A swift kick of music

While Friday night’s (April 28) show is sold out, UrbanBeat has added a second matinee performance of “A Taylor Swift Experience” on Saturday. Fronted by local singer-songwriter Kanin Wren, this “live journey through the music of Taylor Swift” packs in all the hits, from “You Belong with Me” to “Look What You Made Me Do,” and is enlivened by fun choreography and multiple costume changes. Dancing is encouraged. 

Wren, 17, an emerging Lansing-area talent, was named Local Spins’ first Artist to Watch of 2022 and has traveled far beyond Michigan over the last couple of years, including recording sessions in Los Angeles and Nashville. Last year, she headlined her first show, belting out her catalog of tunes in front of 1,000 Michiganders. Now, she’s balancing her own gigs with a handful of 90-minute Swift-themed shows across the state and beyond. 

“I’ve been performing since I was about 14, and, oddly enough, I’ve only played a couple of Taylor Swift songs,” said Wren, a longtime Swift fan.

The idea for the show came about last year after she began working with Elle Lively, a music business consultant based in Grand Rapids.

“As we discussed my goals, one thing was clear: I wanted to keep writing music and create a large catalog of original music,” Wren recalled. “Elle mentioned that I reminded her of a young Taylor Swift. At our next meeting, Elle brought the idea of bringing ‘A Taylor Swift Experience’ to life. I immediately said yes.”

By November of last year, Wren and her band were mining through Swift’s discography and perfecting each note. Since Wren typically sticks to originals, like her 2020 single “Torch Lake Breeze” and 2022’s “Homecoming,” this project was something her mates weren’t expecting.

“The guys in the band are still in disbelief that they’re doing this, but it’s been super fun, and there’s a ton of excitement for the show,” Wren said. “With so many people not getting tickets to Taylor’s show, we’ve created a nice family show.” 

Swift’s fanbase, aka “Swifties,” are famously passionate, and Wren said she’s putting on these shows so they can celebrate an evening devoted to the artist, who’s sold 114 million records. 

“We have about 20 shows booked for the summer at some really great venues all over Michigan and even Ohio,” Wren said. “When a show is announced, I tend to read the comments. Most of the comments are filled with positive feedback, but you do get a few haters. I don’t take that personally. Taylor Swift has a successful career in music, and I’m just sharing her music with people that want to come out and sing their little hearts out.”

Of course, Wren’s fanbase shouldn’t be worried. She hasn’t lost sight of her own growing catalog of fierce pop music.

“I do a lot of co-writing with people all over the country. I was recording in Nashville in February,” she said. “I’ll start releasing new music every six to eight weeks at the beginning of May. We’re focused on releasing singles instead of an EP or an album. I’m having fun creating music and experimenting with genres. Some are so different that they probably wouldn’t sit well together on an album. I guess that’s the beauty of being so young — I haven’t been labeled a certain type of artist yet.”  

For more information, visit kaninwren.com.