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What inspired the story and emotion behind your new single “MAKERS”?
“MAKERS” was inspired by the moment I realized real love doesn’t hit you like fireworks it settles into your life like something familiar you didn’t know you were missing. I kept thinking about those small, quiet moments with my wife where everything felt steady and safe. The song came out of wanting to capture that feeling… the moment you recognize you’re not just falling in love, you’re landing somewhere you can stay.
You compare falling in love to a smooth Kentucky blend how did that shape the songwriting?
Whiskey has this honesty to it it warms you, it slows you down, and it tells the truth whether you’re ready for it or not. That’s what love felt like for me. Not chaotic. Not confusing. Just slow, real, and familiar.
So when we wrote it, the lyrics and melodies followed that same pace. No overthinking. No hard edges. Just something that feels like it goes down easy but lingers long after.
The video feels like a memory you can’t shake. What was your vision for filming it in an old Tennessee bar?
When you walk into those old Tennessee bars, the walls feel like they’ve seen everything first kisses, last calls, fights, weddings, heartbreak. I wanted the video to look like the place where a real love story could’ve started. Not staged. Not perfect. Just lived-in.
We shot it like a memory… something a little blurry around the edges but crystal clear in feeling.
What moment during the shoot felt the most real or personal to you?
There was a moment when the cameras weren’t supposed to be rolling the music was low, the lights were dim, and I was just sitting at the bar thinking about my wife and our journey. The director quietly caught that. When I saw the playback, it stunned me because it wasn’t acting… it was just me remembering where I came from and who helped get me here.
You recently signed with T&L Records Nashville what does this new chapter mean for you?
It means everything. It means belief. It means someone saw what I was building from the ground up and said, “Let’s take this all the way.”
T&L Records feels like family not just because of the people involved, but because of the heart behind it. This chapter is about growth, faith, and finally being surrounded by a team that pushes me to be the best version of myself.
Your journey from Waterloo to Nashville is unique. When did you know music couldn’t just be a side hustle anymore?
There was a night in Waterloo when I played to maybe eight people and something in me still felt full. I remember driving home thinking, If I still love this when nobody’s watching, then this isn’t a hobby.
When I moved to Nashville, that feeling only got louder. It became obvious that music wasn’t something I wanted to do… it was something I had to do.
You’ve gone from Screamo frontman to rising country star. How did that evolution influence your sound?
The emo and screamo days taught me how to feel everything loudly how to scream the truth even when your voice shakes. Country taught me how to say it in a way people can carry with them.
So my sound now lives right between those worlds: emotional, honest, melodic, and a little bit raw. I didn’t lose the heart of where I started… I just learned how to tell the story differently.
You’ve had major milestones, from Boots & Hearts to hitting #1 on SiriusXM. Which moment has felt the most defining?
Boots & Hearts was the moment I felt seen. SiriusXM was the moment I felt believed.
But the most defining moment wasn’t onstage, it was calling my parents and telling them we hit #1. Hearing the emotion in their voices… that was the moment it hit me that this dream wasn’t just mine anymore. It belonged to everyone who helped get me here.
Fans connect deeply with your storytelling. What do you hope people feel when they listen to “MAKERS”?
I hope they feel understood. I hope they hear their own love, not mine.
If someone listens and thinks, “That reminds me of us… that reminds me of her… that reminds me of him,” then the song did its job. “MAKERS” is about the kind of love that steadies you. The kind that shows up every day. The kind you’re grateful for long after the moment passes.
With new music on the way, what can fans expect from this next era of Drew Taylor?
A more confident version of who I’ve always been. Bigger stories. Rawer emotions. More edge.
Country with a heartbeat and a little bit of emo soul left in it.
I’m not hiding the past, and I’m not running from where I’m headed. This next era is everything I’ve lived through bottled up, shaken once, and poured straight.
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