Country Music is all about being able to tell a story that's relatable and makes you feel something. Well dammit, Taylor Austin Dye takes a dive into single life and how complicated and shitty it can sometimes be. A hell of a talent, a hell of a song. I talked to her about her single "Good Time Girl" and how music has shaped her life.
Get To Know Taylor
"I'm originally from Owsley county, Kentucky, which is in southeast Kentucky. I lived there my whole life up until 3 years ago when I finally made the move to Nashville. I've been playing music full-time here ever since. I started playing music when I was about 5 years old, performing professionally and actually getting paid and stuff. I would play at this little place in Kentucky called Renfro Valley. It's called the "Barn Dance" and I would play that every weekend when I was 5 years old. That experience of being on stage at such an early age really helped boost my comfort level and confidence going forward."
A Realistic POV Many Of Us Experience
With the amount of Music I consume, it's easy to spot a song that isn't personal and has no substance. Thankfully this isn't one of those or the interview may have gotten awkward. When a song, line for line, shows true meaning and is relatable, it just hits you differently. "Good Time Girl" compares the difference of feeling loved and appreciated with someone who is taken for granted and isn't seen as valuable. Everyone's situation is different. Some people can fool around, just have fun and not blink an eye. Others may feel unappreciated and used. This jam catches you right off the bat and sets the mood for the whole song with "She's your Sunday morning, and I'm your Friday night." GOD DAMN! Nothing like a slow traditional Country song that pulls you in from start to finish. With each line you can feel that pain. The experience felt by Taylor makes the song that much more real. A hell of a job to say the least.
Inspiration Behind "Good Time Girl"
"I guess I’ve been sitting on this song for a little over a year. I was talking with some of my friends and we were just sitting around complaining about boys. You know how it goes. They asked me if I'd seen so and so recently and I responded with "I only see him at night - that isn't a thing". That was where the idea came from. I took the idea for the hook of “good time girl” and ran with it. Like I said, I sat on it for about a year and then I took it to Chad Warrix, who produced it. We ended up doing some tweaks of the bridge and one of the verses, so he is also a co-writer on "Good Time Girl". That is how the song really came together."
Q & A With Taylor Austin Dye
Q: What was that "light bulb" moment when you knew you wanted to pursue music?
A: "As I said, I've always known I wanted to do music. But I think I realized it was realistic when I came down here. I was doing a television program by some independent channel which was held at Margaritaville. Some of the workers saw me play and asked if I wanted a gig full-time. That made me realize I could actually move to Nashville and play on Broadway full-time."
Q: What's some of the best advice you've ever been given?
A: "I think my favorite piece of advice came from my buddy Donnie when I first moved to Nashville. He always told me you have to be yourself. Don't go there and lose your accent, don't pretend to be someone else, always be yourself. He said nobody likes the watered down version of anything and nobody wants the "Censored Eminem album from Walmart". This advice has really stuck with me ever since."
Q: Favorite thing about Nashville?
A: "I've been coming to Nashville forever. My parents would bring me down here to visit regularly when I was young. I always said I wanted to live here one day and when I finally got the opportunity to do it, I jumped at it. First of all, there is live music on every corner. Obviously I love to play whenever I can, but I also love just sitting back and listening. Another thing I really love is that we are all transplants from different parts of the country but working toward the same thing. I think it's awesome to have a community like this in such a competitive field."
Q: Who are some songwriters/artists who influence your writing and sound?
A: "I've always been a huge Miranda Lambert fan and more recently I've really been into Ashley McBryde, Kacy Musgraves and Chris Stapleton. Those are just a few of the really great artists out there right now. On the songwriting side of things, I love Wendell Mobley. He's written a lot of Rascal Flatts hits as well as being an incredible singer. I also love Jeffrey Steele. He wrote a lot of Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry hits. So heartfelt and deep and I love that."
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