Taylon Hope – My Christmas Lights

By: Robert Warren

Q) How would you describe your sound as an artist?

A) My sound is country music, for sure. Growing up and being from North Carolina, I think that shows through in my sound and my music. I live for the build in a song. I love to sing BIG songs!

Q) You’ve got a new song out called “My Christmas Lights.” What can you tell us about what inspired you to create this?

A) I wrote “My Christmas Lights” with Bill Diluigi. This past year has been so difficult on everyone that I imagined this couple enjoying the holidays together and having now worries about anything just enjoying a new relationship and being together at Christmas. So, we really took this vision and story and built the song from there.

Q) One of the things that’s so great about this song is how vivid you make lyrics like “…It’s a good night for walkin’ in the snow oh oh oh oh; Put your hands in the pocket of my coat.” What’s your song writing process like? 

A) I love that you said this about the lyrics. My goal in songwriting is for others to be able to relate and to tell stories through my songs. When I write I usually start with the chorus first and then I build my songs around that.

Q) Who inspires you as an artist during Christmas time? (I know Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson and Mariah Carey have also got some killer Christmas Music)!

A) My inspirations for Christmas music would be Amy Grant and Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, and, yes, I do love some Michael Bublé!

Q) You created this song so people could appreciate the holiday despite all the craziness in the world, why do you think that is so important? 

A) Yes, it is so important for others to escape their worries and, especially this past year, it’s been so stressful on the world. I just think that music can be a great escape for people! So, it was important to me that this song make people feel the magic and love that Christmas can bring. Hopefully, listening to the song took them away for a few minutes to a beautiful place.

Q) You mention being a hopeless romantic in a press release, watching many movies at Christmas time. Tell us the story of what is your favorite holiday movie? 

A) Well, my Grandmother loves Hallmark Movies so, of course, I have grown up watching those with her every Christmas. However, I am a sucker for a great romance movie! Who doesn’t love a great love story? Two of my all-time favorite movies are The Notebook and Titanic.

Q) Christmas tracks tend to have a magical feeling of escapism to them, that make you get lost in wonder and yours definitely has that. What feeling do you get when you sing this track? 

A) Yes, when Kent [Wells] and I produced the song together we were looking for magic and that is what we got! We loved how it turned out. When I sing this song it really does make me happy. I love telling this story every time I sing it. It makes me feel like that true love is so real and beautiful and can help you see the good in everything around you.

Q) How did you go about choosing what instruments to use in this song (or even sleigh bells)? 

A) Kent and I loved adding the sleigh bells. We thought they only added to the magic of the scene we were building with the song. We both agreed to start the song out slow to add to the specialness of the words and the moment that the couple was sharing in the song. Then, we really liked how the song builds and has more of an upbeat tempo to it including the electric guitar.

Q) Can we expect a Christmas album coming in the future? 

A) I would love to do another Christmas album. I just love Christmas music and that time of year! So, yes for sure be watching for one in the future as I would love to do another one!

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and followers? 

A) I can’t say thank you enough to all of my fans and followers! They mean so much to me and keep me wanting to challenge myself on writing the best songs for them! I love them and appreciate their support so much! They motivate me every day!!!!