Taylor Swift recently moved out of her parents' home into her own condo here. Now she's declaring her musical independence, too.
The country singer wrote every song by herself on her new album "Speak Now," the first that she's completed without co-writers. The lyrics deal with real people—including rapper Kanye West, who famously interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. "I write songs that are like diary entries," Ms. Swift says, adding: "I have to do it in order to feel sane."
Ms. Swift released her self-titled debut in 2006 at age 16. Her follow-up, "Fearless," was the best-selling album in the U.S. in 2009, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and this January it won the Grammy for album of the year. On her new album, due out Monday, the 20-year-old Ms. Swift is looking to appeal to a more mature audience, even if it means leaving some of the Disney/Nickelodeon set behind.
"Speak Now" features a TMZ-style attack on an unnamed starlet. "She's an actress / she's better known for the things that she does on the mattress," Ms. Swift sings on the track "Better Than Revenge." In the song "Never Grow Up," she writes about moving into a new apartment. "It's so much colder than I thought it would be," she sings.
Ms. Swift came for an interview to Café Coco, a spot she frequents with her girlfriends. Accompanied by a security man complete with earpiece, she armed herself with a Rice Krispie treat and talked about her fans, her critics and her album.
The Wall Street Journal: Your voice has sometimes been criticized for not being all that strong, especially in live performances. How do you feel about that?
Ms. Swift: I don't really have a standard criticism policy for how I handle it. Because it seems like it's always something different that's being said in a different way by a different person…There are some times when I can just brush it off and be fine after I hear something negative. But there are times when it absolutely levels me.
Tell me about the song "Mean" on your new album.
"Mean" is about this—I'm used to criticism because that's part of what I do, taking criticism. When it's constructive I have an appreciation for it, but when it crosses a line, and becomes mean, I write songs like that about it.
With a young audience following you, is it hard to grow up and write honestly about adult experiences?
Factoring in millions of people when I'm writing a song is not a good idea. I don't ever do it.
What about in your day-to-day life?
When I was 8 years old, it mattered what my favorite singer said and wore and expressed opinions about. And if I have a chance to matter to the growth and hopes and wishes of little girls, that's something I can't take lightly. So I do factor them in when I'm thinking about what to wear, and what to say, and whether or not to go out to bars even though I'm not 21.
The country singer wrote every song by herself on her new album "Speak Now," the first that she's completed without co-writers. The lyrics deal with real people—including rapper Kanye West, who famously interrupted her acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. "I write songs that are like diary entries," Ms. Swift says, adding: "I have to do it in order to feel sane."
Ms. Swift released her self-titled debut in 2006 at age 16. Her follow-up, "Fearless," was the best-selling album in the U.S. in 2009, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and this January it won the Grammy for album of the year. On her new album, due out Monday, the 20-year-old Ms. Swift is looking to appeal to a more mature audience, even if it means leaving some of the Disney/Nickelodeon set behind.
"Speak Now" features a TMZ-style attack on an unnamed starlet. "She's an actress / she's better known for the things that she does on the mattress," Ms. Swift sings on the track "Better Than Revenge." In the song "Never Grow Up," she writes about moving into a new apartment. "It's so much colder than I thought it would be," she sings.
Ms. Swift came for an interview to Café Coco, a spot she frequents with her girlfriends. Accompanied by a security man complete with earpiece, she armed herself with a Rice Krispie treat and talked about her fans, her critics and her album.
The Wall Street Journal: Your voice has sometimes been criticized for not being all that strong, especially in live performances. How do you feel about that?
Ms. Swift: I don't really have a standard criticism policy for how I handle it. Because it seems like it's always something different that's being said in a different way by a different person…There are some times when I can just brush it off and be fine after I hear something negative. But there are times when it absolutely levels me.
Tell me about the song "Mean" on your new album.
"Mean" is about this—I'm used to criticism because that's part of what I do, taking criticism. When it's constructive I have an appreciation for it, but when it crosses a line, and becomes mean, I write songs like that about it.
With a young audience following you, is it hard to grow up and write honestly about adult experiences?
Factoring in millions of people when I'm writing a song is not a good idea. I don't ever do it.
What about in your day-to-day life?
When I was 8 years old, it mattered what my favorite singer said and wore and expressed opinions about. And if I have a chance to matter to the growth and hopes and wishes of little girls, that's something I can't take lightly. So I do factor them in when I'm thinking about what to wear, and what to say, and whether or not to go out to bars even though I'm not 21.
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