Name: Taylor Simone
Major: African-American Studies
College/Year: CC, ‘14
We meet at Joes on 120th. She dons purple lipstick and hanging domino earrings. I don a nervousness that has become all too familiar to a first year at Columbia. Taylor Simone’s confidence and accomplishments come almost as an offense—like how the hell are you writing your own music, performing in venues, and creating music videos? Have you not yet been introduced to my friend called the Core Curriculum? But Taylor is a living example of how it is possible to balance schoolwork with your aspirations and the paradigm of being confident even when in doubt, assured even when unsure.
Taylor Simone, a Los Angeles native, was a singer throughout high school and continued her singing at Columbia University by joining the acapella group Nonsequitur. Her experience was incredibly positive in part due to the tight-knit group of friends she gained, but she unfortunately had to stop singing during her sophomore year. Despite this setback, other issues of interest were able to come onto her radar. She joined Fem-Sex, a forum in which gender and sexuality issues were discussed. These new experiences allowed Taylor to realize that she was interested in social justice, and where else does one with such interests go to than to the hub of social justice awareness on campus? The Intercultural Resource Center.
As Taylor departed from her phase of teenage angst into the world of social awareness, her music and her perception of her music changed because she had gained more awareness of her social identity and localized herself within society. This localization of self made her more aware of the contentious and political topics in her music. She disparages materialism in her song “Greedy,” singing, “Tis the season to be greedy nah mean, but take it easy cause you know that shit is fleetin’ nah mean?” She speaks from a feminist viewpoint in her song “Hand” in which she croons, “I could never understand how someone’s biggest goal could be a boy…I’m thinkin’ Paris, and you’re thinkin’ kitchen sinks.” Still, Taylor does not want to be a radicalized or politicized singer. She tells me, “I’m not aiming to make my work hella political. If you talk what you know, it’s political. The personal is political.” Taylor also just wants to write about “flowers and a crush” which we can all relate to.
This ability for audience members to relate is one of Taylor’s goals as a musician. It is truly inspiring to see one of our own, a lioness, maneuvering life solo and humbly aware of how she can be a voice of her community, as well as a vessel of change. She says that “I believe artists listen to the community around them and then become a vessel of this community.
One of the things that resonated with me most was the support Taylor told me she has received from her friends here. This comradeship and support is refreshing in one of the most competitive universities. We should stay tight and avoid getting swept up in the competitiveness, appreciate one another’s talents and champion each other’s goals.
So what else can we learn from Taylor Simone? Pursue your aspirations. Believe in your ability to balance said aspirations with schoolwork. Have faith in what you have done here at your time at Columbia and what you will continue to do. Download Songs From The Front Yard . Keep your eye out for her new music video for the song “Greedy” set to be released in mid-February. Go out and do what makes you happy. A cliché, but one for good reason. Validate your passions, empower your soul, share your voice.
Check Taylor out on taylorsimonemusic.com