It’s been a jam-packed year for pop artist Taylor Upsahl. This summer the Arizona native supported American singer Fletcher on her UK tour - and now she’s back with her own set of headline dates, including a gig at The Deaf Institute in Manchester.
Since her single Drugs - a sassy, striking hit about partying in LA - went viral on TikTok, this underrated pop artist has finally begun getting the credit she deserves. A songwriter and multi-instrumentalist - known synonymously as Upsahl - she has previously written for the likes of Dua Lipa, Anne Marie and Little Mix.
Fresh from playing shows across America and Australia, the TikTok sensation is excited to be back across the pond. “I always have a blast in the UK, whether to play shows or do writing sessions, something about the energy is really really inspiring for me,” she explained.
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Manchester has already made an impression on Upsahl - she recalled one show where fans brought signs punctuated with song lyrics and jokes, which the 23-year-old said made being on stage ‘very entertaining.’ She added: “I feel like the crowd in Manchester goes so hard, it’s always such a hyped, fun show, I’m so excited to be back.”
The musician also has plans to drop a new EP - the name of which has not yet been revealed - before the end of the year. Upsahl’s latest tracks see the singer embrace her ‘selfish hot girl era,’ charting her personal growth since her debut album Lady Jesus , which was released last autumn.
While Lady Jesus vented the frustrations of dating, break-ups and figuring life out as a woman in your early twenties, Upsahl’s latest offerings see her reflect inwards instead. She told the Manchester Evening News : “For the first time as a songwriter, I feel like I’ve gotten to be extremely selfish in the writing process. Each song kind of represents a different character trait or part of me that makes me who I am.”
Single Into My Body explores anxiety, feeling stuck in your head and the pressure to live up to your own expectations. And while the lyrics are poignant, in true Upsahl style, it’s set to a lively dance track.
Upsahl admitted that shifting the focus to writing about her own issues was ‘honestly scary’ - but still a fun experience. She explained: “There’s nothing to hide behind. You can’t be like - I’m sad and it’s your fault… I’m just sad and I have to figure out why because it’s no one’s fault. This is my problem that I have to figure out.”
“Songwriting has always been very therapeutic and this writing process has been as well because I’ve had to deal with just me, myself and I for the first time ever which has been really cool.”
It also helped the singer learn how to be a ‘healthy amount of selfish’ - something she urges everyone to try. ”The next few years I feel we’re all in our cute, selfish hot girl era which I’m very much here for,” she enthused.
Production-wise, Upsahl described her upcoming EP - which she’s been working on since returning from tour this summer - as ‘freeing’ to make, with lots of genre-bending and no boxes. A dance track, a ‘song that’s literally mostly drums’ and a ballad can be expected on the new record - which Upsahl is ‘really excited’ to release.
While touring, Upsahl has been trying out her new material on fans - and will continue to treat her audience to new tracks on her UK tour. She explained: “Before Into My Body came out I played it on the US tour and could see what part of the song people liked the most or if [the crowd] lost energy.
“And it’s funny because I ended up changing the structure of the song while I was on the road because I was taking in what the audience liked - so that was super helpful.”
Upsahl is grateful to be back on the road again, especially since the disruption of the pandemic. She realised that ‘a huge part’ of her life had been missing during that period.
“I feel like it was that way for all of us with so many things,” she added. “So being back on the road and being able to do this every night makes me so extra grateful for all of it. I didn’t realise it was such an essential part of my well being until I didn't have it and then I got it back.”
On enjoying live music, as both an artist and a fan, Upsahl said: “The feeling of being in the room with a bunch of like-minded people, singing, meeting new people and everybody being on the same page and having fun - there’s nothing better in the world than that.”
Quick-fire Questions with Upsahl
What's your most played song at the moment?
Feel Good by Polo and Pan - it always puts me in the best mood if I’m having a bad day.
What's your go-to karaoke song?
Fergalicious - whenever we’re on tour, me and my sister hit up every karaoke bar possible and we both do Fergalicious together, it’s very fun!
What’s your favourite album?
One I’ve been going back to a lot recently is The Bends by Radiohead - that album got me through tour, it’s great.
Who is your dream collaboration?
Definitely Doja Cat. I’ve said this for years and will continue to until it happens! I’m obsessed with her.
What would your 12-year-old self think about where you are now?
That whole concept gets me through life - comparing where I am now to where I was even two years ago is so healthy and I love that. I think 12-year-old me would be inspired by me now, in the sense that - oh, she went for it and she’s trying!
What’s your bad day pick-me-up?
Definitely music, finding songs that are infectious and feel good - that’s amazing. Also I love going on dates by myself, so if I’m ever having a bad day I’ll take myself out to a nice dinner and get dressed up and I think that always turns my day around for sure.
Upsahl plays The Deaf Institute on Friday November 18. Tickets are £13.75 from seetickets.com.
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