- Words Notion Staff
carolesdaughter talks Notion through her new debut EP, 'please put me in a medically induced coma', as well as her song meanings and musical inspirations.
carolesdaughter, a.k.a Thea Taylor, grew up in California as the youngest of ten siblings. Amongst the chaos was a shared love for music that saw Thea through teenage years that included five different schools, before she eventually dropped out. Her music taste included the likes of E.L.O., The Doors, and The Carpenters to Christian Death, Crystal Castles, Rico Nasty, Jinjer, and Lil Peep.
Struggling with drug use, it was during multiple trips to rehab that Taylor developed her own music: “The last time I went to rehab, I was there for six months, and I had a guitar. I wrote prolifically all the time. It clicked, ‘This is what I was meant to do’. I told myself I would record and release music when I got home.”
The last week has seen the release of the artist’s awaited debut EP, ‘please put me in a medically induced coma’. With singles such as “Target Practice” and “My Mother Wants Me Dead” already amassing streams in the multi-millions, we caught up with carolesdaughter to discuss her new music, inspirations, and what she hopes people will take from her music.
What relevance do you think grunge & garage music has today?
I think in today’s world we have so much technology to create really clean, amazing sounding music. But at the end of the day people will always gravitate toward what’s most raw regardless of having access to the tools to create perfected audio – people just want art.
What are you looking forward to most about touring this spring?
I’m looking forward most to having a smoke-free tour because on my last tour I was smoking weed and cigs, and I’ve since quit. I think I sound much better now and I’m excited for fans to have a better show now that I’ve made this decision, and I will always thank myself for it.
Do you see carolesdaughter as a musical alter ego or something which is intrinsically tried to your own personal identity?
There is no distinction between carolesdaughter and Thea. The whole point of the name was another way of showing the world who I am – connecting to my family, to my roots. I’m a real person and this is exactly who I am.
How was the experience of seeing your song “Violent” break out so much?
It felt like long awaited validation, and a sign that this music thing was a good idea for me.
Your songs deal with really intense and painful emotions. How do you balance that level of vulnerability with privacy?
I just don’t answer questions about songs I don’t want to. Music should speak for itself (most of the time). Everyone can take it how they want and apply their own meanings to it.
carolesdaughter is all about exploring the outsider, misfit experience. How do you reconcile that with the huge success you’ve attained. Does it change your approach?
Nothing has changed. I still feel like I don’t belong and have the same three friends.
What do you think your diverse inspirations as a teenager had in common?
It was just all good music.
Your songs, like the video for “Target Practice”, keep circling back to a high school setting. Why is that aesthetic so meaningful to you?
I’m only 19 and I didn’t graduate high school. Maybe I’m trying to give myself closure on that chapter.
What artists would you love to collaborate with? The Weeknd, Trippie Redd, Chelsea Wolfe.
The Weeknd, Trippie Redd, Chelsea Wolfe.
What’s inspiring you outside of music right now?
I’m in New York right now – the city definitely makes me feel alive and like anything can happen, like writing a great song or being attacked on the subway.
What are you hoping for in 2022?
I want to sell out all of my shows and release a lot more music.