Phoenix can boast a handful of artists who have exploded on the national scene. Amid the Roger Cylnes and Calexicos is a budding pop star.
Taylor Upsahl is no stranger to the Phoenix music scene. She was born into a musical family, played on stages across the Valley from a young age, and now she’s been signed to the record label Arista.
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter now lives and works in Los Angeles, but she recently returned to the Phoenix metro area to open for Young the Giant at Comerica Theater in downtown Phoenix.
The Show caught up with her at Crescent Ballroom where, just before the lunch rush, she played an intimate Tiny Desert Concert. She talked about her new music and her success in the music industry, but she began by explaining how her sound has evolved into the pop anthems she plays today.
Full conversation
TAYLOR UPSAHL: It was really organic. I think my sound changed as I was changing as a person and entering into my 20s. So when I moved to LA, I was 19 and I started just going in with different producers that I didn’t know, different writers that I didn’t know, and started to experiment with my sound. And it just very organically got into this very pop-alternative urban world.
And I just think that as I grow as a person and go throughout my 20s, I just think my music’s going to change with me, and I think it’s really fun and fans and listeners I love watching artists develop with their music.
GILGER: So how do you describe it to people like what are the influences to you? I hear there’s definitely pop in there and it’s definitely some alt, but I also hear a lot of jazz in the way you sound.
UPSAHL: Oh cool, thank you.
GILGER: What do you think?
UPSAHL: I mean, I grew up listening — because of my dad being in punk bands — I grew up obsessed with alternative bands like Weezer and Spoon and I loved Beck and the Shins. So I had that background. And then I feel like as I’ve gone more into the pop world, I’ve fallen in love with pop music and pop writing, but I definitely kept that alternative influence that I grew up in because it’s part of who I am.
GILGER: So this is such an all-encompassing industry, right? Like it’s social media, it’s constant, the stream of content that you feel like you have to produce as an artist. What does it feel like to grow up in front of an audience like this and find the image that you want to project and find the message you want to send?
UPSAHL: Yeah, I think it’s a trip because it is very all-encompassing, which I’m slowly realizing just by doing this full time for the past two years, is like In order to do something like music, I feel like you can’t not be like 100% in love with it. I don’t know, I guess growing up in Phoenix and getting to perform all the time just made me realize my love for being on the stage and performing and being in front of people really early, so I was a bit more secure in knowing what I wanted to do.
GILGER: Let’s talk about your single. “Drugs.” So what’s this about? Like, is this something we take literally or is this like you’re trying to get at something else here?
UPSAHL: Yeah, not at all. I wrote it about moving to LA and going to these fake parties, meeting very fake people. It was really hard for me, the first six months trying to find friends there. It’s such a saturated place, but it’s really lonely, and you can feel very isolated.
And so I wrote it in a time of frustration. I just wanted to meet some genuine people who were there to be friends and like to have a real conversation. So yeah, “Drugs” is a metaphor for that. “I just came here for the drugs” is I came to the party for realness, which sometimes is very hard to find.
GILGER: All right, so let’s hear it then. Can you play this for us?
UPSAHL: Yes, this is “Drugs.”
(Upsahl plays “Drugs”)
GILGER: OK, so you’re clearly at the beginning of your career here, but do you feel like there’s a moment at this point that has sort of been really defining for you?
UPSAHL: Yeah, honestly, this past month has been crazy. I got to play Lollapalooza, which was a dream. Like still, I’ve just been gp-go-going since then and I don’t think I’ve really had time to process that. And then last night I got to play Comerica (Theatre) in my hometown for Young the Giant and Fits and the Tantrums. So I think just because I’ve been going and going and going, I haven’t even realized how insane that is yet.
GILGER: So I always ask this of musicians because I think it’s really interesting because you’re on stage for a reason, right? And it’s usually not about you, it’s usually about what you want to do to connect with this audience or what message you’re trying to send or what sort of release you’re trying to give people. So what is that drive for you?
UPSAHL: I guess when I’m performing and when I’m writing, my biggest goal is to one be very relatable to people like I love listening to songs and being able to be like, “OK cool, I’m not the only one that feels this way. I’m not alone in this.” I love that, and also just for people to have a good time. With my writing and with performing, I just want it to be fun, and I want people to be able to forget about their problems — even if it’s just for like 20 minutes — and to feel like they’re powerful and strong and make people feel good about themselves.
GILGER: All right, so take us out on a song, which one can you play here?
UPSAHL: This one is called “Wish You’d Make Me Cry.”
(Upsahl plays “Wish You’d Make Me Cry.”)
If you’re in a band or know of one you’d like to hear on air, send us a note at [email protected].
