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How To Stand Out
Taylor Swift
Posted on February 25, 2007 at 7:31 AM
Today's Fan Question:I've been taking voice lessons for a little while. I have been singing since I was a baby. My dream is to be a young singer, like you are. What is your advice on trying to start out? Where should I start and when?" Victoria Adamson, Tucson, AZ
Click and listen to Taylor's audio answer:
Read Taylor's Answer:
Taylor: This is a really cool question because I started singing really young too. I started performing, going to festivals and fairs, bars and karaoke contests ever since I was about 9 or 10. I came to Nashville with my little demo/karaoke CD and walked into every major record label and was like, 'Hey! I'm Taylor. I'm 11. I want a record deal.'At that point I realized that there are girls in Nashville, thousands of them, that are gorgeous, have amazing voices and could pretty much sing me off a cliff. I had to figure out a way to stand out. I picked up a guitar and started to write songs and play my own music. I figured, if I could walk into a room and play my own guitar and sing songs that I've written, they can't touch that. I can literally not depend on anyone, creatively. That's exactly what I did.
Nobody makes it the same way. There are hundreds of country artists and I can pretty much vouch for the fact that nobody "makes it" the same way. It's always different. The way that I made it was that I was a songwriter first. I moved to Nashville and got a publishing deal with Sony, so I was a paid songwriter before I was a singer with a record deal. My advice is to just figure out who you are as an artist and what you bring. If you sound just like another artist, that's not what you are looking for. You need to sound exactly like you.
Comments
This is great advise! But what about whaere she is supossed to get started????
Crystal
Posted at March 9, 2007 5:55 PM by crystal
I love your music, i write music myself, play-guitar and sing. i was wondering if you would ever consider listening to a fans music, and if you thought they really "had somthing" would you have a reacord-deal person listen to their music?
Posted at March 27, 2007 3:14 PM by KelsiMari
i'm 16 from Canada..i love singing! been singing at basically whatever i can since i was 5. i just heard of you lastnight i was in the car with my friends and you came on an i was like who the heck is this!? an they told me about you an i immedietly looked you up an wow! your awesome i love your personality and your music, im so inspired! thankyou i really needed something to give me that boost to push myself, ive wanted to start playing the guitar an after lastnight i was like okay! time to get down to business haha your so talented, keep up the good work! hopefully i can meet you one day
Posted at April 3, 2007 12:12 AM by ashley
Hey taylor,
i saw you in concert on jan. 18 in hershey, Pa my home state and i met u at like 11 at night but it was worth it cuz that concert was AWSOME! I loved it. you are just an isparation and now to my question. I have always wanted to be a singer it's my dream and ive wanted it since i was three before i could walk i knew every country song by heart, all the words, and who sang the song my parents played games in the car with me. my dad always loved me singing and if he was here today i know he would want me to go for my dream. So i was wondering how to become a singer when you live in a small town and no one really becomes famous. I live in Dillsburg, PA and we have and our annual Farmers' Fair which is in october cuz we also have a halloween parade and there is always live entertainment and its always country music ( which is like the only thing i listen to) and ive always wanted to sing there but ive always been to scared and i dont know how to get an application but all my friends are really starting to support me on my singing cuz the more i sing the better i get and they all want me to sing at farmers fair even though it's in dillsburg and i go to school in york springs they want me to sing anywhere i go like in chourus and in class and recess so my question finally is how do you become a singer? There i finally said it after all that so if you could answer me that would be awsome cuz ur my idol i love ur music and u just inspire me. so if u could answer i would like to keep talking to u if u have an email address so thank you if u read this it would mean the world to me and i would love to meet u again if you come to hershey and if you could hear me sing and tell me if i need more practice or if im good cuz right now i would take any advice and do u think you could come to our farmers fair this october cuz that would be total cool so thank you
<3 ya cheyenne
(ps. i normally dont write this much)
Posted at April 3, 2007 6:42 PM by cheyenne yost
hey taylor!My question is:i have always wanted to be a singer in country music just like you."tears on my guitar" is such a pretty song!How did you grow at such a young age and begin to sing songs like that?i WANT TO DO THE SAME THING AS YOU!YOU ROCK.keep bringing the songs!
Posted at April 6, 2007 5:41 PM by sierra
Hey Taylor, I'm 11 years old and I've been writting and, singing my songs. I also tought my self how to play the guitar. I've been doing all this sence I was 7 or 8 years old.My dad travels so I get to meet some country singers. I've always been sort of shy to ask them if they wanted to look at my songs.I thought they would turn me down. I have fun with my dad and only get to see him 1 every 3 months sometimes.(my perents aren't divoriced) Your one of my favorite country singers. I want to be a country singer someday. I thought you could see a few of my songs sometime,(I could send them to you)only if you want, to let me Know.Your my Idol!!(savannah_young_13@hotmail.com) Thanks, Savannah
Posted at July 10, 2007 11:39 PM by Savannah
HI Taylor your voice sounds so good and all of my friends at my school love your music. poeople always ask me if we are related at all and all i can say is i don't know! You sound amazing keep up the great music i can really relate to your songs. You are a great role model.
Posted at October 21, 2007 3:40 PM by Cody Swift
well i wright my own songs and play the guitar.....but its kool cuz my family not 100% into this music....but i make it wiht my friends suport......
Posted at November 10, 2007 11:42 AM by Kirsten
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im supposed to sing for a school thing called Evergreen Idol. im terrified that every one will laugh at me or they will not take me seriosly.
what do i do?
(p.s. im singing teardrops on my guitar. i LOVE that song)
:)
Posted at February 27, 2007 7:44 PM by Aubree