On Music: ‘Let’s Sing Taylor’ singer says gig is most rewarding

Last week it was Tom Petty … this week it is Taylor Swift!

Tributes seem to be all the rage nowadays and the popularity seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, so here’s a chat I had recently with one Emily Victoria as she channels one of the hottest music artist in the world today for a show appropriately called “Let’s Sing Taylor.” The young lead singer, Emily Victoria, called me from New York City last month and talked about her new gig as well as what else she does with her musical talents.

Let’s Sing Taylor Chad Wadsworth

Q: To begin with, I would like to make an observation rather than ask a question. It seems to me that what you’re doing is kind of a daunting task taking on Taylor Swift’s music.
A: (Light laugh) Yeah, it’s definitely a lot of work but it’s the most rewarding and fun experiences I’ve ever been a part of.

Q: Oh, how so?
A: I feel like it’s mostly getting to perform for all the Swifties. They’re the greatest fan-base out there, they’re just so neat; and I feel every time I get up and perform that everyone’s having a really good time. It’s really nice to see the looks on kids’ faces and have them singing along to these songs. I get gifts from some of the kids, too, which is really sweet … it just makes the experience incredible, really.

Q: How long have you been doing this show?
A: I think it started in July or June of last year, so it’s been a little over a year.

Q: I would imagine you have backing musicians.
A: Yeah, Leo is our drummer, and then Jason is our keyboardist, and then our lead guitar player is Matthew and he’s also our music director, and then there’s me (laugh).

Q: How do you go about choosing what you perform? Her catalogue has got to be huge.
A: Oh, it is enormous but we follow the Eras Tour set list as closely as we can, so we do kind of have a blueprint and we’ll just perform the songs that she sings on the Eras Tour. Our set is usually an hour and a half.

Q: How did you get this gig?
A: Well, I was working with my manager on another project here in New York City and one day he approached me with the idea and I was 100% on board. I said “Yes!” immediately and we got started. We did a few rehearsals and then our first shows were a little over a year ago, now we’re here just touring the country.

Q: Were you involved as a singer-songwriter before all this started?
A: Yeah, I did and still do write and perform my own music.

Q: Do you have any original work out there?
A: I do have music out but I haven’t released any music in a very long time, so I’m hoping to have something out possibly in October, maybe November … it’s exciting.

Q: Is your music along the same lines as the “Let’s Sing Taylor” material or does it go in a different direction?
A: Ah, no, it’s got similar tones but I feel like now I know a little bit more about the style that fits me the most. I also feel that by doing “Let’s Sing Taylor” I’ve gotten to know Taylor’s music very closely and seeing how to really write a hit song. I feel that that’s helped me with my writing.

Q: Also, it keeps your chops up to date, too.
A: Oh, yeah, absolutely!

Q: And going strong for 90-plus minutes must be a tad exhausting, as well. How about costume changing, is there any of that involved, too?
A: Oh, yeah, we do costume changes and they are all authentic to the Eras Tour, and I do a lot of costume changes during the performance.

Q: Is there any part of her catalogue you like more than another?
A: Ooh, I love everything, I really do. That’s the very easy answer, but I would say that I really enjoy “The Tortured Poets Department” — that’s her new album — and we’ve added it into our set.

Q: What songs on it do you cover?
A: We do two songs, we do “Fortnight” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” which is one I enjoy performing the most, I think, because it’s a very special song to me … I really like it’s message.

Q: Well, that’s probably a hallmark of her music, the fact that she does touch on things that her fan-base is dealing with on a regular basis.
A: Oh yeah, the music is so relatable and also enjoyable. It’s amazing what she does with her writing, it’s spectacular.

Q: Now you’ve been traveling the country with this show but I’m thinking that this performance in Waterville will be your first here in Maine?
A: Yeah, this is the band’s first time and my first time ever in Maine and I’m so excited, and we’re very much looking forward to it.

Q: I think my next question is a bit unneeded, but what can folks expect from your performance at the Waterville Opera House?
A: Well, like I said, it’s an hour-and-a-half show and I try to emulate Taylor as best I can. It’s big shoes to fill, but we also try to get as close any experience to the Eras Tour as possible. We do all the costume changes, we added in “The Tortured Poets Department,” which is cool, there’s a lot of bracelet trading, as well. Our band is incredible; the stage show is incredible; I do meet-and-greets after the show, as well, so I can day “Hi!” to everybody. It’s just a really special experience and we get a lot of families that come to the show.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to pass on to the folks reading this article?
A: Just that myself and the band are really excited to come and bring our show to everybody, and that I can’t wait to meet everyone after the show.

Lucky Clark, a 2018 “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award winner, has spent more than 50 years writing about good music and the people who make it. He can be reached at luckyc@myfairpoint.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

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