Ep. 220: Tayla Parx | Redefining Yourself, Branding & Building a Lasting Career

Today’s guest is more than a hitmaker — she’s a creative force who has shaped the sound of a generation. From penning chart-toppers like “Thank U, Next” (Ariana Grande), “High Hopes” (Panic! at the Disco), and “Love Lies” (Khalid & Normani) to building her own label, publishing company, and artist career, her story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and longevity.

And the writer is… Tayla Parx!

In this episode, Tayla sits down with Ross to unpack how she’s navigated more than a decade at the top of the music industry — from her start in Hairspray to writing with Babyface, to becoming one of the few Black women with a #1 country song. She opens up about:

• Surviving the pressures of back-to-back sessions and industry burnout
• Turning setbacks into fuel for her artistry and business ventures
• Why branding yourself as a songwriter matters as much as the songs
• The art of staying relevant without chasing trends
• How to keep building a catalog that pays you for decades to come

For every songwriter, artist, or creative grinding to build a career that lasts — this is the blueprint.

🎧 Listen now and learn how Tayla Parx keeps writing hits… again and again.

Chapters

0:00 Teaser – Why Longevity Matters in Music

1:37 Intro: And The Writer Is… Tayla Parx!

8:33 From Dallas Kid to Hairspray & Nickelodeon Star

12:49 Finding Songwriting & Learning From Babyface

14:07 Leaving Acting Behind to Chase Music Full-Time

24:53 The Warner Chappell Era: Building a Writer Community

27:15 Breakthrough Hits: “Thank U, Next” & “High Hopes”

31:38 NMPA Ad – Fighting for Songwriter Rights

32:45 Inside the Story of “Thank U, Next”

39:37 How to Build a Catalog That Pays for Decades

40:55 “Love Lies” & Crossing Genres as a Hitmaker

50:34 Advocating for Women, Black Creatives & LGBTQ+ Voices

52:00 Why Tayla Still Releases Her Own Music

53:20 From Bieber to John Legend to Country #1

55:32 Exploring Jazz, R&B, and Children’s Music

59:34 Song Splits, Collaboration & Session Dynamics

1:03:41 Why Collaboration Matters (and When to Write Alone)

1:11:38 The Secret to Longevity & Reinvention

1:16:25 Closing Reflections & Legacy

And The Writer Is… is presented by The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — advocating for songwriters, music publishers, and their essential rights.

Learn more at NMPA.org

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.