Stewart Taylor has a 'Favorite Ex' and a Pop Song to Prove it

Stewart Taylor has given some airtime to his ex, which isn't a bad thing, but unlike the female pop star with Taylor in her name, his latest song is a celebration of past love not a criticism of it. It is called "Favorite Ex," and that title says it all. There is no shadiness or back-handed compliments to read into, it is just a tribute to someone Taylor loved and ultimately lost partly because of his career.

Hailing from Connecticut, Taylor has been singing about things since he was old enough to do so. When he was about four or five, he would jot down his own lyrics then sing them aloud from his bedroom thinking no one was listening. But they were and he would get really embarrassed and run out, "but no one ever forced me to do it," he tells EDGE. "My parents never pushed me."

Although his biological dad eventually came around in support, Taylor was mostly encouraged by his mother. From going to auditions to attending theater camp, he wasn't giving up on his dreams of making it big someday. He thinks his parents were a bit apprehensive about his goals because they were fearful of how the profession could be so treacherously inconsistent. He attended Berklee College of Music and focused on his craft, but managed to squeeze in some liberal arts courses, "I got a really well-rounded nice education but it was so heavily music based too and it changed my life and it was the best thing I could have done," he says.

Taylor would eventually find out how show business works first-hand. He travelled across the country to Los Angeles about seven years ago. But that had always been the plan. When he got there, the reality of Hollywood not having a rule book and initially taking more money than it could give left him with only his hopes and dreams as collateral.

"I think that's one of the hardest things just staying an artist with how hard life can be and how expensive artistry can be," he says. "It's this constant handshake between art and finances so that you can get this beautiful piece of music out of your heart and off of the paper onto the screen, or onto the radio, or onto the record and it's all just this fine balance really."

But there is one thing that was out of balance before he even left for Tinseltown. That was how he and his then boyfriend would survive their relationship being over 2,000 miles apart. Ultimately, they couldn't and due to the circumstances, they parted ways. Still, Taylor wasn't done processing the break-up and decided his latest song called "Favorite Ex" would be based on their story. They remain friendly, and even talk through social media. Maybe there is some guilt there for leaving, but Taylor doesn't say.

He does know that the westward move was probably always in the cards. "All these years later, we're actually still really good friends," Taylor says, "which I feel really, really lucky to say because I know that's not the case for a lot of people. But I think this was one of those really unique or not so unique situations. I fell madly in love with this man. And it was my first really adult relationship, and it was very intense and wonderful. But the universe was just pulling me West and, you know, all of these opportunities were arising on the west coast."

Taylor says the East Coast was not the place to be if he wanted opportunity. He couldn't pursue the pop music, songwriting game he wished for living so far from Hollywood. "It's just that it's a very different business out there. And so, he knew that getting into the relationship that at some point I probably would have to leave. But he fell in love anyway. And when it came time for me to go it was, it was very, very difficult and very sad and it took a couple years to get over. But we stayed friends throughout all of that because it wasn't some horrible, terrible end. It stayed very calm and kind and supportive. And that's my story."

There are some elements of "Favorite Ex" that don't fit into the real story, one lyric in particular: "And I know that you're not mine, but I want to cross that line" implies that the narrator of the song wants to break up his ex's new connection. The singer says he would never do that in real life. He's met the new boyfriend and the song really touches on those feelings of loss, "I think with the song itself is a story about having to let go of someone and, and having to except that they've found another partner and coming to terms with that."

But even if the singer had a friendly break up, that doesn't mean there aren't hurt feelings. What advice does he have for other artists who want to avoid that outcome? How does one make a relationship work if only one person is pursuing their dreams within the madness that is Hollywood? He has an answer.

His relationships in Los Angeles worked because both people lived in the same city and they were both artists. Being a part of the same career, and living in the same city it made it easier. In addition, the support is definitely a plus. He says he's driven and therefore picky; he is an achiever. "But I'm also a total hopeless romantic who believes in love and believes in relationships. I'm just not willing to settle for anyone that doesn't get what I do and doesn't support what I do. Also, I need to know that they're passionate about what they do whatever that may be. It's hard to find balance. But I think if two people really wanna make it work, they'll make it work."

Now that Taylor has finished his latest single and accompanying video, it's a great time to reflect on what he's done since moving to Los Angeles seven years ago. That list includes collaborating with Grammy-nominated songwriters and producers such as Charlie Puth and Kara DioGuardi. He has penned songs for Romanian pop star Antonia, and "RuPaul's Drag Race" stars JuJu Bee, Mo Heart, and Manila Luzon. He has also written for "American Idol" singer David Hernandez, which might be a full-circle moment because one of that show's past judges is now advising him from her home.

"It's crazy because I am in L.A. and I am starting to work with more artists," he says. "Like Paula Abdul went through the rough cut of the 'Favorite Ex' music video with me and gave me her notes and one of her first big professional dancing gigs was with Michael Jackson and the Jacksons for one of their tours. And so now, all of a sudden, I'm dancing with her in her living room and I'm showing her my music videos and it's just absolutely insane that these people, especially her, who I looked up to, that were these big eighties nineties stars --- and she still is a fucking icon – are now helping me!"

That kind of celebrity power in the music industry is essential. One of his biggest dreams is to collaborate with a big artist someday. Until then he remains in the throes of creativity, "There are a lot of different cards on the table right now and I'm just focusing on the music and making sure the videos and music are as great as I can make them and then we'll go from there," he says.

"Favorite Ex" is being distributed independently and is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. Check out Taylor on Instagram here and visit his website stewarttaylorofficial.com.

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