Bree Taylor is an award winning country-rock artist and visionary who is currently burning up the Spotify charts with her latest single and album, “Worship”. Born in Canada and based in Toronto, Bree and I discussed her latest release, heartbreak and relationships, the importance of quality visuals, what it means to be in her “worship era” and more.
OK, let’s start here. “Worship” is both a single and the title of your project? Tell us about the two.
“Worship” is a song that I wrote after healing from a toxic relationship with a narcissistic partner. Through my healing, I entered into my “worship era” where I fully stand in my power and will never again tolerate what I did before. “Worship”, the album, is a deeply personal record that traces my path through love, heartbreak, and the hard-earned lessons that led me back to my own self-worth. The album captures a turning point, moving from settling and self-doubt to confidence, clarity, and knowing exactly what I deserve. The song aims to empower women, reminding them that they deserve to be treated like the queens that they are and to never settle for less. I am inviting women into my world and challenging them to step into their own power along the way.
What are the biggest lessons you learned about yourself while experiencing heartbreak?
I learned my self-worth. This was the biggest lesson that I have learned through all the heartbreak that I have been through in my lifetime. Heartbreak has helped me self reflect, look inwards, and to not only learn from my mistakes – but to heal myself. If we don’t do the work to learn and heal from our past then we cannot move forward or attract the right partner.
What do you think causes most mismatches in relationships, whether intimate or platonic?
I think the big one is lack of communication or differing communication styles. If you cannot communicate honestly and effectively, be heard, and listen to a partner, then this will cause more problems in your relationship. Two people, whether in an intimate or platonic relationship, need to be able to not only listen effectively to each other, but be able to communicate their feelings in a healthy manner. I feel that miscommunication and differing communication styles has been the biggest piece that I have personally experienced and also witnessed causing the most problems in relationships.
Given past experiences, how do you approach relationships today and how has creating music, specifically songs like, “I Regret You” been healing?
How I approach relationships today is that I don’t tolerate any of what I have in the past. I know very clearly what I am looking for in a partner and if anything pops up that gives off any red flags, I am out. I don’t waste my time anymore. I no longer see “projects” or “potential”. I am looking for someone who can meet me where I am at and be an equal partner.
Creating music has always been healing for me. It is why I am an artist and what I have always loved about creating music. I always used music as my creative outlet to heal through my pain and to express myself. “I Regret You” was definitely one of the most therapeutic songs to write, create, and release, considering what I went through to feel that emotion.
What has it been like working with producer Grady Saxman?
Grady has been great to work with! He has helped me explore my sound through production and really experiment with my country rock sound in the studio with each of my songs. He is a truly talented producer and drummer and is so present in the Nashville scene and knowing what is current and fresh. I have always had the best time working with him and his entire team at Saxman Studios and bringing my songs to life. It is a safe space for artists to get a top quality product and feel heard and supported through every step of the process.
Prior to hearing your music, what caught my attention in particular about you was your visual presentation. Your press kit was well put together and your images were high quality. What can you say about that as a whole, along with your thought process working on the visuals for this latest project?
Thank you! That is a high compliment and I really appreciate that acknowledgment and praise. I have always aimed to raise the bar and keep my quality as top notch as possible with everything that I do. I am a very visual person and I think how people see you as an artist says a lot about you, so having high quality images and branding has always been important to me. I love every part of being an artist so everything from writing the song to producing the song to marketing the song or album through visuals is very important to me.
I thoroughly enjoy bringing my art to life in each stage and want to continue to elevate as I progress in my career. I always look to raise the bar on my last song or project and push myself creatively. “Worship” needed to drip eleganza so I spent the extra money to make sure that was brought to life. I also have to give a huge shout out to my photographer, Andrea Hunter for helping make that all happen when it comes to my visuals and bringing my visions to life with this album and all these singles.
Black/Black leather is a good look on you. What made you go that route vs. the stereotypical look that most would assume a country artist should look like?
Thank you! It honestly just is me embracing my true self and curating my own style that feels me. I have always been an alternative girly since I was a kid so it just feels like me. I let others tell me how to dress for SO long in my career and it never felt like me so the more I embraced my true self, it helped me curate my personal style and build my brand identity. I am NOT your stereotypical country artist so neither is my style.
I spent a large portion of my life not too far from Nashville (Clarksville, TN/Fort Campbell, KY) so I know the area well. What is your relationship with Nashville?
I love Nashville! I travel down several times a year and love the city so much. It is such a great town and the drive down is also one of my favorite road trips to do. I write and record when I am there and have done photoshoots and writer’s rounds when I am in town as well.
What do you enjoy most about performing and what has been your most memorable show to date?
Performing my music is one of my favorite parts of being an artist. It is so much fun to bring my songs to life on stage and bring my energy to audiences and connect with them live and in person. We have curated a high energy live show and I love elevating and building the show and challenging myself creatively in a live setting. My most memorable show to date has to be performing at Country on the Bay in Thunder Bay, ON in 2024 because it was the first major festival that gave me the opportunity to perform, they treated us SO well and took such good care of us and the experience was a true core memory driving up crammed in a van with 5 boys. Blake Shelton headlined that festival and we got to open for Sawyer Brown, Josh Ross and High Valley. My upcoming shows opening for US country rock band Lakeview, however, are quickly taking that spot because they are one of my favorite bands and being their direct support for their Ontario tour date’s is truly a dream come true.
When I was in college and making music at the time, I had a recording session with a fellow student/artist I had known for some time and while I was recording his vocals, I noticed some small discrepancies in his voice. I originally thought we were having technical difficulties but he then told me he was hearing impaired. I thought that was interesting because I hadn’t noticed at all prior to. As someone who is also hearing impaired, how have you managed, both in your personal life as well as musically?
I wear hearing aids so they’ve allowed me to adapt and adjust over the years and be able to hear myself better. My hearing impairment has never hindered my vocal ability but has pushed me to do better, work hard, and keep it from holding me back. I am living proof that you can do whatever you put your mind to and you do not have to be a victim of your circumstances. Just because life dealt you a set of cards, doesn’t mean it defines you or is your final hand. Wearing my hearing aids helps me to hear on a day-to-day basis and most people don’t even notice I wear them. It is definitely more challenging when it comes to my live show and performing but I am constantly working to improve those challenges and navigate hearing better on stage with in-ear monitors and proper sound.
OK, here are a few random questions: What part of Canada are you from originally and what was your childhood like?
I moved a lot growing up so we lived in various parts of the GTA but mainly the west end of the city most of my life. I have been in Mississauga for a huge part of my life and music career and it has been a great home city to live in and a great community to be a part of.
Give us an example of a time you’ve done something that you would consider “impulsive”.
Getting some of my tattoos were impulsive moves but they are all meaningful to me and I love each one of them. Most of them were thought out and intentional but there were some that I just felt called to get and just went and did it but I have zero regrets.
What are you most into outside of music?
I love to read! I’ve always been a big fan of fantasy fiction novels. HUGE ACOTAR fan! I’ve also been loving the Fourth Wing series lately. I LOVE dragons. It’s either fantasy novels or self-development novels like The Power of Now or Atomic Habits. I also am a big fan of audiobooks because I am always on the go or multi-tasking. I will crush listening to an audiobook on a drive down to Nashville!
Who is Aria and Rebel and why are they the best?
They are my two dogs. Aria is a 17 year old Chihuahua and she’s been with me through everything! I am so grateful to still have her by my side. Rebel is my latest puppy, she is a year old and truly lives up to her name! She is my wild child but is the most friendly, loving and outgoing Chihuahua you may ever meet. They are both complete opposites but are truly the best dogs and companions.
What do people not get about, “Pineapples on Pizza”?
LOL, that it tastes DELICIOUS? I feel there is a time and a place for pineapple on pizza but it adds something sweet to such a savory food.
Tell us something about yourself that most don’t know.
My guilty pleasure is reality TV. I LOVE watching reality shows like Love Island, Temptation Island, Love is Blind, Vanderpump Rules, Jersey Shore – all of them. Reality TV is just a great escape when I want to zone out from the world and forget my own problems and just get lost in other people’s lives and their drama.
Lastly, I sent “Worship” to a relative of mine for feedback and she said, “I’m feeling this and I am adding it to my playlist”. How can new supporters keep up with you, hear your music, or catch any of your upcoming shows?
Thank you so much! That is great to hear – I am glad they loved it! I am most active on my social media channels, specifically Instagram is my number one and then I would say TikTok is my next most active platform. That is a great place for people to connect with me and stay up to date and my Broadcast Channel on Instagram called my “Dauntless One’s” is my inner circle where my superfans get the inside scoops first and more one-on-one connection with me. I also post all my show updates on my website www.breetaylor.com/tour.
Photo By: Andrea Hunter
Words + Interview By: Tyrone Davis
