As MaRynn Taylor climbs country charts and hits career milestones, she holds onto the wonder of her younger self while following in the footsteps of stars she grew up admiring. The Local Spins interview.
Fondly Remembering Rockford: MaRynn Taylor’s latest single was inspired, in part, by her childhood. (Courtesy Photo)
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Rising country-pop singer-songwriter MaRynn Taylor pays homage to her hometown of Rockford in her latest single, “Small Town Spinnin’” by including Easter eggs that only Rockford natives will truly understand.
The Ferris wheel Taylor mentions in the chorus of the catchy track actually refers to the one that’s become a carnival fixture at Rockford’s annual Start of Summer Celebration.
The single, co-written with songwriters Erin Kinsey and Josh Kerr, reflects on the way gossip spreads quickly around a small town and gets everybody talking.
“I’m from Rockford, so I definitely know what that’s like,” the 22-year-old singer says. “We took all of our experiences of being in a small town and put them into the song.”
Taylor: One of Nashville’s “Artists to Watch’ (Courtesy Photo/Black River Entertainment)
While Taylor still has love for her hometown and describes the experience of coming back to visit as “welcoming” and “homey,” the one-time Rockford High School student said goodbye to Rockford in 2019, moved to Nashville and began to pursue her music career.
Taylor doesn’t regret missing out on high school experiences like prom because, in exchange, she gets to walk red carpets at country music award shows and perform at nationally televised pro sports events, including halftime of an NFL Sunday night football game.
Since living in Nashville, Taylor also has released plenty of music including her debut EP, “Something I Would Do,” signed a record deal with Black River Entertainment, and recently made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Her 2020 single, “Dads and Daughters,” has racked up nearly 3.5 million listens on Spotify and the just-released “Small Town Spinnin'” already is at 70,000 and counting.
“Playing the Grand Ole Opry was really special,” says Taylor, who’s been tabbed as an “artist to watch” by several media outlets one of CMT’s “Next Women of Country” music. “Because little MaRynn had that dream, I also felt like I wasn’t the only one getting to stand in the circle. I feel like I brought her along with me.”
Taylor performed her single “‘01” on the Opry stage as an ode to her younger self and the big aspirations she had.
Although Taylor has achieved more of those dreams than she could have imagined, she still has ambitions for the future.
“One of my biggest dreams is to someday sing at Van Andel Arena,” Taylor says, “That’s where I saw all of my concerts and where I really fell in love with music.”
CULTIVATING A GROWING FAN BASE WITH A NEW EP DROPPING IN MAY
As Taylor continues her rise to country stardom, she has gathered a dedicated fan base both online and in person at shows. She recalls a show in Wisconsin where some young fans showed up with homemade signs to support Taylor.
“My favorite thing about live shows is seeing the little girls in the audience because I see so much of myself in them and just want to give them a big hug,” Taylor says with a smile. “They just love the music, the outfits, and the dresses just like I did.”
The Latest Single: “Small Town Spinnin'”
Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and Shania Twain are just a few of the women of country music Taylor has been inspired by over the years.
“I definitely take influence from 2000s country because that’s what I grew up on and the sounds are really nostalgic to me,” says Taylor. “Some of the electric guitars in ‘Small Town Spinnin’’ have a Y2K-inspired sound to them.”
Taylor’s future plans include the May release of a new EP, “Get to Know Me,” that includes “Small Town Spinnin’” along with more new songs that focus on Taylor’s personal experiences.
“The song ‘Get To Know Me’ is probably the most vulnerable song I’ll ever put out because the story and the situation is just so real for me,” Taylor explains.
She’s also scheduled to perform at June’s CMA Fest, a four-day country music festival in Nashville. While there are no shows currently scheduled in Michigan, Taylor is eager to come back and perform in her home state again.
“I’ll be back up there soon,” Taylor reassures her Michigan fans.
VIDEO: MaRynn Taylor, “Small Town Spinnin'”
VIDEO: MaRynn Taylor, “In My Head”
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