November 15, 2024 |
Pop princess Upsahl (real name Taylor Cameron Upsahl) has a certain mystery to her: one second she’s screaming a punk rock anthem at you and the next she’s boogying beside you under the glistening lights of a disco ball. That’s the Upsahl effect; you never quite know what you’re going to get, and her latest Melt Me Down tour is no exception. Performing across Europe and the United States, the 25-year-old artist is now in the midst of the UK leg of the tour, showcasing her new single Tears On The Dancefloor which she released earlier this year. Invigorated with an intoxicating energy and fiery electro-pop beats, Tears On The Dancefloor is the perfect song to strut to – it’s an ode to the nights out that end in tears and a side of greasy chips.
The Phoenix-born artist, who has been scribing since 2017, has now amassed over 700 million streams worldwide, as well as a few viral TikTok songs and has several pop hits under her belt; co-writing for artists from Dua Lipa and Demi Lovato to Renee Rapp and Madison Beer. With a blend of unapologetically bold lyrics, 2000s It-girl energy and deep, bass-heavy beats, Upsahl’s songs have a punk sensibility to them that speak to the girls who want to scream and cry and dance all at once.
Now, Upsahl is about to release a new album (which she’s carefully been teasing along the tour), and is gearing up to perform at London’s Lafayette concert hall on November 15. Here, we catch up with the artist to talk about all things Melt Me Down, her suitcase essentials and crying in the club.
1. Who is Upsahl?
Upsahl is kind of like my dream version of myself. I feel like whenever I’m feeling insecure or down, Upsahl is the side of me that pulls me out of it.
2. You’re on your Melt Me Down tour right now, what’s your favourite thing about touring?
MY FANS. I feel so fucking connected to them when I’m touring, it’s like we’re just raging together every night – the energy is magic.
3. What’s your suitcase essential whilst on the road?
My journal. I’m constantly journalling when I’m on the road, whether I’m in the van, in the green room, or at the hotel. It’s how I process how I’m feeling during such an intense time, but also it’s my way of documenting how fucking cool this is so that I can look back on it one day.
4. How has your childhood/upbringing influenced your musical style?
My dad was in punk bands all throughout my childhood, so he had a really big musical influence on me. I feel like that punk attitude has snuck its way into all of my music throughout the years, regardless of the genre. I feel very grateful for my parents being so encouraging about music when I was growing up – I always felt so creatively inspired and supported by them, which I know isn’t always the case for kids who decide they want to be a rock star one day.
5. Which city is your favourite to perform in?
My hometown shows in Phoenix always hit different. My whole family is there and it just feels like such a full circle moment every time. Playing PHX this past month on the Melt Me Down tour was one of my favourite shows of the tour.
6. You write for many other artists too, how does your approach change when writing for someone else?
I feel like when I’m writing for other artists, I get to escape my own artist brain for a second and just focus on helping them tell their story. It’s like a role reversal for me where instead of being the one talking about my life to other people, I get to be the listener. I especially love getting to write for other badass women artists – I get to learn so much from them just from witnessing their creative process.
7. Your single Tears On The Dancefloor was released a few months ago now, when was your last Tears On The Dancefloor moment?
I cried at the bar right before I left for tour. Obviously, crying while out isn’t the cutest most mysterious hot and sexy thing, but I was feeling overwhelmed in all the ways gearing up for this tour, and it all just hit me at the bar. I am NOT good at hiding how I’m feeling, so I just decided to embrace it and have a little mental breakdown at the bar with my friends.
8. What advice would you give to anyone ending their night with tears on the dancefloor?
Embrace it. How lucky are we to feel so intensely to the point of tears? I think it’s therapeutic as fuck, and also, everyone’s probably too worried about themselves to even notice you crying on the dancefloor, so just live in it.
9. what can fans expect from your Melt Me Down tour?
An emotional rollercoaster rager. I want my show to feel like a rock show throughout, where everyone can just fully let go and be themselves the whole time; it’s like an escape for everyone.
10. What does the future have in store for Upsahl?
Lots of new music, lots of touring, and eventually, an arena world tour and the mother fucking Grammys ;).
Photography courtesy of Upsahl.
