UPSAHL has the time of her life in mesmerizing live performance–watch
UPSAHL is having a career-defining year straight out of a dream. After releasing high-energy collabs such as “Happy Endings” featuring Mike Shinoda and iann dior and “Palm Reader” with DREAMERS and Big Boi, and also co-writing with Anne-Marie and Little Mix on “Kiss My (Uh Oh),” she’s exclusively premiering a stunning live rendition of her latest track with AltPress.
Now, viral hitmaker UPSAHL, aka Taylor Upsahl, is fresh off the release of her deeply honest, relatable new indie-pop-infused single “Time of my Life.” In the track, she explores how your best years can still be clouded with a little darkness. “So how come all the worst days are in the time of my life/Time of my life,” she sings.
Read more: The Maine discuss the making of ‘XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time’
UPSAHL will finally be able to perform for fans soon and share her 2021 singles from her forthcoming debut album, including “Douchebag” and “Melatonin,” as she embarks on a cross-country tour with Olivia O’Brien. Grab your tickets here.
You can see the mesmerizing live performance of UPSAHL’s “Time of my Life” below, as well as an exclusive interview with the artist on the track.
What does “Time of my Life” mean to you? What personal experiences, if any, helped you write this track?
“Time of my Life” is about being in the best and worst place in my life, all at the same time. I didn’t realize that these two feelings can exist simultaneously until this past year. As the highs got higher, the lows got lower. The day we wrote the song, I just had the question [of], “How come all the worst days are in the time of my life?” floating around in my head. We wrote that into the chorus first, and then I feel like we blacked out and an hour later had a song. [Laughs.]
What inspired the visuals and storyline for the “Time of my Life” music video?
George Gallardo [Kattah], the director, and I have been working on music videos together for the past year or so, so when I told him the story behind the song, he immediately asked me if most of my self-reflective moments took place in the shower. I said yes, and he just took that idea and ran with it. We wanted the entire video to take place in a shower while using the cut-up lip as a transition between past and present to showcase the best and worst times of my life. I feel like the meaning of this song isn’t specific to a certain age, so we showed what the “time of my life” looks like at different parts of my life.
How was your experience piecing together and performing the song live? What was the most memorable part of the shoot?
This shoot was the first time I got to play with my band in months, so just being in a studio with them and playing live again was hella fun. It was also the first time we ever rehearsed or played the song together. We were so excited about how new it felt to us. We just jumped right into filming while the energy was still fresh. Since the bassline in the song is so prominent, I wanted to play bass for part of the performance. I definitely feel most empowered when I’m playing bass onstage.
The song is very deep, tackling subjects like growing up, heartbreak, etc. What’s your favorite lyric and why?
I think my favorite lyric in the song is “Guess I’m gonna fake it ’cause I still look amazing.” It’s probably the least deep lyric in the song. But as a songwriter, I love juxtaposing a really serious topic with some humor to lighten the overall vibe. By the time you hear that lyric in the song, you’ve been on this roller coaster of emotions, and then it just hits you with the idea of, “Well fuck it, I’m still hot, so I’m just going to do the best I can to have a good time.” I try really hard not to take life so seriously sometimes, which is very empowering, and I wanted the listener to feel that way too.
UPSAHL tour dates:
08/30 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory
08/31 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
09/01 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre
10/12 – London, UK @ The Courtyard
11/02 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
11/03 – Sante Fe, NM @ Warehouse Live
11/05 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
11/09 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
11/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
11/11 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
11/13 – New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
11/14 – New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall
11/17 – Boston MA @ Royale
11/20 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
11/23 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
11/24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
11/28 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
