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:
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
","author_name":"And The Writer Is"}