's like old Patsy Cline songs. She's discontent. It's one of my favorite songs to define here in 2020. And at the end of the week, Brett is releasing another stellar song called wagons. So be on the lookout for that as well. During this interview, we talk about being a morning person. Which if that doesn't tell you the emotional investment of waking up ain't easy. I don't know what will and how she utilizes that space as a songwriter co writing songs with Dan our back being another one of these super talented songwriters from Kentucky and what he has planned for the remainder of 2020 in relation to an album and so on. I think y'all really enjoy this one. If this is your first time listening to Newsline, I strongly suggest hitting that subscribe link. If you just did, I'm giving you a virtual High Five right now. New slang is over on iTunes, Spotify, Google podcasts, Stitcher, radio, and basically any and everywhere you listen to podcasts, go check out the Newsline merch store, grab a koozie, some stickers, buttons, and magnets. Any bit helps, I'll throw a link into the show notes. And if you're into playlists, go check out Tom Rooney's cup of coffee and the neon Eon playlist over on Spotify. The neon Eon is for all your nostalgic 90s country needs, which there's going to be more neon Eon related stuff coming your way pretty soon. And then Tom mooneyes cup of coffee is a regularly updated mix of new Americana and country music. It's also a really great Hannah, who I have coming up on the podcast. So yeah, go follow those. Alright, I think that's about it. Here is Brit Taylor. Yeah, I guess let's go ahead and start off with you know, you release the single waken up easy or waken up ain't easy, just the other day. And the first time I heard that song like you really capture this like, gentle restlessness because it is very sweet and gentle. But then like there's also like this incredible heartbreak and just kind of like a delicate dread in that song. Where did that really kind of come from? Where was that? That I guess like, you know, the, the title of that song from?
Brit Taylor 3:24
Yeah, I wrote that title down in my notes on my phone in November of 2017. I guess I was just going to crazy hard time I was in the midst of deciding whether I was going to leave my publishing deal and going through a divorce. And the publishing deal was my only job and only money. So I was just really stuck and didn't know what to do. My dog had just died. car just broke down. And typically, I'm a morning person like I've been absent six, like grab my coffee, sit outside walk around a little bit at night. I love mornings and like that weird annoying person that has way too much energy as soon as she wakes up. And I remember in November of 2017, I would wake up like smiling and happy because it's just that's just natural for me. And then I would remember everything that I was going through and just fall back on the pillow. Because I just didn't want to deal with it. I didn't want to be sad and for the first time in my life like mornings just became something that just set and then I'd say six, seven months later died Brainerd and I wrote that together and you're talking about how the music and it's like super delicate and I love old country songs that even the old like bucko and songs that they sound almost happy. But they're so sad. They're they're pitiful. They're so sad. And we were just talking about the stuff that we loved and hated Dave love the hook. And he was like, Oh my gosh, we should do like as Willie Nelson Bob. I was like, yeah, it was like Roy Orbison Bob's too. And so somehow we just tried to combine like just a ton of stuff that that we both love with no boundaries. Nobody was saying, Oh, you can't do that because it doesn't sell anymore. And you can't do that because it's dated. We just wrote something that we both were loved and, and fit the the vibe of the song and the meaning of the song.
Thomas Mooney 5:30
Yeah, like the you know, you mentioned mentioning the the Willie Nelson thing. Like I didn't even really think about it until now. But like the song last thing I needed first thing this morning. Yeah, obviously, like that's written by Gary p none. But like the Willie Nelson version is like, you know, the iconic version. And that song has that desperation to that just like, just like that, that dread. Like, I keep on going back to that word, because it is very much a, you know, like, like you said, If, from what I get from it now that you're saying, you know how much you like, how you loved mornings, there's something really horrible about having a space taken away from you that like you thought was untouchable, in a way.
Brit Taylor 6:20
Yeah, totally. And it just goes back to when I was a kid, like, I'm just a little farm girl. I grew up on a mountain in eighth Kentucky. And we always had like, a lot of dogs or ponies or something run around that house, and we had a barn. And my dad's a morning person. And if I didn't get up early enough, I missed the trip out to the barn. And so I would just, it would just suck if I didn't get to go to the barn with my dad. So I think that that just like turned me into this morning person. And it's just something I've carried with me throughout my entire life and into my adult life. And yeah, it just sucked that I was waking up and did not want to get up and didn't want to go outside. And it's just really not Like man oh,
Thomas Mooney 7:09
yeah, the when I was looking through stuff, I saw like the the American songwriter article, where you've already mentioned it right there. But like in this quote that you have in there. In the span of a year, I was jobless, divorced, had a brokedown car and lost my dog like that. Really? Just if it's one of those things, where if that's not a country song, you know what I mean? Like, all of those things on their own are horrible. But then like, I always feel like the the worst moments in country songs are when when you lose a dog, and oh, yeah, it's like the like the the, you can recover on all the other things over time, but like the dogs, you always remember the dogs like the most. And that was like where I was like, oh, man that that sucks.
Brit Taylor 8:05
Yeah, and that dog is a little English bulldog named Ali. And I'd had him since I was a kid. He'd moved to college with me, like, and I mean, he was 12 and a half. He was old. Like they're not supposed to live that long. And right when everything happened, he just started not being able to walk. And I was just like, no, not right now. You can not even be serious right? Now, this cannot be happening. Because your dogs are comfort when you're going through something crappy. Like they know and they're there and they come and they lay beside you. So it's weird to make you laugh. And yeah, so that was awful. And then my car broke down. So my mom actually had a drop down from Kentucky, and take me in her car to the vet to put my dog down. It was the worst day it was it's suck that whole year. just suck so bad. And now looking back, like on divorce and the music that I got out of it. And like I wasn't supposed to be in that relationship anyways. Like, I'm so grateful. I would not take back a second, but it doesn't change the fact that at the moment, I didn't know that that it was going to be for the best.
Thomas Mooney 9:17
Yeah, yeah. You It always feels like you're like you don't ever see like the end in sight. Like it doesn't you don't ever feel like you're out of that moment. And yeah, totally going to it's never going to end. Um, you know, going back to the morning thing is that like what you kind of, do you do, right? Well, in the mornings.
Brit Taylor 9:38
Yeah, I do everything better in the morning. I just I'm more creative, which I've read like books on creativity and stuff. And they all say that most of it. Most creative people are not owls. And we're messy and I'm messy, but I'm a clean freak. So I feel like I'm a contradiction of a creative person because I love to get up and I love to work. Write in the morning and read and take a walk around the yard without my shoes on. It's just I love it.
Thomas Mooney 10:10
Yeah, I I'm, I don't know, I go through through different phases like, sometimes I'll wake up at, you know, six o'clock every morning. No, it'd be like that for a few months or so. And then like, there'll be months where I'm like, I'm not waking up until 10 o'clock or something. Yeah. I don't know that there's such a, a, just a calmness in the morning. What I always loved has been like, when you kind of go like on, like a family vacation or like, around the holidays when you have a bunch of people in the house. And when you wake up early, and you start making coffee, and like the entire house is kind of quiet. And then like there'll be maybe one or two other people and it's, uh, I don't know, like, I feel like that's like the best part of the day is
Brit Taylor 10:59
you're totally right. I think that's probably why I love mornings because I get my quiet time like nobody's up yet. You just get the, you know, a few hours to yourself. And yeah, that's definitely why I love it. I'm just like walking around my yard right now. And I live on a little farm many farm outside of Nashville. And it's just like, so peaceful out here right now. And I know in a couple of hours, you know, the neighbors are going to start their grass and the goats are going to start Haller and dogs are gonna start barking but right now it's just beautiful.
Thomas Mooney 11:31
Yeah, does. So like when when you're writing on something in the morning, does it Oh, is it typically something that you're by yourself? And then you if it's something that becomes a collaboration or a co write that you have to take to someone later? Or have you been able to convince other people to Hey, meet me at eight o'clock or whatever?
Brit Taylor 11:53
Yeah, so I've been the Nashville co writing thing for a long time. So what I normally just have my schedule full of CO writes with people that I love to write with. And I just get ideas. Sometimes they just pop in my head, like the white kind of thing, easy title, and sometimes it's Tuttle sometimes it's a whole verse, sometimes it's a verse in a chorus or sometimes just a melody. And then I'll look and see who I've got in my books and just try to see who is going to like that idea the best and you know, sometimes I get to co writes and I don't have squat for ideas. And that's the beauty in CO rods because your your co writer always bring something to the table to whether it's like cool guitar lick or maybe they've got an idea they're kicking around. So it's just I don't know, it's all of the above and I I love all of it like either way that it swings it's always really fun.
Thomas Mooney 12:49
What's like your your kind of like go to as far as like, your setup. Do you? Are you like a pen and pad person? Do you have to have the laptop out? What's kind of your if you had, like, I've had situations I've had?
Brit Taylor 13:02
Yeah, I write everything on an iPad, or a computer, but I'm not a pen and paper girl. Oh my gosh, I can't read my own handwriting. It's terrible. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney 13:16
I always find that, like my hands are it's like halfway through. Like, it just starts turning to mush. And like, yeah, then if I'm talking like, even if I'm just making lists or something, or writing down, you know, just a couple of things I need to do. It's like halfway to the page. It's like, well, what is this supposed to say? And I have to like, Yeah, I don't know, reinterpreted or something.
Brit Taylor 13:39
I'm like, why don't I write pretty like other girls. song is so good. And their writing is so bad.
Thomas Mooney 13:48
There's the I just saved
Brit Taylor 13:49
myself the criticism.
Thomas Mooney 13:52
There's this Seinfeld? I guess bit like during Are you a Seinfeld fan? By chance? Yeah. Okay, so like you probably know this one where like he wakes up in the middle of the night and like has this like really funny bed or something that he hadn't a dream so he writes it down on like the on a notepad by his bed or something, goes back to sleep and like wakes up the next day and can't figure out what it says. He's like, trying to like get other people to read it and it just like doesn't make it's like every time you ask someone it's something different.
Oh, that's how
Brit Taylor 14:25
Yeah, that would be me for sure.
Thomas Mooney 14:28
Yeah, like how long do you typically let something marinate like as far as the the idea and kind of like getting it I don't know like in that spot before you I don't know take it to someone else or decide to call it quote unquote finished.
Brit Taylor 14:51
Yeah, it's a it's always seems to be different. like waking up ain't easy. stayed in my phone for months and I don't really know if it's Just that I couldn't bring myself to ride it, or I'm like, that's not gonna be it's too personal and won't be relatable to people or, or what. And sometimes if I think like this doesn't make sense, I need to make it make more make more sense before I take it to somebody. So the next single that I'll be releasing, like, I remember I kept seeing that around the house for at least a good three months. And I was like, man, I don't know if this makes sense. And then finally, I couldn't figure out how to do it on my own. And I took it to market home. And he was like, Yeah, that makes sense. And we can do this. And I'm like, Oh, my God, I'm so glad I brought this idea to you. Because I mean, people like Marcus Harmon are just pros. like they've done it for so long. They just do really, they just transform your idea. And it's always love watching that happen.
Thomas Mooney 15:52
Yeah, like it's something I was talking with, or something I was talking about with with another songwriter just last week was because she was talking about, I guess, like, her new record, had so much to do with this really intense period in her life and how it was like, where we entered this pandemic, and it felt like, everything went on a pause, but then like, she couldn't really write after that point. And it was, I guess, like, what I was thinking about was how she I guess she also said, like, there was she saw a lot of songwriters who were running a whole lot of stuff during, during this period. And what I was thinking about was how maybe like, songwriters or artists are kind of like one or two, like where the either the songwriting the process of songwriting is the cathartic aspect. And that's what helps you get over it. Or you've like, processed all of it. And then like the song is like the, like the final step. Does that make sense?
Brit Taylor 17:06
Yeah, totally. And, again, like, it just depends on what the song is and what the day is and who I'm writing it with. Because there's a trust factor, when songs are that personal to, like, you don't want to, I'm not going to take something that's like crazy personal to somebody I'm writing with for the first time. And unless they're, you know, when I get there, there's just like this great chemistry. And that happens, too. But yeah, I don't know, sometimes it's a part of the healing. And sometimes I like to wait and get outside a situation where I can look like really see it clearly. Before I start writing about it. Yeah, cuz when you're in the weeds, like you can't see.
Thomas Mooney 17:53
pathways. Right? Right. I feel like that's, I use that analogy, or, like, lost in the woods a lot. Because like, that just feels like sometimes you. You do just get like stuck inside your own head. That's like, the obviously like, the typical yourself is like your biggest critiquer and like your biggest, you know, just the one who thinks out. You just convinced yourself that like, this isn't a good idea or, or something like that. And it just really, I don't know that that entire thing. Yeah, it's just a little weird. Sometimes
Brit Taylor 18:29
I think that a lot when I first started writing, I would just get really stubborn about these ideas, because I'd be in it sick of the the situation and like it had to be this certain way. And it's like, no, it's like you're in there with with CO writers who are crazy talented. And they're going to put their own spin on it. Like just chill out, man and then let the song happen rather than like keeping such a chokehold that it has to be this thing because I don't know, sometimes you block yourself from from doing some really cool stuff. So I think I probably wait a little longer now.
Thomas Mooney 19:01
Yeah, the the CO writing thing. I think like, probably what I've learned most about I find like the entire thing. So interesting. co writing with with people bringing these ideas and all that kind of stuff and seeing what comes out of that. But I feel like the the biggest thing in all of that has to be just like the trust factor. You mentioned trust earlier about how you know like, how do you you're not gonna take this idea to someone who you've never written with or you know what I mean? So yeah, I guess like what do you like is there How do you like I guess build those relationships other than the actual songwriting Do you guys take Do you take time before writing in like, you know, just have more conversation?
Brit Taylor 19:57
Yeah, I think that naturally happens. Like it's you just Get in there and start talking and his friends and stuff and sometimes ideas will pop out of that conversation. If it's somebody I've been writing with for even if it's somebody I've been wrong with for years, you know, it still starts out is that that friendship of just chatting and catching up and making sure each other's All right. Yeah,
Thomas Mooney 20:21
yeah, I was because I'm down here in Texas and like here in Texas for some reason they, a lot of people think of like, the quote unquote, national Nashville co right is like the, you know, these, like, what's happening is what i what i was saying was, um, they think of it as like, you guys have lab coats on or something
Brit Taylor 20:45
like that. Yeah, I will say that it can like when somebody else's book in your coat rack for you, it can get very, like, this is a job I have to show up. And I have to do this. But I will say like, not having a publishing deal, because I'm a completely independent artist right now for the first time in a long time. And it is so freeing that I don't have any expectations. Like I don't have to turn in a song and then somebody like not respond or respond with Oh, okay. And like not hear anything. It's just like, it's so freeing. to like, Whoa, runnings, more fun. Now, I feel like it doesn't feel like that lab coat saying, because when I'm writing with people that I want to write with, I'm scheduling my own crap. And I know that I can sound however, I want to sound like nobody's gonna tell me it's dated, or I can't talk about it's too sad, or I can't talk about being married. I can't talk about being divorced. It's not popular. You have to, you know, talk about meeting the guy at the bar. And I'm like, what I don't I'm not 20 years old anymore. I don't want to write that.
Thomas Mooney 21:51
Yeah, like, that's, to me. That's the there's plenty of criticism to go around. As far as what's on top 40 radio? I don't think it's like, I don't think like anything is as bad as like, the people down here. I think it is because I'm like, exactly the literally the same thing happening here. But like, that's probably like, the strangest part of it all is the that I that? I feel like if I'm gonna get on my soapbox. It's the like, what point he's not singing songs about meeting girls at bars. Or like partying in a field or whatever. At some point, like you, you would think that like you're, you know, in your 40s, or your 30s, late 30s. Like, that just kind of sounds strange coming from insert name here. Versus, you know, yeah,
Brit Taylor 22:48
I don't know. Yeah. And yeah, and I don't want to be I don't want to be negative by any means. Like, there's plenty of young, a younger audience, so like, loves those songs, and they want to listen to that. And that's fine. You know, I when I was that age, I wrote songs like that I have a whole catalog of songs for 20 year olds, but I'm not gonna sing them anymore, because I'm not 20. And I don't relate to those anymore. I just grew up on country music. That wasn't always written for younger people. I grew up on Petey level, this is my favorite. And she had, you know, we had done nothing wrong. We've just been lonely too long about an affair and she had plenty of songs about divorces, and how can I help you say goodbye was about a divorce and her dying mother and I just I loved sad songs. Even when I was a kid and didn't even relate like my parents never got a divorce. They were together. But they're like, when you have a singer that can portray that emotion. It doesn't matter if you've been through it or not like you feel that pain. And I just I loved sad song. It's so weird. sad songs make me so happy.
Thomas Mooney 24:01
Yeah, like, it's, so I'm kind of infatuated with, like, 90s country? Oh, yeah, kind of era. And I like the other day, I was thinking about how what I think it is is like, that's like the last time songs were like adult songs. Like he said, like Patty loveless singing about like, there's a lot of songs with from artists from that time about, like, real, genuine, adult, mature themes. And not like in a bad way. Or you know what I mean? It's not like, yeah, it's it's very much like, all those songs you listed. Those were like, top 10 hits. Like, yeah, so they were popular. They were there's a pop sensibility to them all. But they were also about like, things that adults went through. And
Brit Taylor 24:57
yeah, real life stuff. Mm hmm. I've been really thinking about the Rebbe song. What do you say in a moment like this?
Do you remember that one? I've been thinking about that one a lot. Because, like all the stuff that's going on in the world today, like where are those songs? Because what do you say about some of the stuff that's going on to your kids? Like we need music about real life stuff? Divorce is still what it's above a 50% statistic now that you're going to get a divorce if you get married. Like, where are those songs for? I mean, they're out there. They're just on on popular radio, I guess, but I missed a song.
Thomas Mooney 25:34
Yeah, so what do I mean? Like there's I have like a Spotify playlist of every 90s country song that was a top 10 hit. That I just will put on shuffle and yeah, like, almost all those songs are Yeah, there's plenty of songs like watermelon crawl, which are like fun, you know, party songs. But yeah, there's plenty of there's like a balance, I guess. My thing is, like, I have nothing against any of the, the, like the bro country stuff or likely anything like that. Because I feel like there's a there's an audience for it. And I feel like my whole thing is, man, it's so exhausting being that guy at the gate. Yeah, saying what is and what's not right, and all that kind of stuff. I would just, oh yeah. Just listen to what you like.
Brit Taylor 26:30
Totally. Yeah. And you're right. There's all kinds of those party songs like the Sammy Kershaw stuff in there were so good, too. There was just a balance. And there was a sonic balance, too. I feel like everything sounded differently. And now it's a struggle if you sound a little different.
Thomas Mooney 26:48
Yeah. No, all your like this, the songs that are on this record. You do have like a lot of like, Really? I guess like callbacks to a lot of like 60s Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. And I feel like there's even some like Muscle Shoals kind of that kind of version of r&b happening on record. I guess like where where did you start shaping this this record to sound like I want to want this to sound sonically like these various things. And I guess like, Where were you? Did you go through a process like that of trying to, I guess, harness what was going to be the sonic palette of this record?
Brit Taylor 27:38
Yeah, there's a there's a defining point for sure. I somehow, when I was just at my mitts and have like, do I sell my house right now moved to Colorado or back to Kentucky? Like what am I want to do, and somehow I got a co write with or got to go sing for Dan arbok. And if you've heard any of his stuff, it's like, it's modern. But it's so it's a throwback to that stuff, too. And I remember plan him some stuff that I'd written at my previous publishing deal. And he was he asked me like, Well, what do you like? I was like, wow, you know, Patty loveless, or when and Elvis. And he was like, why don't you write stuff like that? And I just remember being like, Well, you can't, you can't, it doesn't work. That's not how this goes, like, it's not popular. I'll get emails back from people saying that it's dated. And he was just like, No, you can do whatever you want to do, you can do anything that you want to do. And that's the first time I think anybody had ever said that. And I didn't ever cross my mind. And I think probably because I was, you know, 23 when I signed my publishing deal, and, and I've never really been through anything traumatic either. So that probably has a lot to do with it. But a few weeks later, we were writing songs together. And he just really encouraged me to sing the way that I was comfortable and wanted to saying and rock the way that I wanted to write. And I don't think that I'd ever thought about that. Because I was just trying to do what I thought would make me successful. And my personal is very successful, because there's a lot weighing on you, when you have a publishing deal, too. It's not just your success anymore. So there's a whole different level of pressure plus, you know, you're finally getting paid to make music. So you don't want to lose that. There's just a different pressure and when that's gone, I think that my eyes really, really opened up to what do I really want to do and sound like and just let all the expectations go and just take the chokehold that I had on my career away and just let it flow.
Thomas Mooney 29:52
Yeah, but you've used that phrase or like that. Just being free feeling like you know, it's the You didn't have like that pressure. That's really I mean, I feel like that's like what unlocks the box I guess you know, like that. The lack of pressure to think that you have to, I don't know, fulfill other people's expectations. This episode is sponsored by the blue by live and Tom's Daiquiri here in Lubbock, Texas, like pretty much every bar and venue in the country. Blue Light two has been closed for much of the year due to the pandemic. What they've done, though, is adapt and evolve. And so for the foreseeable future, Tom says, curbside service Monday through Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, you'll be able to get your blue light essentials, that's daiquiris, beer, hand sanitizer and snacks. What you'll want to do is call up Tom's with your order at 1-806-749-5442. And then you'll run by 1806 Buddy Holly Avenue and pick up your order. It's pretty simple. I'll throw a link to the menu in the show notes. While you're at it, head over to blue light Lubbock comm click the merge tab and get yourself some much needed blue light mirch they recently just restocked with koozies t shirts and caps. My personal favorite is this new shirt that they have in cantaloupe with blue ink. I know you're asking What color was cantaloupe was literally like the color of like a freshly cut cantaloupe. And someone who typically wears various shades of denim, probably going to have to get this shirt for that much needed pop of color in my closet. But I digress. So to recap, call Tom's Daiquiri Monday through Saturday for some curbside pickup and visit blue light lubbock.com for some blue light merge. All right back to the show. Yeah, now of course, Dan. I say Dan, like I know him in person. Like Dan, our back, you know, like black, The Black Keys, like his solo stuff. He's like, for me like he's what I remember growing up is like listening to those black keys records. Did Is there like a moment? Like were you? What do you have to do to like, I guess, maybe turn that off? Or you're like, that's not Dan, our back of black keys. That's just a guy, man.
Brit Taylor 32:21
I'll be honest, I didn't know who the hell he was. I've never seen anything other than country music. And I was like, hey, are they taking me to me? And at that point, like, all my shits had been given, I did not care. I was like, whatever, I'll do anything. Like take me wherever it's not going to work, you know? Lately jaded and just learn whatever. And I got to the studio. And there's a it's like, awesome, and super vibey. And I was Grammys on the wall. And I'm like, Oh, I should have googled this guy. And I just like, had no clue. And then I had a co write the next day. And I was like, Yeah, I met this guy, Dan arbok. And he, I think he's like a big deal or something or Google, let me send this band like black keys. And they're like, dude, you're in the belly of the beast here. And I was like, What? So then I panicked. But it was a little easier, because I'd already met him without like, really no one or anything, but he's the coolest dude. And he actually gave me one of my first jobs after the publishing deal singing with D why his artists so I got to go on the road with D playing acoustic guitar and singing background vocals. And he's just cool, man. He's like, he's the nicest. And I'm just super grateful that we got to write all the songs together. And it just really helped me realize who I was and what I want to do and just not give a crap about anything else.
Thomas Mooney 33:50
Yeah, like he's, I guess, like, growing up like, like, he was always like, the lead singer, The Black Keys, and it was like this really gritty, bluesy, kind of like garage rock, kind of all that stuff blended together, and it just felt raw and just, I don't know, energetic and lively. And it feels like now if you mentioned down Dan arbok a lot of people associate him to as being a producer. And he's really been doing a lot of really great stuff as of late and I think like people would probably be surprised that you know, he produced like the the john Anderson record and stuff. But like he kind of gives a I don't know like some fresh air into reviving john Anderson as a as an artist, you know, and that's really, I mean, it's, it's important, and it's really cool and all that kind of stuff.
Brit Taylor 34:51
Yeah, totally. It's necessary. I feel like he takes like all the good things from all the errors and figures out a way to make them go together and be really cool.
Thomas Mooney 35:03
Was there was there anything? I don't know, like super surprising that he that he does when he's writing.
Brit Taylor 35:12
Yeah, he he lowered all the keys. And which I was like, super thrilled with because I have a deep voice like, and I always say I'm a lazy singer. Like I don't like to push too hard. I don't like to haul or yell. And I just like Patsy Cline, I like to sing deep down in the dirt and he lowered all the keys and I was like, lighten up. Like, let's let's lower this key. And I had always when I was recording music with other producers and they would like raise the key like, push harder, like give it more off. And he's like completely opposite, which I was totally down with. Because I like to sing like and I just no one ever told me it was okay. Everybody told me the opposite. So I had been you know, hauler and and trying to raise the key and saying like, carry underwear. I'm like Carrie Underwood. I don't seem like that.
Thomas Mooney 36:01
Yeah, yeah, these I can see that being on, on on that. Like being that that being a thing because like a lot of these songs you? Yeah, there's I can't think of a of a Carrie Underwood. As far as you
Brit Taylor 36:16
know. Totally. And I love her and that she you know, God, she's one of the best singers that there is. But I just don't you know, that's not my style. And that's okay. My my mom always says you don't want to sound like every other Tom, Dick and Harry in town. You want to have some individuality?
Thomas Mooney 36:35
Right? Yeah, it's
Brit Taylor 36:37
Have you ever heard that saying? Yeah. Pretty Kentucky.
Thomas Mooney 36:41
I love like, one of my favorite things is like Idioms and Expressions. And like all that stuff. Like, I feel like that's in a lot of ways. That's like the back bone of I think like a country music. You know, it's the and like, really of like American, like Americans version of English, I guess. Is all of those. So I guess like there's a bunch of stuff, a bunch of slang that we don't know. In Australian in England and stuff or Yeah, like, I can't tell if they're, like angry or insulted or. But yeah, I don't know. I love you. You know you. You mentioned you're from Kentucky.
Do you do you?
I guess like whenever you hear something back home, that you're like, oh, man, I've not heard that in a song. I need to jot that one down.
Brit Taylor 37:39
Oh, yeah. And my mom's always saying stuff. I'm like, you just made that up. She's like, no, and she'll figure out how to explain it to me or call a friend or? Yeah, Kentucky's. Got a lot of those little things.
Thomas Mooney 37:54
Yeah, like it feels like obviously, Kentucky's always been a major contributor to American music, but it feels like right now there's a giant I wouldn't say revival. But there's a giant like push of really great Kentucky artists right now.
Yeah, what is that like knowing that like, oh, like there's all these people that were around? Where I'm from making it?
Brit Taylor 38:24
Yeah. And they've always been my favorite artists to Patty loveless dwight yoakam. Loretta Lynn app just so there's the I don't know if you've heard of the US 23 Highway. It runs through Ace Kentucky and it's pretty short. And all of those artists are from that hallway like all of them. Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton Laura Atlanta dwight yoakam. Tom t Hall like the list goes on. It's it's really bizarre like the joke is that there has to be something in the water along that hallway and I'm from that hallway too. And it's funny like my goal has never been I want to be rich and famous and it's been like I want to be us 23 artists and yeah, so growing up in Kentucky around all the the love for country music was really special to me because I don't think that I would be a country singer right now had I not grown up and he's Kentucky because my family does not do music. Like they don't sing they don't play they don't I don't even think my mom or dad ever listened to country music and it was just purely because I grew up in eighth Kentucky that I got introduced to it.
Thomas Mooney 39:35
Yeah, I always think like that's the the level of success I want is even though this probably won't happen either for me, or it may happen for you. I don't know is the I want the the billboard outside of town home of night. That's like the the level of of fame I guess, or success. I don't know. Not fame. Success. Success is probably better.
Brit Taylor 40:02
Yeah. So because if you get one of those Yeah, that means you're doing something right.
Thomas Mooney 40:06
Yeah. In that I'm from Fort Stockton, which is like, in the middle of West Texas, kind of down by the US Mexico border. And I guess like the most famous person from there, if we have a sign, I think it's up for a pro golfer who came from Fort Stockton, but other than that, not much. Yeah. So obviously, you said, you know, they joke about there being something in the water. What do you think it is? What do you think it is about that area that really has inspired a lot of y'all to become storytellers. And
Brit Taylor 40:53
if you go to East Kentucky, it's, it's seriously like going back in time. It's a totally different pace of living than anywhere I've ever been. And West Virginia is a lot like that, too. And I've listened to different podcasts, like why country music makes you cry? And it's a great one. And I think it's kind of that thing that you know, going through the depression in the coal mines. And there's, there's not a ton there. So, I don't know. Because I think when you've gone through hardships, music is really comforting. So I don't know if people are picking up instruments because of that, or because it's really family oriented. So you got a lot of front porch pickers. I'm not sure maybe it is in the water. Yeah. And there's just as many like crazy, talented people there that, you know, could care less about any people know, in their name, that are just as good as anybody on the US 23 lists that we know about?
Thomas Mooney 42:01
Yeah, I think a lot of what one of the one of the things that I talked about with with a buddy is how we're a lot of great storytellers. Get their stories is like we're there. They're not necessarily the the one who went through the had been working like in a coal mine or like on a farm and like work in these brutal hours or anything like that. But they're like, adjacent. So like, some of the best storytellers like their their grandfathers or their uncles, were the ones who really went through, like these really rough. And I guess, like these really rough life experiences, and then like you, as the writer are able to make that into a song or a short story or whatever the case is.
Brit Taylor 42:53
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
Thomas Mooney 42:58
Another thing I was gonna you mentioned Tom t Hall. So like, he's got like, a loving tie. As far as that's where I'm live right now is in Lubbock, Texas. And his the tie is so like, Stubbs barbecue originated from here. And I guess like the story like he would always come through here. And I guess hang out with like, Joey Lee and, and Terry Allen and people like that. And stuff, who was like the the guy who did the barbecue, and the live music there and all that kind of stuff. I guess like the story is that like Tom t Hall was like a vegetarian and like he would What? Yeah, that's what I've heard. And that like, he would always, like, eat the barbecue. Was that Stubbs because he didn't want to say no, I don't know. Oh,
Brit Taylor 43:53
Texas barbecue. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney 43:54
So I don't know. I've that's what I've always heard. So.
Brit Taylor 43:58
I hadn't heard that.
Thomas Mooney 43:59
Yeah. I don't know if it's true or not. I need to verify that I guess. Um, yeah. Um, okay. So when I was doing a lot of like, my, I guess, my background research here, I came across something that said that you were a second degree black belt.
Brit Taylor 44:19
Yeah, I am. And professional as kager.
Thomas Mooney 44:25
Well, that's something like I don't know. Like, I've never I don't know if I've really ever read that on anyone's bio. And it's not like bio now. I guess like, what, how did you get into that? Like, what was? How did you become a second degree black belt.
Brit Taylor 44:39
So my daddy is a shaolin master. And he started teaching me self defense when I was four years old, and then, you know, went through stages where I didn't want to take karate classes because it was my dad and it wasn't cool. But after that side, I mean, I took it all through High School and did tournament and so in Ohio I know there's never any girls to fight so my dad would just like stick me in sparring competitions with boys my age. And like I had to win because I was the instructors daughter like you can't you have no choice at that point to make your dad look bad in the whole like class. But yeah, I love martial arts I took more than Arness Shaolin which is Kung Fu. And what else I want to fight again. Geez, Tai Chi. I loved it. I haven't taken it since I moved to Nashville. I think just because I can't it'd be hard to take it off of anybody. That's not my dad. You know, it's just such a thing between the two of us, but he still practices he's still a badass.
Thomas Mooney 45:51
Yeah, that's really cool. I mean, that's, that's a saying like, you know, you can take it from anyone other than your dad that to me that it's like you're learning all these. I'm, I'm guessing you've learned and all these like really great principles. And obviously the self defense aspect, but it's like sharing time with your dad.
Brit Taylor 46:13
Yeah, totally. Dad's always go like the best advice and he like he was such a that's like a contradiction to he said, you know, a hillbilly, but he's super hippie, too, and meditates and reads all these like, self, I guess they're called self help books, but just like about your brain, and he's always telling me how important it is to meditate and to set goals and have a good attitude. And I love my dad, he's awesome.
Thomas Mooney 46:46
I've noticed that a lot of songwriters read a lot of things about it, like you kind of like the self help. I feel like that's really ties into like the, I guess like the psyche, and like we trying to like understand the human condition. How much does that help your songwriting? And how much do you even does that come into Intuit? Do you feel,
Brit Taylor 47:11
I don't know if it comes into my songwriting, but it definitely just comes into my life as a whole. I think it's just it's so easy to get depressed and down and out about the way that things are going or when things aren't going your way. But if you just take a few minutes, like, I'm not a fast reader, I don't read like a billion books a year, but my dad always said two pages a day, like just get the book and read two pages a day if something positive. And that's kind of been my motto. And I tell you if I'm super busy, and I don't have that, and I'm not got my hour of time in the morning, where I just sit on the front porch, drink my coffee and read. I'm just not motivated. It's just hard to want to do anything. But when I have my nose stuck in those books that you know, you can do anything like you have to set your mind to it and let go of your expectations. And I think that when you start putting those things into action, other things start to fall into place. Kind of that manifestation thing.
Thomas Mooney 48:14
Yeah. And I think like, just people often like don't I, like you said a lot earlier in this, that artists are typically messy and stuff like that. I still feel like that's, like the romanticized aspect of being an artist or a writer or something. Because like, even like things like that, like you're talking about, like two pages a day or that hour, giving a little bit of structure I think just makes everything fall into place so much easier.
Brit Taylor 48:45
Yeah, totally does.
Thomas Mooney 48:47
Yeah, um, I also I just think that like reading I felt like my mom was a reading teachers I feel like there's another little soap boxes like reading just helps in in just like the little tiny ways of, you know, your, you expand your vocabulary and stuff like that and you just kind of soaks in and makes you a more well rounded person. Yeah,
Brit Taylor 49:13
definitely.
Thomas Mooney 49:13
Um, I've been kind of talking with everyone about obviously, we're going to this really strange point in all of our lives with this pandemic and everything. How has that changed? Or how has that changed like your I guess like your your writing routine? Has it been a lot more heavy? Have you gone to like zoom calls and stuff like that? Or what's that? Like?
Brit Taylor 49:41
I've done a few zoom rides, honestly, like, have just slowed down on rotting and at first it really bothered me like, cuz I need to feel like I'm working all the time. Like I have a hard time just taking a break. So I think at first I just was like, you're not working in the What are you doing with your life? And now I'm just kind of leaning into it more and if there's writers that are comfortable with coming out and writing on the front porch, then we've done a few of those and if not just giving myself the space to, to breathe and like come up with ideas and just, you know, chill.
Thomas Mooney 50:21
Yeah, the, I don't know, I've always felt like the, like, a lot of these artists have have done that. It's, I guess, like they've taken they've taken like, I guess maybe a little bit of a step back to do like the the collecting of ideas, you know, that part of like the the creative process. Have you? Have you or do you do any other kind of medium painting or anything like that photography?
Brit Taylor 50:52
Oh, God. No, I mean, just like my painting is as bad as my handwriting. I can't I can't do straight lines like this messy, messy, messy. So yeah, I garden. That's another I love the garden. I plant flowers. And I got a vegetable garden this year did some fruit and I have lots of animals. And so that those are my two big ones. I love taking care of my little property and cutting grass and planting flowers and pet and goats and dogs. And
Thomas Mooney 51:25
yeah, the See I think like, gardening is like a form of art. Because like, I know, like, one of my friends. She lives in Austin and her and her husband during this. Like really like retransform their backyard. And it was like, it sounds so weird. This call that art but like, if I shared a Instagram photo you go Oh, yeah, that's like, that's a lot nicer. So I feel like that is like, an artistic aspect of, of, of life. And,
Brit Taylor 51:59
yeah, totally. And yeah, I'm sitting here staring at my garden now. And there's like, I don't know how many lilies like too many to count. And I just love it. And it's really cool. Because you can see your work come back every year, well, depending on what type of flowers you plant, but I plan a lot of stuff that will come back every year. And so it's always really cool. And to see it come back and, and grow every year.
Thomas Mooney 52:25
Yeah, the and that's that, I feel that also ties into the whole, you're talking about, like if I if I'm if you're not working. You feel kind of like that little bit of that useless aspect. I feel like people do that, in general. When you have something that at the end of the day that you're able to produce to show in the form of fruit or vegetables, or whatever the case is. I feel like that's rewarding. And that feels like you're you're actually working and not doing just nothing.
Brit Taylor 52:59
Yeah, definitely. I think that songwriting is so crazy, because when you're you don't like a song isn't good. And it's not bad. And it's not anything, it's just this thing that you made. And somebody might like it, and somebody might hate it. But if you if I plant a lily and it's orange, I want to get an orange Lily every year after that, you know, if I've done a good job and watered it and everything like it's just it will, it'll be what it is. And with music, it can get frustrating because there's no it's not that there's no goal. I don't know how to explain it. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney 53:41
What it's, I guess, like, it's so much up for debate on like, What? You know what I mean, there's a lot of like, middle ground, as far as Yeah, it's not like a binary thing. You know? Totally. Yeah. How has How is this like pause? Like, I guess affected, what you what your intentions of like when you were going to release a record and, you know, singles and stuff like that has that had an impact on like, the release of this upcoming record and everything.
Brit Taylor 54:15
Um, first second it did, I was gonna release in my because I was doing a big hometown show, and then I delayed it. And then I really just prayed and meditated and just tried to figure out what felt good and I just wanted a date. And I got a date. And you know, a lot of people were like, don't release any music wait till next year, and I'm like, I cannot wait until next year. I cannot wait another year to release this record. I just I can't and I I've got this date and I think it's the right thing to do. And just trying to go off of gut feelings these days. And I set the date on June 5 and release it and I'm so glad that I did. I just I feel Like, you know, it's not a super happy time in the world. And there's, I felt like, somebody might need waking up and easy to know that it's okay. If they're having a hard time I feel like we judge ourselves for for, for being down and out, or at least I do. I'm like, Why are you being like this? I judged myself all the time. But sometimes we just need to give ourselves permission to breathe and be sad. It's okay. Like and know that it's gonna pass and it's, but it's okay in the moment if you're sad.
Thomas Mooney 55:31
Right? I feel like also, you know, this for you. These songs are like about a very specific period. And you can't hold on to that for for so long. Yeah, I feel like if you when artists have a record that is, you know, about a very intense period in their life. They have to release it with there's like, a, an expiration date, in a way.
Brit Taylor 56:01
Yeah, I would agree with that. Yeah, I definitely wouldn't want to hang on to this any longer than I have. And, you know, I'm in a different period of my life and the music's evolving. And, yeah, it just, it needed to come out now. And I feel like, I did the right thing. It's gotten way more attention than I ever imagined that it will. So I'm like, I'm excited about the rest of it. For sure.
Thomas Mooney 56:29
Yeah. What it's always weird to like, it feels like when you're talking with an artist, you're talking about like the past. Like, you're always talking about songs that are a little bit older, a record that was you know, cut the year before or something like that. Like, it's you as an artist, you're always on to the next thing.
Brit Taylor 56:49
Yeah.
Thomas Mooney 56:50
What like what is you said, like, you know, it's a changing and stuff like, what is like your, what are you writing about now? What are you like, excited about, like, what's like the last song that you're like, Oh, this is? This is a song idea. And I want to make this into something. What's like the last thing that you're kind of most Oh,
Brit Taylor 57:11
gosh, there's so many. Um, I don't know, I think that there, there's definitely a happier vibe to the next thing because I'm, I'm happier, you know, than I was when I wrote all those songs. I'm just writing a lot about life and where I am now and writing about my little place my little farm because I love my farm and just like Ryan about the things that I love, and that make me happy. And I'm just super excited to put to put that on a record, too.
Thomas Mooney 57:42
Yeah, like, are you going to? I guess you have to go the opposite way where like, a lot of these songs are all really like that. The sad songs that are the sound happy. These will have to be the other way around.
Brit Taylor 57:57
Yeah, yeah, totally.
Yeah. It's been really, really great talking with you,
man. Thank you for talking with me and let me ramble. Yeah.
Thomas Mooney 58:10
Thanks for giving new slang a listen. Hit that subscribe button. Please be sure to check out Brit Taylor's upcoming single wagon on Friday. Check out the new slang merch store and episode sponsor the blue light live in Toms Daiquiri here in Lubbock, Texas. All right, I'll see y'all Thursday for another episode of new slang
Transcribed by https://otter.ai