It doesn’t even need to be said that 2020 was a challenging year for most. The music industry went into a tail-spin as they grappled with releasing music during a pandemic. Many rose to the occasion though including Tayla Parx who has had one of her best years on record when it comes to music. 

Today, she releases her second album Coping Mechanisms, capping off a triumphant year. Not only did she also release an EP ‘The Blue State’, but she’s written on records for Ariana Grande, Haim, Troye Sivan, Megan Thee Stallion and heaps more. Here’s a look at how Parx has influenced music in 2020. 

Coping Mechanisms - The Album

Billed as her most honest undertaking to date, Parx says that her second album Coping Mechanisms is, “really just about letting life happen and seeing what my heart wanted to say,” as she told Insider.

It’s a genre-traversing album that also features some of her most experimental production to date. We move from the emotive opener Sad to something liberating like System. On System, the production is industrial and hard-hitting, taking detours at every turn. Elsewhere, Dance Alone taps into disco, Fixerupper takes on glitchy pop and Residue is acoustic. 

As per usual, her pen is on point as she goes from the sassy (“If you see something you like, it’s rude not to stare”) to the subtly humorous (“You can’t cook for shit, enjoy your happy meal tonight”). There’s something for everyone on Coping Mechanisms but essentially it sounds like it’s for Parx. 

The Blue State - The Covers EP

Before the album release, Parx dropped three covers on The Blue State EP taking on Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye and Kirk Franklin. They are all songs that Parx has, “not only cried to but been inspired by,” in a particularly dark time. It’s a reflection of a year that’s been particularly tough in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the shakey political climate. “They’ve brought me an abundance of light in such a dark time. I hope to bring that same light to the people I care most about, my Taylatots. This one’s for you,” she wrote about the record. 

Writing On Ariana Grande’s positions

Parx has been writing on Grande records since 2014’s My Everything but their creative partnership really proved to be fruitful on 2019’s thank u, next. Parx popped up once again on Grande’s 2020 set positions co-writing on five songs including the current single 34+35 and the TikTok viral pov. 

The pair really take off when they sit in that groove-infused, R&B pocket not pulling any tricks apart from exceptional songwriting. 

Writing On Kesha’s Honey

Parx and Kesha came together for one of the most laid-back songs on High Road. Honey is a blues-influenced, guitar cut that features stream-of-consciousness lyrics. “Honey, you can have my sloppy seconds if you really need,” Kesha sings over raw, layered vocals. Parx is one of the most candid songwriters in the game and it really shines through here. She said at the time of release that it was written on a Yacht in Cannes. 

Writing On Kelsea Ballerini Self-Titled LP

Parx is a genre chameleon and she followed up working with country stars Florida Georgia Line by contributing to Kelsea Ballerinin’s third, self-titled project. Parx wrote on the charismatic album opener overshare, bringing a little bit of funk to the table. Writing the album in 2019, Ballerini called Parx, “an actual musical fairy.”

Writing Megan Thee Stallion & Normani Diamonds

Remember pre-pandemic when there were still big-scale movies coming out with superstar soundtracks? Parx wrote on the lead-single for the Birds Of Prey soundtrack. Diamonds brought together Normani and Megan Thee Stallion for a heavy-hitting, blockbuster moment. According to Parx, she’s been working on Normani’s debut album for years. 

Writing With Troye Sivan On Take Yourself Home

Troye Sivan dropped an EP this year In A Dream featuring some of his most experimental music to date. He has a tight team of writers and producers but Parx came into the fray for the lead-single Take Yourself Home which was producer by Swedish wunderkind Oscar Gorres. It’s a haunting pop song that came just at the start of the pandemic which made lyrics like, “I’m tired of the city, scream if you’re with me,” hit even harder. 

Writing With Haim On FUBT

Parx has been a fan of Haim for years and she finally got to work with them, co-penning FUBT final track of Women In Music P.III. It’s a slow-moving, heart-wrenching moment with a chorus that cuts to the core. “It’s fucked up but it’s true, that I love you like I do / so I’m just gonna keep on loving you,” Danielle Haim sings in one of the album’s most forthright lyrical moments. 

“Haim is one of my favourites and I just had to work with them,” Parx wrote on Twitter when the track dropped. Haim replied, “You’re our favourite.” More of this, please. 

Writing And Producing For Little Mix’s Confetti

Parx rarely crosses the pond and writes for the Brits but she contributed some gold to the most recent Little Mix record Confetti. Sweet Melody and Not A Pop Song are both #TaylaMade as she would put it. Parx is on production on both joined by MNEK who has enjoyed a massive hit this year on Joel Corry’s Head & Heart. Sweet Melody became the group’s 15th top 10 hit in the UK.