TAYLOR ACORN
Taylor Acorn plays sleek, stylish modern pop rooted in her love of classic pop-punk and emo. Early releases like 2017’s “Put It in a Song” and “Something Tonight” were pop-centered and even bore traces of country, but by the early 2020s, her underlying emo streak was pushed to the forefront. Acorn’s stripped-down covers of Matchbox 20‘s “Unwell” and blink-182‘s “First Date” found an audience and she soon emphasized these traits in her own music. 2023’s Certified Depressant EP led to her first headlining tour and prominent festival slots throughout Europe and the U.S. She followed these successes with her full-length debut, Survival in Motion, in 2024.
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Taylor Acorn spent much of her childhood moving around the United States before settling in Pennsylvania following the death of her father when she was eight years old. After his death, Acorn turned toward music, eventually learning to play the guitar in her teens. Inspired by the pop-punk scene of the ’90s and early 2000s, she began learning cover songs and playing at local talent shows; she even auditioned for both American Idol and The Voice. After a couple years studying at Pennsylvania’s Kutztown University, Acorn relocated to Nashville to pursue a music career.
Early singles “Without You” and “What Do I Do” were followed by 2017’s Put It in a Song EP which helped build her audience; the title track in particular racked up a number of hits on streaming services. She emphasized her pop influence by covering John Mayer‘s “Your Body Is a Wonderland” with David Ryan in 2018. Four singles, highlighted by “Red White,” arrived in 2019; “Back to You,” “I’m with You,” and “Therapy” rounded out her year. In 2020, Acorn released “Paper Airplanes” and “It’s Not This,” along with her cover of Matchbox 20‘s “Unwell.” Her shift from pop back toward her pop-punk roots continued over the next two years with version of blink-182‘s “First Date” and a covers EP, Stay Emo.
Partnering with All Time Low producer Dan Swank, Acorn brought all of her stylistic influences to bear on 2023’s Certified Depressant. Co-produced by Swank and Andrew Pacheco, the eight-song project also featured the song “Coma,” co-written with singer Cassadee Pope. Along with a successful headlining tour of the U.S., she supported acts like Real Friends and Grayscale, while also playing major festivals throughout Europe and America. Singles like “Greener,” “High Horse,” and “People Watching” arrived throughout 2024 as Acorn built up to the September release of her debut full-length, Survival in Motion.