In Part 2 of our conversation with 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc, Jessica Curtis and Rob Sermerano go deeper into the story behind the songs — and the lessons Taylor has learned along the way.

Taylor opens up about the hardest chapter of her musical journey so far: a senior year of high school marked by a friendship that unraveled, targeted mind games, and the panic attacks that came with it. She shares how that experience triggered her anxiety disorder, how she worked through it with the help of family, and how it ultimately led her to the best friend she still talks to almost every day — plus the song "Glimmering Gold," which she recorded as part of her current release.

Rob offers a ballplayer's take on being targeted ("the louder you get booed on the road, the more of a threat you are"), Jessica reflects on her own journey of shedding other people's perceptions, and Taylor talks about finally finding her people in college — five roommates who show up to every open mic, know the words to songs that haven't even come out yet, and post her music on TikTok.

For anyone sitting on a creative project they're afraid isn't "perfect" enough to share, Taylor has simple advice: just do it. (Yes, even if the cover art came from ChatGPT in the car with your mom.) She also gives us a peek at what's next, including a song called "Calendar Years" built around her college friends' birthdays.

Whether you're a young artist hesitant to hit publish, someone working through anxiety, or anyone who's ever felt targeted for simply being on your own path — this one's for you.

🎵 Find Taylor on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music as Taylor Mackenzie Mieszkuc (M-I-E-S-Z-K-U-C) 📱 Instagram: @taymackenziemieszkuc | TikTok: @taylormackenziemieszkuc

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