The Swift Side of Me
#001
The First Verse of My Swiftie Story
Okay! I’m going to take you back with me to January 17, 2008–I’m 18 years old, in the twelfth grade, and I come home and turn on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. And on that day, an 18-year-old country singer named Taylor Swift appeared as one of Ellen’s guests. She had this incredible discovery story–cold calling radio stations with her karaoke demos at age eleven; landing her first job as a song writer at fourteen; and now, at eighteen, promoting her debut album. But it wasn’t just her story that hooked me–it was the way she spoke with such passion and confidence; and yet she still seemed like someone I could’ve been friends with, or someone I would’ve seen in the hallways of my high school.
And then, she performed Our Song from her debut album–a song full of country twang and small-town vibes–and I was completely captivated. One listen, and I was headed straight to the nearest HMV (remember that place?) to buy the album on CD.
If you think this is where my journey as a Swiftie began–the start of a lifelong love affair with Taylor’s music–you’re only half correct. Yes, I fell hard for her music. I listened to her debut album on repeat, memorizing every lyric, and singing along in my bedroom like I was the one telling those stories. When Fearless dropped, it felt like I was listening to the soundtrack to my life. I can’t count how many times I listened to it, or how many hours I spent watching and re-watching the Love Story and You Belong With Me music videos. Taylor’s songs felt like they were written for me—our lives were unfolding at the same time (both ‘89 babies!), and she gave me words to the experiences I was living.
But then, for reasons I can’t quite recall, there were a few years when Taylor’s music wasn’t a part of my playlist. This plays into my imposter syndrome phase, when I didn’t feel like I was “Swiftie enough”–something I guarantee we’ll revisit down the road!
Fast forward to 2012, Red comes along, and with it, the spark of my Swiftied fandom is reignited! It couldn’t have come at a better time–right when I was going through my first real heartbreak. As the radio blasted I Knew You Were Trouble for weeks on repeat, they became the ultimate breakup anthems for my broken heart. Of course, there were also catchy tracks like 22 and Stay Stay Stay to become obsessed with–who could resist singing along to those?
And here’s where it gets interesting–this wasn’t the last time Taylor’s music would serve as a soundtrack for heartbreak, but it did transform into a form of therapy. Her songs have always had this magical way of helping me navigate the highs and lows of life–whether it was a breakup, illness, the pandemic, or the recovery from a devastating car accident. It’s like I could always find something in her lyrics that spoke to my soul, gave me the courage to keep going, and most importantly, made me feel seen and not alone in whatever I was facing.
I will delve deeper into the events that led to Sugar & Dice Design Co. and this exciting new venture with The Swift Side of Me in future posts. But for now, let me share my vision for this blog with you. I want this blog to represent the coming together of storytelling and artistry, inspired by the lyrics, melodies, and eras of Taylor Swift–with no limits to how I go about it, and which mediums I use. Like Taylor’s music, I believe in the power of art to help heal, grow and transform; and I am so excited to share my personal journey with you!
Lastly, as Swifties, we know the value of community and the strength that comes from supporting one another. We were privileged to experience the magic of The Eras Tour, and I want to keep that same spirit alive through The Swift Side of Me–bring on the conspiracy theories, the decording of lyrics, swapping friendship bracelets, the anticipation of surprise songs, new albums, or the next Taylor’s Version with songs From The Vault.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
XO,
Inspired by Taylor, Creating with Love
The Swift Side of Me, a Swiftie’s blog brought to you by:
sugar & dice design co.
