Taylor Loren: "Bringing Old Country Back With a New Twist"

Avoiding the usual country music songs about Daisy Dukes, pickup trucks, and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Delray Beach cutie Taylor Loren has more of an edge.

"My music is country with a little bit of outlaw Western style with a little bit of folk because I play acoustic guitar," the 22-year-old gushes.

And gush is the perfect verb to describe Loren. Upon talking to her, you can hear her smile and the excitement in her voice. The best part is, you can't help but smile back. It's damned contagious. So imagine our surprise when Loren, all smiles and bubbles, described the premise for her song "Wanted" as "two girls killing another girl because there is a price out for her -- she stole their man."

Wait, what? But then again, that's part of the Western country feel. Picture old country "wanted" posters with gunslingers, tumbleweeds, rattlesnakes, saloons, and John Wayne music, as Loren describes. With Loren's music, she is "bringing old country back with a new twist."

"A lot of people say I have an old soul," says Loren. "I love old country. I love the country out today, but I love old country like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Johnny Cash. The new country doesn't have soul or as much meaning, and I want to bring that back to country today."

So which country singer does she lean toward today? "My all-time favorite is Miranda Lambert -- [she's my] all-time favorite and my all-time favorite forever. My favorite song from her is 'Gunpowder and Lead,' and I cover that song. She's such a badass in the way she performs and writes music. She's such a woman powerhouse for country women. She hunts, she uses guns, and she's so comfortable onstage. She writes her own music, and there's a lot to be said for people who write their own music."

We were nearing the end of our interview when we asked Loren, "Do you think that soul has a big influence in your music and why?" Without skipping a beat, she gave a spot-on answer applicable to all career fields. "It's so important to have soul and passion and drive in what you do as an artist," she said. "You gotta put your heart and soul into your passion, and it helps you excel when you have passion for what you do." Preach, girl.

Taylor Loren, 10 p.m. Saturday October 11, at Sawgrass Willy's. 9910 Alt A1A Palm Beach Gardens. Visit http://www.swampgrasswillys.net/

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