If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: The best country music right now is coming out of Appalachia.
Of course, as a West Virginia native I may be biased, but just look at the names who’ve come out of states like West Virginia and Kentucky lately. Charles Wesley Godwin, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Chris Stapleton… not to mention legends like Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam and Patty Loveless. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in those mountains.
And today we’re going to introduce you to another rising star from the Bluegrass State.
Brit Taylor grew up in the small town of Hindman, Kentucky, playing on the Kentucky Opry as a child before making the move to Nashville.
But like many who move to Music City to chase their dreams in country music, it wasn’t easy for Taylor.
After walking away from a songwriting deal because of the kind of songs she was expected to write to make it in the “new Nashville,” Taylor instead started her own cleaning business – because as she put it, she’d rather “clean shitty toilets than write shitty songs.” (I wish more songwriters in Nashville felt this way…we’d have fewer shitty songs AND shitty toilets. But I digress).
Explained Taylor:
“It was pure survival. I needed money to eat and to pay the bills and to make my music.”
Luckily she didn’t totally walk away from the music industry, and in 2020 released her debut album Real Me – this time, making the kind of music she wanted to make.
Now Taylor is gearing up to release her sophomore album, Kentucky Blue, early next year, and for this one she got some help from a fellow Kentuckian: The album is produced by Sturgill Simpson, along with all-star producer David Ferguson, who’s produced and engineered albums for names like Johnny Cash, Tyler Childers, Charlie Pride and John Prine.
And today, we’re pumped to bring you the first listen to Brit Taylor’s latest release from the upcoming album.
“Rich Little Girls,” which will be released everywhere this coming Friday, November 18, is a sassy ode to working women, one that also manages to take some not-so-subtle shots at those “rich little girls” who have everything handed to them on a silver platter.
“Rich little girls have rich little friends
They ride around town in their Rovers and their Benz
Doing cocaine, the party never ends
In the perfect world
While they’re all staying out all night long
I’m clocking in at the crack of dawn
It’s what you gotta do to keep the lights turned on
When you’re a working girl
9 to 5? Honey I wish
More like 24/7
The only days off that I’m gonna get
Are when I get to heaven”
The fiddle-soaked tune was written by Taylor along with Kimberly Kelly and Adam Wright, and as Taylor explains, it’s about paying your dues to reach your dreams:
“Playing gigs is the goal. But the artist has to have a side job just so she can afford to pay the band, rent the van and trailer and pay for the fuel and hotel rooms – all to get to a gig that often leaves her deep in the red. But it’s what you have to do.”
But that hard work eventually pays off:
“It’s been worth every minute of it. Today I am making a record with Sturgill Simpson! I may not have riches, but I am certainly rich.”
Now, not only is Brit Taylor making records with Sturgill Simpson, but she’s also been on the road this year opening for names like Blackberry Smoke, Alabama, and another icon from her home state, Dwight Yoakam.
Just proves that sometimes you’ve just gotta stop writing shitty songs and start cleaning shitty toilets to help you find your way.
If you haven’t heard her other releases from Brit’s upcoming album Kentucky Blue, coming February 2, 2023, check them out too.
Kentucky Blue
Cabin in the Woods
