Bree Taylor's Journey With Mental Health
As a musician, song composition often, or ideally, delineates the boundaries of creative expression through euphonic melodies, captivating lyrics, and innovation. Musician Bree Taylor directly subverts contemporary tropes within modern country music. Blending pop and country, Bree elevates and explores elements, both uncommon and familiar with her own unique flair. Recently nominated for Best New Artist by the Mississauga Music Awards, Bree Taylor is definitely a star on the rise
Beyond music, Bree is a strong advocate for mental health awareness. Her own struggles with depression influenced her philanthropic endeavors. Bree values, and is active within, charitable organizations including the Oakville, Milton and Toronto Humane Society, To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn about Bree and her works.
Where are you based?
I currently live in Mississauga, Canada which is just outside of Toronto.
At the age of six, you began performing in local choirs and displayed your talent for performing. How did you initially become interested in making music? How do you feel your appreciation for performance and music has evolved since then?
Well I was born to music in the delivery room so I think being an artist was always something that I was meant to do. I grew up always wanting to be a musician, but I didn't think I had the talent or ability until one of my aunts heard me singing one day at the cottage when I was about eight years old and she told my parents that I had talent and they should put me in vocal lessons. That day changed my mindset from 'I don't think I'm good enough to maybe I can really do this, maybe I am good enough’.
From that moment forward my mind was firmly rooted in wanting a career in music. I grew up with a passion for wanting to be a songwriter and an artist and wanting to help people with my music the way artists did for me during my childhood. I then joined the school's church choir and took any opportunity I could to sing, learn and grow as an artist.
I feel my appreciation for music has always been there because I valued it so much growing up, having been bullied badly in school, and music being one of the things that was there for me through it all. I have learned so much more about the industry that I have come to appreciate the platform that music gives me when it comes to being able to advocate for causes close to my heart. There is so much that artists can use their voices for and I feel that is something that has evolved in me and my music as I have grown as a person and become more comfortable speaking my mind and opinions and sharing my story.
What compelled your genre switch from pop to country music?
I think that my transition to country music has been an amazing journey for my music. I grew up listening to such diverse genres of music that I was influenced by so many different artists and genres and country was one of them. I feel like being in country music has been a great opportunity for me and my music to show more of my diversity as a songwriter and a performer and has been a great fit for my voice. I have always been a songwriter and have loved country music and how emotional I can be as a storyteller in country, but I also love pop music and how I am able to play with different sounds and genres in pop, so merging pop and country has been a perfect fit for me. I love challenging stereotypes and I am definitely not your typical country girl, so of course my music isn't typical country either, and that is what I feel makes me unique as an artist and stand out against everyone else in the industry right now.
Can you talk about the inspiration behind your new single, "Cry"?
YES! I am SO excited to finally release this song. I wanted to release a song that showed my emotional side following my last two releases that were more upbeat and showing my fun, outgoing side. I have been very open about my journey with mental health and my passion for supporting mental health awareness and initiatives. I connected with this song because it sends the message that it's okay to not be okay sometimes, that showing your vulnerabilities isn't a weakness — it's a strength. Breaking down and crying sometimes is healthy and it is a human reaction that is normal.
Cry's message of embracing vulnerability is a powerful and pertinent message that can be applicable universally regardless of background (gender, sexual orientation, race, economic status, etc). Why do you think vulnerability, and accepting it, is a strength rather than weakness? Why is it so important that more people start looking at it as such?
Thank you! I really wanted to release a song that did just that — had an all inclusive positive message when it comes to mental health, and I am so happy with Cry and how well received the song has been so far. I think that being vulnerable isn't something people should see as a weakness because it is easy to bottle things up and pretend things are okay or to avoid emotions, but it takes true strength to really allow yourself to FEEL the emotions and process them. It shows emotional strength in someone to be able to allow themselves to breakdown and cry and open up to someone. We live in a society that still has a long way to go when it comes to being more all inclusive and when it comes to sending the message that it's okay to not be okay sometimes, which is why I want to do what I can to change that in whatever way I can.
How do you personally cope with painful emotions?
I am extremely lucky to have an amazing therapist who has helped me tremendously with dealing with my emotions. Some things that also really help me is meditating, yoga, writing, spending time with my dog and reading. Self-care is SO important and these are excellent ways to cope with emotions. I also have a great support system of friends and family that are there for me and I am so grateful to them all for that.
Mental health is more than something you just write about in your music. You are active with To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Why are these organizations important to you?
As someone who has battled depression and anxiety most of my life, that is why these organizations are important to me and why I am so passionate about mental health awareness. TWLOHA has been a cause that I have supported since I was a teenager because I was someone who self-harmed, so this charity hits home. I want to do so much more when it comes to talking about mental health and really taking a more active role in making a difference with it, and my new song Cry is my first step to doing that.
Do you feel our society has become more understanding of mental illness?
I definitely do, but I still think we have a long way to go. There is not enough access to proper therapy, where people can get proper diagnoses, and there is not enough funding being allocated to these things. We need to normalize showing vulnerability and showing/sharing emotions so we can talk about what we are feeling and going through more openly. Once we start doing this, we can start to normalize mental health one step at a time, but we will get there.
Do you have any advice for individuals struggling with mental health issues?
My advice is that it is okay to feel how you are feeling and that you are not alone. It is okay to feel sad and breakdown and cry, but don't let it consume you and your life because there IS a light at the end of the tunnel and it DOES get better. Don't be afraid to speak up and ask for help and find out WHY you are feeling how you are. Therapy is extremely beneficial — not something to be afraid of or ashamed of.
Do you feel that animals can help people with mental illness?
Yes, 100%, I do. My dog, Aria, actually saved my life at 17 years old when I was in my most depressed state, so I believe that animals can totally help with mental illness. Animals give unconditional love to us, they are always there and won't leave. Animals are creatures that we need to care for, they depend on us so we need to be our best selves to properly take care of them. Those were things that helped and kept me going through my darkest times, so I truly believe animals can make a difference.
What is your motto in life?
My motto in life is "everything happens for a reason".
To learn more about Bree Taylor, please follow her via the below platforms:
www.breetaylor.com
www.unapologeticallybree.com
Instagram: breetaylorofficial
Facebook: breetaylorofficial
Photography by Devyn Hill.
