We dive deep with Taylor Acorn live from When We Were Young Fest to explore her unique pre-show ritual of listening to Counting Crows to get centered. She opens up about her mental health journey and how it has shaped her songwriting, connecting raw emotion with today's music.
"I gotta listen to a little bit of Zen... I need to balance it. I'm like, cry a little bit. I don't know."
Live from the middle of the desert, we're hanging out with Taylor Acorn right after her massive set at When We Were Young Festival 2025! Taylor was shocked to see how many people chose her set over scene legends Mayday Parade, who were playing at the same time. We even broke the news to her that she has her own billboard out on the Las Vegas strip.
Instead of a high-energy pump-up playlist, Taylor walks us through her pre-show ritual, which involves getting Zen and finding balance by listening to Counting Crows—a stark contrast to the energy drink she's usually drinking at the same time. She opens up about what makes her music so emo, citing her longtime struggles with mental health and her passion for writing about her experiences to help others feel less alone. It's this authenticity that resonates with so many fans. We also get the details on her brand new record, which is available now!
Key Topics & Timestamps:
[00:07] Playing When We Were Young & Competing with Mayday Parade
[00:39] The Surprise Billboard on the Vegas Strip
[01:04] Pre-Show Rituals: Getting Zen with Counting Crows
[03:45] Her Upcoming New Record & Where to Find It
Guest/Band Links:
Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A0WloDoRE88uUwo3wensY]
Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/tayloracornmusic/]
Official Website: [https://www.tayloracorn.com/]
Episode Highlights:
"Mayday Parade was playing at the same time. So I was like, honestly, I would be at their set too."
"Before I play a show, I listen to Counting Crows... it kind of just like, relaxes me in a way."
"I've struggled with my mental health for many, many years. And so it's something that I write about a lot and something that I know very well."