Taylor Janzen’s Tears Ricochet on Debut Album, ‘I Live in Patterns’
By: Taylor Priola
Canadian artist, Taylor Janzen, spills tales of self-laceration on her debut album, I Live in Patterns.
Janzen, 23, released her first official EP Interpersonal at the age of nineteen after releasing a series of songs via Bandcamp under an acoustic EP titled Fear & Faith in 2017. At the ripe age of 18, the subject matter of Janzen’s songs began following her struggles with faith; a topic she does not shy away from in her lyricism to this day.
After receiving success from her 2019 release, “Shouting Matches,” Janzen moved on to playing a series of tours opening for artists such as Beabadoobee, X Ambassadors, and Del Water Gap.
In her debut album release, we see Janzen’s true form. We see her insecurities. And we see her regrets.
The title track explores the feeling of self-loathing and the struggle of living with depression. Previously released as a single, featuring singer/songwriter Alix Page, Janzen went on to release a different version of the song, “I Live in Patterns,” on the album as well. Those differences being unveiled in the second verse of the album version with the standout lyrics: “You sent a messenger and I killed it / Then you left because I welded / I’ve learned to sleep with the light on / And I grew weary of my shadows / I’ve burned a hole inside my sadness and now it’s starting to swell and my god I’ve had it / Don’t you know I live in patterns and I am trapped inside my habits.”
The lyricism on the album ages like fine wine; as if it could be from the perspective of a 17-year-old or a 70-year-old. Her struggle with identity and relationships that she uncovers in these songs are a testament to the great amount of wisdom she encompasses at such a young age.
Her layered harmonies in the chorus of “Sunday Morning” are a gift that you can hear many different times when listening to the album. Many of the bridges in the songs bleed into a soundscape with a light 808 beat hidden underneath it; the most well executed one being on this track as well, making it a perfect opening song to the album.
Overall, front to back, I Live in Patterns feels like it is from the perspective of a fly on the wall in Janzen’s therapy session. Janzen does not shy away from vulnerability that many artists fear, especially those with a similar Christian upbringing. She puts it all out on the table with this release, even pulling the rug out from under the listener on many different tracks to reveal the true beauty and range of her voice.
This album kicks off the first of many great releases for Janzen as she rises to greater success. With inspiration rooting from Taylor Swift, Hayley Williams, and Julien Baker, it is no question that she will be as influential as these artists that have been the soundtrack to her teen years. Likewise, there is no doubt her music would not make the perfect soundtrack to your weekly cry session; whether it be in the shower, on the train, or in your room.
You can listen to I Live in Patterns out now.