Taylor Bickett – The Crime

By starrymag | April 30, 2025

By: Kaylyn Bell

 

 

Q) You’ve said you have been writing music your whole life. What is it about this art form that resonates with you?

 

A) I don’t know what it is about music that has captivated me above any other art form. It’s just something that I’ve loved since before I can remember. I will say that I think music has a remarkable way of breaking down barriers. It allows us to connect with each other and feel things in such a special way. I’m sure there’s a scientific reason for it. Or maybe it’s just magic. 

 

Q) Your music has been compared to Gracie Abrams and Conan Gray, with relatable storytelling being a prominent feature of your work. You’ve recently shifted to creating even more personal songs; why was it important to you to get deeper with what you’re expressing through your music?

 

A) I’m honored to be compared to both of those artists, and I admire what they’re doing so much. I use songwriting to process my emotions. I can’t help but write what I feel. Sometimes it’s odd to share songs that come from such personal places, but I think that’s what makes art so special. We express the world in the way that we experience it, and then others take what we’ve made and apply it to their own lives. Maybe they create art from it, and the cycle keeps going. My most recent single was the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever released and while I was nervous to share it, it has also been so freeing. When you release a song, it’s almost like you relinquish the story to the universe. It suddenly belongs to anyone who hears it, not just you. 

 

Q) Your new song “The Crime” addresses the female experience, highlighting the misplaced blame women face living in a culture of victim blaming. What message do you hope listeners take away from it?

 

A) I wrote “The Crime” after a traumatic experience that put me face to face with the danger of being a woman. I was on a walk near my house in Nashville when a man pulled up beside me, trying to hit on me. When I ignored him, he followed me and purposefully hit me with his car. I was lucky to get away and not sustain any major injuries, but I was devastated and terrified. I wrote the song as a way to work through what happened, but after writing it, I realized that it was something I felt a responsibility to share. I hope that anyone who listens can feel understood and seen, especially if they have been a victim of violence. I think that sharing our stories is so important; it gives us power over them.

 

Q) The music video for “The Crime” is really impactful with powerful statistics and imagery. Is there a specific moment or scene in the video that is particularly meaningful to you?

 

A) It was such a beautiful and fulfilling experience to create the music video for “The Crime.” We brought together a diverse group of incredible women to tell the story alongside me, illustrating that it is not mine alone to share—every woman has experienced the fear of violence. It’s taught to us from an early age that we should never walk alone at night. That we should carry our keys like a weapon and cover our drinks at parties. I really loved the way we were able to portray those little moments in the video. The scene that really gets me when I watch it, though, is the one with the mom and daughter. While there are terrifying parts of being a woman, there is (more importantly) also gentleness and love and strength and power. The mother-daughter relationship is something so sacred and it was a joy to portray that.

 

Q) This song has touched so many people, some expressing that it has given them a voice. What does it mean to you to have this profound impact on people through your music?

 

A) It’s one of those songs where you almost hope people can’t relate to it. It breaks my heart reading people’s stories and messages who have been impacted by “The Crime,” but I also feel so honored that my art was able to help them and that it inspired them to be brave and share their experiences.

 

Q) You partnered with The Circle, a global charity dedicated to preventing violence against women. Why did you choose this charity specifically, and what can people do to support it?

 

A) I chose The Circle because it focuses specifically on empowering women in vulnerable communities, ones where violence is most prevalent. I love that it’s a global charity and partners with grassroots organizations because I didn’t want to have to pick a specific location to send funds. The Circle was also started by a fellow musician and someone who has been an inspiration to me, Annie Lennox. I thought that the team there would especially understand what I’m trying to do as a musician wanting to make a difference, and I was correct. They have been so supportive throughout this project.

 

Q) You’re doing a solo acoustic U.S. tour from April to June this year. What inspired you to take this more intimate approach for this run of shows?

 

A) There is a magic to playing solo that I’ve just fallen in love with. That’s how I write most of my songs, just me and a guitar or piano, and I really wanted to share that for my first few headline shows.

 

Q) What cans fans expect from a live Taylor Bickett performance?

 

A) To have fun! We need fun and connection and lightheartedness more than anything right now. I want to create a welcoming environment where people can come and just listen to music and let the world fall away. It’s also my favorite thing ever when people tell me they made friends at my shows. Since most of my fans found me through the internet, it’s such a good opportunity to connect in person with people who have similar interests and music taste.

 

Q) Many people recognize you from your viral song “QUARTER LIFE CRISIS,” about the challenges of transitioning to adulthood. Looking at your musical journey so far, what aspect of your growth are you most proud of?

 

A) I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still smack dab in the middle of my quarter life crisis, but I do feel like I’ve grown so much in the past few years. I’m most proud of the kindness I give myself. I give myself so much more grace than ever before, and I’ve done a lot of work on the way I talk to myself. I also think it’s apparent in my music. I find myself writing in a more compassionate and mature way these days.

 

Q) What is next for you and your music? Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

 

A) I am in the process of writing my first album! I’m so excited to be able to share a full-length project. This music feels so authentic to me and I think I’ve finally found my sound as an artist. I can’t wait to share that with the world.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I would die if I could collaborate with Ryan Beatty and Ethan Gruska. The album Calico, performed by Ryan and produced by Ethan, aside from being one of the most beautiful and thoughtful projects I’ve ever heard, marked a season of my life and holds such a special place in my heart. 

 

Q) Is there anything else you would say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your work?

 

A) Be kind to yourself! Give yourself grace! You deserve it!