Talent, Tunes, and Turning Heads at NYU: Taylor Shore Takes Off

An authentic singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and performer at the core, Taylor Shore would like to introduce herself. Balancing edge with elegance, New York University freshman Taylor Shore offers a musical experience that resonates far beyond catchy hooks. Her “gritty but pretty” vulnerable lyrics, melding genres, and catchy melodies have been a trademark of her career. At just 19, Taylor is not just another singer-songwriter in a sea of hopefuls—she’s carving out her own lane: creating her own management label while scouting talent in NYC. In 2023, she released her first single, “The Price,” on all streaming platforms. Last year, she released “Bye Then,” and she is currently working on an EP set to release in the coming few weeks.

What first inspired you to pursue music, and how did you get started?

I’ve been writing forever. Before I could even read, I would hum the words in books. In third grade, I co-wrote my first song with my best friend. She went to USC for music and made me think, “maybe I can do that too.” I have been writing since then, but I didn’t know it was going to be a career—I always thought I would go to school for business—but then I realized I can make money and sustain something in the arts. I was first inspired by theater. That was my first musical outlet. I just appreciated expression and eventually realized it wasn’t my passion as much as maybe songwriting and artistry.

How has your sound evolved since you first started writing and performing?

Now that I’m not at home, I can be more blunt with my lyrics. My sound is constantly evolving because I’m always doing something new. I learn something from other musicians and instrumentalists whenever I go to class (at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music). Last semester, coming here was the most change I’ve experienced. Collaboration here was transformative, compared to working with the same people from my hometown, but I needed that little bit of change, and that change brought more of my trust self and strongest music.

You describe your sound as “gritty but pretty.” How did you develop that style?

That sound definitely comes from utilizing a lot of harmonies. I love to have background vocals, additional harmonies in order to make a sad song or intense song more beautiful, making it sound more developed.  I can’t trademark it. I met someone who said that: Zola Simone. I always felt this was the kind of music I wrote, but once I did the singer-songwriter speed dating event, BMI, (Broadcast Music Inc) it was a super cool opportunity where I met Zola, and have other people tell me what my sound is. I like to write more deep stuff that sounds polished, pretty and harmonic. 

Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your music?

I was always inspired by Lizzy Mcalpine. Some of her melodies pull in that way (she also started in theater). I’m also inspired by people like Jonie Mitchell, Joan Baez, and older artists. Inspired by their lyricism. Ashe, a lot of her stuff is deep, but it’s hype, and it hits.

Your lyrics are deeply personal—how do you approach songwriting, and what themes inspire you?

I approach songwriting pretty sporadically, there isn’t a ‘lets sit down and get things going’ moment. I usually write something once a day, little melodies—more melody rather than words, and interesting lyrics. Last night at 11 pm, I wrote a little poem, “I don’t know why I’m bitter when I’m the one who broke your heart.” a couple of days later, I’ll turn it into a song, “Blue eyes and a buzz. You made me go feral.” It’s definitely an outlet for your feelings, journaling, and coping. A lot of them were serious topics, metaphors, and nondescript, expressing this more creatively and more subtle. I’m inspired by my personal life, and on occasion storytelling.

Your first single, The Price, came out in 2023. How has your sound or approach changed with Bye Then and your upcoming EP?

My first song was very much a kid in high school wanting to put something out. I made it for a short film, “Grief is the Price of Love,” which is less based on artistry but rather a story about how grief is the price you have to pay for love. I wanted to do film for a while, creative directing, and work on music videos, so the song is the plot. But that song is not me. It was just for fun. “Bye Then” is actually me, since bye then my lyricism and production are a lot better, higher quality, “Another Man’s Mom” in an EP. “Bye Then” was younger, already there were so many things I could do better, storytelling beating around the bush. Another man’s mom is much more direct and evident with the lyrics, the first month I came here, I wrote it. Production I am lucky enough to work in really lovely studios with really nice instruments, we have a lot of analog EQS and compressors we can use to play around with the sound. More opportunities to experiment Working with your producer and engineer makes a big impact

Can you give us a sneak peek into your new EP? What stories or emotions are you trying to capture?

The way I’m going to promote it is this: “Have you ever dated a manchild?” I don’t want to return to that feeling and take care of myself and someone else. 

Do you have a favorite song you’ve written, and if so, why?

I wrote a song with my friend, Gus Ralston. I’ve been writing a lot with him (and also in CDI). I came to school with him and started to collaborate a lot. “I wish” is a farewell to someone that wasn’t working out. The first few lyrics are blunt, so Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Eilish “fourth night big city, found you in my bed” It’s a little feral, but the harmonies are tight. We started working together, and we’re playing together on March 13th in Nublue Classic, as well as other upcoming events. Gus: Hawaiian influence, a ‘guitar god.’ I would call him that. 

You’ve played everywhere, from Musikfest to the Wells Fargo Center. Do you have a favorite performance memory?

That’s hard. Modern Music Makers (M3) was how we did the modern band invitational, almost as if you were to play for school of rock, but through schools. One of my first solo sets was in 2022, the year I could do live performances again. That moment was the moment I was like oh, I needed that to hype myself up again. It was real validation of my performance. I want to go back to my school and see my friends perform, It helped me It added to smooch value, you don’t get to choose who to work with, director chose them who was strongest, work with contradicting opinions, people with different music taste, mediator, and leader, friends in all different grades. It was my first music industry experience. I wouldn’t get where I am today without M3 and the director, Kevin Longwill, who I consider my mentor. 

What’s the most rewarding and the most challenging part of performing live?

It’s a reminder that I can be my my own artist. Going to school for music is looking into the business, selling your songs, being a songwriter aspect of it. Performing live is validating, the audience wants to see you do it, especially considering how much time I put into the set, 

But at the same time, it’s challenging. There’s a challenge on my physical body. I’m a big performance person, expressive. I wore these tall ass heels at my last performance, and by the end, my legs were numb.  I couldn’t sleep because of all the effort on my body and hype from performances. Definitely a physical toll. I was sick my first show last semester. I get sick from stress so really take care of your vocal chords. Sleep schedule, and take care of yourself. But I’m more in shape, I am better. At the end of my shows, I’m dying, and just lay on the ground after.

How do you prepare mentally and physically for a performance?

Mentally, I’m a perfectionist, so the more prepared I can be the more helpful, if I have show in a month, I need to have my setlist, melodies, everything ready. Preparation helps me mentally put everything together. Physically, I prioritize my sleep, no dairy (especially the day of the show), and soup. One time at a venue, I said there was a vegan member on my band, so they could bring me something without dairy.

You’re not just an artist—you’re also involved in social media branding and marketing. How do you balance the creative and business sides of the industry?

I’m always learning. Trial, and error, trying and maybe failing, you kind of have to fail at some point to figure it out. I started to learn and care about branding and marketing the more I help other artists do it, study it, and research the algorithm and social media and how important it is to have a brand, it helps me with my own stuff, don’t want to have to rely on someone to do it and figure it out yourself. I love content, I love film, romanticize the idea of something. My Instagram is a catfish, but when you see it, hopefully you see a cohesive energy, romanticizing the best moments. From music videos, montages, see my show, branding campaigning. 

You’re working on your own management label. What inspired that, and what’s your vision for it?

All in the works right now, I’m learning as the artists I want to join are learning. I’m inspired by other people in my program and follow and dm them before meeting them in real life, and a couple of them I would totally pay to see these people live, and they are also my friends. Some of my friends are the most talented writers. I really believe in them. If someone can help them get excited about releases and creative branding, and create content schedule and book shows around new york, create a proof of concept for them. Artists are always all over the place doing something, we need someone to help us settle down, and I like organizing. The label is more of a collective, with a bunch of different people involved: photographers, etc. So much of NYU is about collaboration. I want to experiment and help with everything but that’s not my niche, then have the engineer come in. 

How do you see independent artists navigating the industry today, and what advice would you give to emerging musicians?

Collaboration is so valuable. The best songs I’ve written, and demos, mixing, and unreleased are always with other people, if someone says they’re doing something alone in the industry, they have a team behind it. Constantly making, constantly doing, if I’m not doing something im not growing, not in a burnout artists…

What’s your ultimate dream for your career?

To be a songwriter and collaborate as an entrepreneur. I’m currently writing a lot of cowrites in a band I’m in, a “feminist punk band. ” Writing a lot, and my friend is fronting the band, and I’m playing the bass. I love to see and hear her perform. Amy Allen (who collaborated on Sabrina Carpenter’s newest album) is someone behind the scenes who’s helping the whole album come to life, but nobody knows her except people in the industry. Writing all these pop bangers and helping Sabrina get through to finish the album. I love helping artists with management and managing gigs they have. Working out the smallest niches so it’s a more smooth process for them. Where my heart is, while still putting out music and performing. I don’t know where but on of those two or both. No one in the industry has one job. Self plug, I’m releasing soon, show March 13th.