Music City Embraces Rising Country Music Artist Tayler Holder
There was something on Tayler Holder's mind that had him feeling giddy. Whatever the reason... I could sense that the rising artist was in the mood for a chat. It's amazing how much can change in a year. The last time I spoke with the Viral Content Creator, he was in town to take the stage as a special guest alongside his dear friend, Reyna Roberts. This time around, he's one of the many talented artists scheduled to perform at Country Music's biggest event of the summer.
As someone who appreciates natural, genuine interactions, I wasn't mad that we immediately jumped into a conversation.
With so much to cover, I was eager to hear all about it: from the music, his journey to Music City, and a few more random things.
Q: So last time I spoke with you, you were still in L.A. Did I hear this correctly... you're living in Nashville now?
Holder: “Yes, ma'am, I am.”
Q: I'm sure it must be an adjustment, right?
Holder: “It's so different from L.A., but as someone from a super small town outside of Fort Worth, TX... it feels very much like home.”
Q: You have an EP coming out later this summer. Do you have a title in mind for that yet?
Holder: “Um, well, we're considering a few options but still on the fence. I'm still trying to figure it out.”
As we discussed possible titles for his forthcoming project, he shared with me what appeared to be a newer tattoo. The gray and black ink on his left bicep had the phrase 'life goes on.' A concept that is meant to encapsulate this transformative period of the rising country artist's life.
Holder went on to share that he feels as if he just got a whole restart the moment he moved cross-country, in the process of rebuilding a team, and essentially starting from Ground Zero. All while emphasizing that it's the best thing to ever happen to him.
Q: I heard your recent feature on Haley Mae Campbell's 'Over Being Over.' How did you guys end up collaborating?
Holder: “The team at The 615 House brought it to me. They presented me with this amazing song, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Although the song was initially supposed to be a solo, it was decided that the single worked best as a duet. Choosing from the talented list of artists was tough, but I picked Haley because I knew she would sound amazing on the song!”
Before moving on to the next question, I couldn't help but express my thoughts on the new sounds coming from emerging country music artists. Perhaps, like the renowned hip-hop XXL Freshman Class, country music could benefit from holding such a prestigious honor with its own unique spin.
When comparing them to artists like Morgan Wallen and ERNEST, who would metaphorically belong to a different class, I can hear the difference in the sound produced by emerging talents like Holder, Reyna Roberts, and Haley Mae from the previous class... if that makes any sense.
Q: Speaking of Country Music and Music City. How is the Nashville music scene treating you?
Holder: “I was thinking about how crazy it is that the people I've looked up to my entire life are now the people I'm sharing the room with. I'm writing music with them and just hanging out. Little me would be freaking out right now! But everyone has been so welcoming. My impression of what I thought life was like after living in L.A. has changed. Coming here opened my eyes and made me realize that life outside of L.A. exists. This is real life.”
We briefly touched on him being cast as Ashley Cooke's love interest in her music video for 'Back In The Saddle.' I mentioned noticing the flirty vibes between the two. Like many others, I am curious about their relationship status. After the release of Cooke's music video, rumors began to swirl that the pair hit it off, but the Texas native remained tight-lipped.
I guess I won't read too much into the blushing and gushing over Ms. Ashley Cooke.
Q: Last summer you were here joining her as special guest and recently featured on her new song ‘Another Round’. How did that song with Reyna Roberts come about?
Holder: “She just asked me to come on as a feature. Reyna is freaking awesome. I met her when I was 15 years old, and she was already pursuing music. Back then, I was trying to break into the social media world but then our parents met and they just clicked really well. That was the start of our journey as friends, and now, here we are, 10 years later. It's so crazy to think we put out a single together. It’s so wild!”
Q: As the most followed Country Music artist on TikTok, what do you think makes you successful on that platform?
Holder: “Honestly, so many people ask me this and I'm like ‘I don't know why people follow me on there’ you know. I mean like at first it was just me making dumb videos with my friends and just having a good time. I was just being a goofball and it just ended up working.
I couldn't even tell you! There's no like method or secret to it. It’s just figuring out what works for you because what works for me doesn't always work for everybody else and vise versa.”
Q: Do you have any advice for musicians that struggle reaching fans and or engaging with the audience on TikTok?
Holder: “I’ve found that what works best is being super raw and authentic. Content that is too curated and overly professional comes off as less genuine. People want to see someone under a stairwell, playing their guitar, and singing spontaneously rather than something that feels too planned.
Tayler Holder's first EP is set for release late this summer. The project consists of 6 tracks, all of which Holder is incredibly excited to share with his fans. He expressed his desire for this project to showcase his growing potential and establish his presence in the industry.
Looking at the numbers, Holder's streams on Spotify alone tell a complementary story and align with the rising country music artist's aspirations for the future. His song, 'It's You,' not only caught the attention of the country music genre but has also accumulated over 1 million streams to date.
It's always a pleasure to witness the trajectory of rising artists in their careers. I couldn't be happier for Holder's success in country music over the past few months. Who knows where he’ll be come next year’s CMA Fest.
Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Tayler Holder’s new single, ‘TIME IN THIS TRUCK’ out on June 30th.
Stay tuned to Tayler’s socials below for more updates on the release of first EP and tour dates.
Tour Dates:
October 12th – The Mill & Mine Knoxville, TN
October 13th – Tabernacle Atlanta, GA
October 14th – The Signal Chattanooga, TN
October 26th – The NorVa Norfolk, VA
October 27th – The Filmore Silver Springs, MD
October 28th – The National Richmond, VA
November 11th – Andrew J Brady Music Center Cincinnati, OH
November 16th – Hall at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium Spartanburg, SC
November 17th – House of Blues Orlando, FL
November 18th – Jannus Live St. Petersburg, FL
November 30th – State Theatre Portland, ME
December 1st – House of Blues Boston, MA
December 2nd – Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ
For More Information on Tayler Holder
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/taylerholder/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@itstaylerholder?lang=en
Twitter - https://twitter.com/TaylerHolder
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/TaylerHolder?app=desktop
