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Rising pop-punk singer-songwriter Taylor Acorn celebrates the announcement of her debut album Survival In Motion (out September 13) with the release of the LP's highly anticipated title track. Following the success of her previous singles, "Greener" and "High Horse," the new song is a riotous and powerful offering with edgy guitar riffs, high-octane percussion patterns, and poignant lyrics delivered by rich vocals reminding listeners that “no matter what they may go through, they are all walking representation of survival in motion and life is a gift no matter how crazy it can become."

The Noise was honored to chat with Acorn about the upcoming album, what "survival in motion" means to her, and her forthcoming tour with emo icons Dashboard Confessional and Boys Like Girls.

Congratulations on the new record! Can you tell me more about the meaning of its title, Survival In Motion, and how its meaning has influenced/ inspired the record overall?

TAYLOR ACORN: Thank you so much! So this title was actually inspired by a poetry book that I had randomly picked out while I was at a bookstore with my co-writer Emma [Lynn] right before New Years. It was really odd because the cover of the book looked almost identical to the cover art of my song “Basement” that I released last year, literally up to the color scheme. I just thought it was so random and I had opened it up to a page where there was a phrase that said “You are a walking representation of survival in motion” and it just stuck with me because it’s true. No matter what we go through -- pain, success, anxiety, depression, love, sadness, loss -- we are alive and we are surviving every day. It’s not easy but it can be so beautiful and it just embodies everything that I’ve felt over the past few years. It just felt really powerful and embodies every song on this record and I’m just really happy that book and phrase found me. 

I adored the singles you put out to tease the record's release, especially "Greener!" Why did you choose these singles specifically to usher in the LP? Was it a decision as simple as just loving those the most, or was it something more intentional?

To be so honest it was really hard to choose which songs I wanted as singles because I love every song on this album so much. “Greener” was one that from the day we got the demo back, I was obsessed with and I still am. It feels so nostalgic, which is something I crave so much when it comes to music, and it made me feel so many emotions. I’ve been through a lot over the years and have struggled pretty badly with my mental health and anxiety about my career and to write something like that and finally mean it, it makes me so proud. “High Horse” and “Survival In Motion” are very similar in the sense of finally finding the guts to stick up for myself and others. I’ve let a lot of people on the internet over the years make me feel as if I’m not good enough or that I am the things that they say that I am when none of it is true. I think people forget that we are all human and we are all so much more alike than what we give ourselves credit for and I just hope that these songs give others who are nervous to speak up a voice or at least make them feel less alone. To have those as focal songs on the album felt important. 

Tell me about the early days of the album creation process. Was it something you felt ready to tackle in your career and set out to do, or was it a more intuitive decision where you felt like you were writing a ton and felt like a full-length body of work was coming together?

I think the album really wrote itself in the sense that I had zero intention of even writing one. The thought of how cool it would be if we did was always there, but whenever I went in to write it was just to make music with my best friends whether it was for me or for someone else. We went in the first week of the new year and wrote “Survival in Motion” a couple days after I had found that phrase in the poetry book and then every day after we wrote a new one that I loved even more. By the end of that week, I remember Dan [Swank, co-writer] putting all of them side by side and the three of us looking at each other so confused that we had just done that, but I think it was all supposed to happen that way. There was no stress at all and we just had so much fun. 

What was the first and last song you worked on and how did you feel at the beginning of the process versus at the end? 

Technically “Applause” was the first and last song that we had worked on. I wrote it with Dan early last year and it was one that I liked but kind of tossed to the side. We ended up coming back to it right before we turned in the record and now it’s one of my favorites. “High Horse” kind of had a similar story because we wrote it in October of last year, but it fell to the wayside because I was releasing and focusing on so many other things. It wasn’t until we revisited it the week that we started writing everything else that we realized how much we actually loved it and how well it fit with everything I was going through at the time. It’s taken me a minute to fully let the fact that I have a debut album coming out sink in because again I had no intention of writing one but I’m so excited and so proud of every single song. 

Is there any one moment on the LP you look back on and feel incredibly proud of?

I’m so proud of the whole experience honestly. The fact that I got to write the entire album with my two best friends, Emma Lynn White and Dan Swank, who are both incredible writers and two people who have been such a huge part of why I even continue making music today. We just went in and had the best time. We laughed, we cried, and I think we wrote some of the best songs that I have ever been a part of and now have the honor of releasing as a full project. I am getting emo just thinking about it!! 

Speaking of emo, I know you'll be on tour with THE ICONIC Dashboard Confessional and Boys Like Girls later this year. I imagine being on the road can sometimes be very draining and taxing on one's mental health and emotions. When spending so much time away from home and loved ones, how do you ground yourself?

It’s really hard and it’s something I’ve been learning how to navigate, but I try my best to make sure I’m checking in as much as I can. Thankfully my friends and my family are so unbelievably supportive and they want this for me almost more than I want this for myself so they get it. I’m just really lucky. I hate leaving my cat though because I am obsessed with her. She is a perfect angel and I’m just hoping one day I’ll be able to take her with me. 

I won't lie. I've been a fan and follower of your music since your YouTube cover days, and I'm so thrilled to see the growth and evolution you've undergone as an artist. If you could give any advice or encouragement to your younger self, what would you say?

I’d say to just keep going. Keep your head up, continue to write from your heart, it’s going to feel lonely and hard at times but you have people who love you and are rooting so hard for you and it’s all going to be so worth it. 

As someone who's been in the scene for several years, how do you think the pop-punk/emo scene has evolved, and what are some things you hope to continue to change and improve?

I think the biggest thing for me is seeing how accepting the community has started to become especially when it comes to gender or race. There are so many talented humans out there, music is universal and it should never exclude someone because of how they look, where they’re from, or who they love. Of course, there are people out there who have a harder time with acceptance, but at the end of the day, it’s been really amazing to see so many bands and women especially get recognized for how incredibly talented they are. 

We here at The Noise are big fans of artists supporting artists! Who is someone people should tune in to on the scene right now?

I mean I’m such a fan of so many artists and bands right now I could have a list of about a billion people. Some who I really admire and love are Charlotte Sands, Arrows in Action, Magnolia Park, Honey Revenge, Sleep Theory, Knox, I mean the list could go on forever! 

Do you have anything you'd like to say to old and new fans who could be reading this interview right now?

I just want to say how grateful I am to be able to be here and to share music with you. The community we have built is so incredible and I am just really truly blessed beyond measure. Thank you for everything and I hope you love this album as much as I do.

Survival in Motion Tracklisting:

01. Survival in Motion

02. Applause

03. Greener

04. People Watching

05. High Horse

06. Nervous System

07. Final Nail

08. Be Like You

09. Homebody

10. Birds Still Sing