LYNCHBURG, Va. — What started out as a way to cope with the loss of her father has turned into a meaningful career for Taylor Acorn.

Acorn, 24, grew up listening to country music but never really thought of it as something she wanted to pursue.

“We moved around when I was younger,” explained Acorn. “I was born in Minnesota, then lived in Washington and that’s where my country start had been. Dad had always listened to country music — it was always playing in the background in the house or car.”

Acorn’s father died when she was just eight-years-old. That’s when her family moved to Wellsboro and Acorn began putting her feelings down on paper.

“Just to cope with the loss of my dad I started writing and would journal little things,” she said. “Then I would put it to music.”

Sometimes the process was reversed.

“I would often find myself singing some random melody and throwing words to it … I would do it all the time,” she said.

It was Acorn’s mom who actually first brought up the idea of her turning to music as a career.

“She suggested that I should become a singer and do something in that realm,” Acorn explained. “It was weird because no one in my family was into music or had taken that path. I do have extended family members who are musical, but in a very different way from what I wanted to do. I wanted to be able to write a story and play music.”

Acorn taught herself to play guitar when she was 15 years old and participated in school talent shows and competitions. Following graduation she went on to Kutztown University on a Track and Field scholarship, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that wasn’t the path she wanted to follow.

“I spent two years there and decided it wasn’t where I was supposed to be,” said Acorn. “I think I always kinda knew that because I would have rather sat in my room and played music or made YouTube videos than anything else, but it took time for me to decide I was going to give music a try.”

By then, Acorn’s mother had moved to Lynchburg, Va., so when she bit the bullet and decided to focus on a music career, she headed there, too.

“At first, I didn’t know what to do and would play at bars and cafes to try to make some money,” she explained.

She eventually released an EP (think album on a smaller scale) which can be heard on Pandora and Spotify. She also has some songs on YouTube.

“Two other songs I’ve released individually to kind of get my feet in the water and see if I can do the streaming thing,” she said.

Acorn writes all her own songs and music, and while most of it is pop country, she enjoys listening to a variety of genres.

“I listen to a lot of older country by artists such as Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sarah Evans, Reba McIntyre… and I think that’s what sparked my interest on country side of things,” she said. “That’s what influenced me. But as I grew up I really grew to love pop and punk rock.”

She’s been inspired by artists like Hayley Williams from Paramore and Taylor Swift.

“I really love her (Williams),” said Acorn. “Those are the kind of people who’ve inspired me to want to perform because of how inspiring and emotional and free they are. And Taylor Swift — she was obviously an inspiration on the writing side of things for me.”

As she moved forward, Acorn said she really wanted to have variation to her music.

“I have primarily just been writing country music that fits in that genre, but I would love to venture out of that cue and write pop or alternative. But right now I’m just sticking to country and adding my own flair to it. I want people to listen and think ‘Hey, this is country, but wait, it has different vibes,’ “she said. “I think that’s what makes it so fun. It’s your craft and you can do what you want with it.”

Whatever she’s doing is working. Acorn has been traveling and performing at shows, often opening for other country acts like Old Dominion, Chase Bryant and Adam Craig, among others.

“Seeing people listening and enjoy my music is the most fulfilling thing ever,” she said.

Acorn has been busy writing and expects to have some new music coming out soon. In the meantime, she travels between Lynchburg and Nashville performing and writing. You can check out her music for yourself by following her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or by visiting www.tayloracornmusic.com.