Like all of you, we are always looking for artists to dive into and to discover their discographies, and one of our favorite artists we’ve recently done that with is Scarlett Taylor! Scarlett has all the key components we love in an artist, with her raw storytelling really being where she shines. We were lucky enough to get to chat with Scarlett all about recent releases, ‘Pink Bars,’ and ‘Reckless Love,’ as well as what’s to come! Let’s jump in!
Stream ‘Pink Bars’ here!
Hi Scarlett! Welcome to The Honey Pop! Thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we dive in, how would you describe your music to someone who is tuning in for the first time?
Hi, thank you so much for having me! I’d describe my music as emotional, cinematic, and unapologetically vulnerable. I blend alternative pop with synthwave, but there’s also this underlying darker energy that comes through, especially in some of my earlier works. I always aim to create a soundscape that pulls you into my world—something that feels both dreamy and raw.
‘Pink Bars’ is your latest track! What can you tell us about the process of crafting this song?
‘Pink Bars’ delves into the harrowing grip of addiction, painting a vivid picture of being trapped behind invisible bars forged by opiates and prescription drugs. This is a subject that has always been extremely important to me, especially in recent years, with deaths that have personally affected my life. Fun fact: this song was written ten years ago! My producer and I were looking through older material, and this song has always been one we go back to, so we thought, why not redo it and release it? In recent years, we have both been personally affected by addiction, taking the lives of people we love, so it made perfect sense to release it now. We actually clipped the intro directly from the original, then he re-did the production on the rest of the song, and I re-recorded all the vocals.
The lyrics in ‘Pink Bars’ really chronicle an internal struggle. Where do you draw from when penning such heavy lyrics?
I’m always pulling from real life. I’ve never been afraid to explore the darker corners of my mind—whether it’s past trauma, relationships, or just existing in a world that can sometimes feel really dark. Writing is how I process what I’m going through, and I’m not really interested in sugar-coating anything. If it’s heavy, it’s because that’s where I was emotionally when I wrote it. That honesty is important to me.
Are ‘Reckless Love’ and ‘Pink Bars’ a part of a bigger combined project, or are these both standalone tracks?
Both ‘Reckless Love’ and ‘Pink Bars’ are definitely part of a bigger world I’m building, but I also wanted each song to be able to stand on its own. ‘Reckless Love’ is more of a love/up-tempo song, while ‘Pink Bars’ is more down-tempo and deals with themes of self-identity, addiction, and struggle. That’s why I released them separately. I’ve always loved the idea of releasing music like chapters in a book—you can experience each one individually, but together they tell a much fuller story. So while they’re not officially packaged together, they do live in the same universe creatively, as does all of my music.
And speaking of ‘Reckless Love,’ when that track was released, you hadn’t put out music since 2022. What was it about ‘Reckless Love’ that made you want to come back and show this to fans?
‘Reckless Love’ felt like a reawakening. I had taken some time to regroup—life was shifting, and I needed space to grow not only as an individual but also as an artist. During that time, I visited Las Vegas for the first time and was completely enamored with the energy of the city. It helped spark ‘Reckless Love,’ and I felt inspired after what felt like forever living in writer’s block purgatory (iykyk). I felt like it reintroduced me to my audience in a way that said, “I’m still here. And I’ve got a new story to tell.”
To us, ‘Pink Bars’ immediately seemed like a visual song. Have you had any ideas for a visual concept that could accompany the track?
Thank you! It’s absolutely a visual song. I remember recording it, and every time, I would visualize myself in a forest under moonlight, looking down at my reflection in a river/stream, while struggling with an intense internal battle. I actually have a teaser of a music video that I plan to release soon on my Instagram. My videographer and I, Xavier Caudill, listened to the song together and came up with a beautiful concept. We combined religious imagery with pill bottles, therapy, and eventual death (body bag and autopsy scene) to portray the effects of overdose, fentanyl, and addiction. We also wanted to show how some medical professionals are so quick to prescribe harmful and sometimes addictive drugs that leave you hooked for life and/or wanting more. We are both very well-versed on the subject, so our ideas were quickly brought to life after finding a vintage church location to film. I am very excited for everyone to see the final product. I think it will really wake people up to the subjects previously listed. It is something I am extremely passionate about sharing and informing others about.
You’ve been putting out music since 2015, with ‘Lucid’ coming out almost exactly a decade ago. When you look at that music and compare it to the music you’re crafting now, what is the biggest creative difference you see in yourself?
Wow, yeah—ten years! That’s actually wild to think about. With more life experience comes more things to write about. However, I think the biggest difference I’ve seen in myself is confidence. When I made ‘Lucid,’ I was just starting to find my voice, both literally and metaphorically. Now, I’m much more in tune with what I want to say and how I want to say it. I still write from a vulnerable place, but there’s more power behind it now. More vision. More intention. I’ve grown into my sound, and I’m not afraid to take risks anymore.
Once again, thank you so much for talking with us! Before we let you go, what is next? What’s on the horizon as we go further into 2025?
Thank you for having me! I’m currently working on more music that ties together the world of ‘Pink Bars’ and ‘Reckless Love,’ and I’m going to release an album (yes, finally!) that really explores those themes in depth. There’s also some visual content on the way, moody, of course. 2025 is about expansion for me—creatively, emotionally, and spiritually. I’m really excited to share the next chapter with everyone. ♡
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