Spotlight on Business: In your career thus far, I know you’re still young. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your professional and music journey? Taylor Jensen: I have two: to be yourself and to be authentic. When I first started in the music industry, I didn’t think being who I was, was enough. You see big-name artists on stage, being so outgoing and full of energy, it’s amazing! I thought I had to be this loud, outgoing person when, naturally, I’m pretty quiet and introverted. I decided to take a step back and rethink the narrative I’d told myself. I’ve since learned that I don’t need to wear a mask and let down the walls I had built, not only as a musician but in general. The more authentic I am, the more authentic my music is, and the more authentic I become around people. I feel so in tune with myself now, and I can’t imagine being any other way. Spotlight on Business: You are very talented, and we believe your decision to pursue your music career was definitely the best decision for you, but is there ever a time when you’ve thought, maybe this isn’t the right direction for me?
Some family members called me and were like “I’m listening to it right now!” It was a full-circle moment but also a moment of disbelief. I teared up a little bit. I was proud of myself for how far I’ve come, not only as a musician but also for all the personal obstacles that I pushed myself through and for having the strength to be vulnerable and put these songs out into the world for others to hear. Life gets busy, and there’s always a new goal to reach, but I think it’s important to recognize how far you’ve come and celebrate those milestones. Spotlight on Business: What song was it? Taylor Jensen: It was “Over.” Which, ironically, is such a funny song for me because I wrote it in about fifteen minutes when I was pretty fired up about a situation. It was right after the Juno’s had been in Halifax, a guy I had been seeing said he didn’t want to see me anymore because I was a singer. It got me thinking about all the times I downplayed myself in life, or when someone said I was being dramatic, or I was being too out there. I’ve made myself very small in the past and I was like, “No more!” Be overdramatic, be ambitious, but most importantly, be who you want to be. The right people will stand by you.
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INDUSTRY • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE 43
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