Life & Work with Taylor Cullen of Kansas City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Cullen

Hi Taylor, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started writing songs when I was 9 years old in a little pink notebook that I got for my birthday – I still have it to this day and look back at it for a laugh. As I got older and more inspired by incredible female musicians, namely Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, and The Chicks, I taught myself how to play the piano and guitar. I will never forget the first time I put music to my lyrics, it was a magical feeling! Songwriting has always been such a powerful emotional outlet for me, one that I knew I wanted as more than just a hobby.

I am extremely lucky to have a huge support system in my family, who still are one of the first to hear every song I write. My parents travelled with me as I played across the country during my high school years, managed booking shows, and even helped teenaged me with networking to secure my endorsements: Kurzweil keyboards, Ultrasone Headphones, Daisy Rock Guitars, Artist Relations, and the Piano Store. It was a whirlwind of a time, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

As I approached adulthood, I wanted to continue pursuing music while having a sense of stability. Coming from a family of nurses, it was a no-brainer – I became a labor and delivery nurse in 2018. I am extremely passionate about both of my careers, and I am lucky to have the opportunity to merge them on occasion. I am a proud member of the bereavement team at my hospital and every October we have a butterfly release for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. I have been at the bedside of countless mothers experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives, and that inspired me to write a song, Butterfly Wings. I will perform it next month at our Walk to Remember in remembrance of every parent who has lost a child. It means everything to me to be a part of this event.

I have been lucky enough to open for many incredible artists, including Phil Vassar, Clay Walker and Mark Chesnutt. I record all of my music with my producer, Bill Warner, in Nashville, TN, and have been doing a lot of writing this year. I have hopes to release a new project in the next year! I have lived in many different states, but there is nothing quite like Kansas City, and I feel very honored to perform at venues across the KC metro.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! It was extremely difficult to manage big dreams while growing up. I didn’t get to have a “normal” childhood – I was doing online high school so I could travel for my music and attend big conferences, such as the NAMM show in Los Angeles. I have no regrets, but occasionally I wish I could have experienced my senior year of high school or walked across the stage with my classmates for graduation,

The music industry is cutthroat – you have to have a thick skin and get used to being told “no”. It’s very easy to get lost in the business aspect and forget your creativity. That is something I have really struggled with over the years. It is a delicate balance of pushing for success and keeping the spark of creativity alive inside of you. Every song I write is very special to me, but not every song is one that I would share with the world.

With the rise of social media, it is also much easier for people to spread negativity behind a screen. You have to expect that sharing something you are proud of will be met with a certain level of backlash.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I fell in love with country music the moment my mom gave me her Dixie Chicks CD (now known as The Chicks) when I was a young girl. I write and play mostly country music, but dislike putting myself in a box. I enjoy all kinds of music and my live show set list includes many genres spanning multiple decades.

I am most proud of my songwriting ability. There is nothing more magical to me than putting pen to paper and creating something tangible for something I feel in my head.

What’s next?
I plan to continue making music for my entire life. My vision of success has changed a lot since I began seriously pursuing music at 15 years old. I create for myself, because I love it, and because it helps me work through my emotions. If just one person can relate or is inspired by my lyricism or music, I consider that the ultimate success. My number one goal is to be happy – whether I’m playing music for my dog in my living room or for a huge crowd.

I plan on making my way back to Nashville in 2025 to record a new project! And, of course, I will continue playing venues around KC and beyond.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylor_cullen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorcullenmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@taylorcullenmusic
• Other: https://linktr.ee/taylorlynncullen