There’s a certain moment when a young artist stops sounding like a promising voice and starts feeling like the real thing. Taylon Hope has been circling that threshold for years, but during her latest Press Play Radio interview with The Don and Tina, it was clear—she’s stepped all the way into her artistry. Confident, magnetic, and full of quiet grit, Taylon is telling stories now—not just her own, but ones that speak for anyone who’s ever left, been left, or learned to stand on their own.

“Cold in Colorado,” one of her latest singles, isn’t her personal story—she admits that up front—but it’s written with such lived-in detail that it may as well be. “I’ve been trying to write from different perspectives,” she explained. “Stories I’ve heard, stories someone I know has lived. It’s cool to see people relate, even when it didn’t come from me.” The result is a chilly ballad that hits like a heartbreak in altitude, while Howdy, her upbeat summer stunner, flips the switch entirely—boot-stomping sass and all.

But make no mistake—behind the southern charm and sunshine-smile is a songwriter who cuts deeper than her years might suggest. Tina compared Taylon’s ability to tap into emotional truth to a spiritual conduit. “You’re a channel,” she told her. “Not everybody can do what you do—sit alone in a room and pull that magic out of yourself.” Taylon’s response? A quiet, grateful nod: “It’s even better when someone tells you they needed it.”

Raised on a diet of Taylor Swift, Hannah Montana, and Red-era country-pop, Taylon remembers buying Swift’sRed as her first album, which also happened to be her first concert. “I still love her songwriting,” she said. “That album meant a lot.” From there, the conversation slid easily into Song Story territory—a Press Play favorite where artists reveal the first piece of music that shaped them. The Don and Tina chimed in with Foreigner and Aldo Nova memories, but it was Taylon’s Swiftie roots that offered a full-circle feel, especially when The Don jokingly warned her: “Be careful what you write. You’re gonna drop a whole album on somebody.”

Case in point: Howdy. The song’s playful exterior—backed by a line-dancing music video filmed in an old-timey saloon set, complete with fog machines and vintage trucks—masks a clever twist. “He’s not your typical cowboy,” Taylon laughed. “He drives a Cadillac.” The video, set for release mid-August, features friends, dancers, and even a cleverly disguised romantic subplot. “You never really see who the guy is,” she teased. “It’s like a mini-movie.”

But if she’s writing grown-up songs now, she’s still keeping it grounded. Taylon lets her parents and grandparents hear everything before she releases it. “They’ll be honest,” she smiled. “If they like it, I know it’s okay.” Family remains her compass—especially when navigating heartbreaks, music videos, or even awkward moments like kissing scenes on TV. “It’s weird,” she admitted. “But I let them in on it all.”

Later, the conversation veered to AI in music, guilty pleasure skips (news stations, if you’re Taylon), and what makes an ideal guy. Her answer? “Good personality, respectful, kind… and someone who puts in effort.” Not a bad lyric seed if you ask us.

Taylon Hope is writing songs that feel like they’ve already lived inside you—whether they’re about heartache in the Rockies or Cadillac cowboys you haven’t met yet. With more than just raw talent, she’s got the storytelling chops, the work ethic, and the authenticity to carry country music somewhere new.

Catch Taylon Hope’s latest singles “Cold in Colorado” and “Howdy” on all major streaming platforms.
Follow her at facebook.com/TaylonHopeMusic and don’t miss the “Howdy” video, dropping mid-August.

Press play. Turn it up. And watch her rise.