How Taylor Swift changed singer Cailee Rae's music forever

Taylor Swift has been at the forefront of the music industry for the past twelve years. Chances are younger, emerging pop artists have been influenced in some capacity by TSwift herself, whether it's listening to her on the radio or having her be a guiding influence on their career. And for up-and-coming singer/songwriter Cailee Rae, Swift has drastically influenced the way she creates her own unique sounds.

Rae first learned how to play guitar on her Taylor Swift edition Baby Taylor. Her exposure to music through the instrument helped not only grow her appreciation for the craft, but gave her a brand new outlet to create. But more than just a guitar, Taylor Swift's strong stances about who she is and the music she creates has led Cailee Rae to become more forceful with her own convictions. As she notes, "...she formed me into the artist I am today." And while Cailee Rae's sound feels completely different than her role model's, listeners can her glimpses of the influences in her tracks, especially in her relatable lyrics.

We recently sat down with the rising singer to talk about her Swift obsession, where she sees the progression of her music going, and more!

YouShouldKnow is a feature that showcases up-and-coming social stars. To see more of past interviews, including more Cailee Rae features, click here.

What musical influences have shaped who you are now?
I think Taylor Swift was a big rock for me growing up. It sounds so weird saying that because it's not like she's old. She's still very young and relevant, but i'm the first generation who can really say that she was a big role model growing up. I remember when she came out with "Teardrops On Mu Guitar." And it was so different than everything else. I grew up with three sisters and everyone was always listening to different things and Taylor swift was the one thing we would always listen to together. And she's so empowering. You can tell she's a really strong person; she knows who she is and she knows who she's not. She's a big role model for people and I think the coolest hing is that she's so involved with everything she does. It's the most inspiring part about her. So I would say that she was a big role model to me when I grew up and she formed me into the artist I am today.

Where do you see the progression of your music going in the next few years?
Honestly, I don't know. And I think that's okay. I know that my music will probably be very different than what it is now. I don't know how different, but it probably will be more mature. I want to take risks; that's my main goal throughout my career. I just want to always put out something people don't expect. I want that element of surprise in everything that I do and I want my fans to constantly be proud of what I do but not necessarily know what my next steps are. And I always want my music to connect with people. That's something that will always be consistent with what I do. In the future, whether my projects involve fashion or beauty, I want to make sure people can see me in everything and resonate with it.

What advice do you wish you had received before you became a full time musician?
I wish someone said that it's okay to be different. I'm a huge people pleaser. It's not a great habit, but it's who I am. And I think growing up, I was really blind to seeing that I was one. I was constantly letting people determine who I was. I wanted to tell myself that it was okay to be different and have different passions than everyone. Just because I wasn't good at math or sports doesn't mean that I'm less than. Everyone is unique in their own ways and it's important for people to embrace that.

YouShouldKnow is a feature that showcases up-and-coming social stars. To see more of past interviews, including more Cailee Rae features, click here.

For more past YouShouldKnow stars, scroll through the gallery below:

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