Taylor Swift was presented with the 2021 National Music Publishersâ Associationâs Songwriter Icon Award and celebrated the honor with a meaningful speech on the âmagical and mystifyingâ art of songwriting.
On Wednesday (June 9), the âCardiganâ singer-songwriter, 31, made a virtual appearance at the organizationâs annual meeting and delivered an acceptance speech thanking her longtime collaborators like Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Liz Rose, and Max Martin.
âIâm really, really honored to be receiving this award because it honors the part of my job that is so magical and mystical to me, still,â said Swift after being introduced by NMPA president/CEO David Israelite. âI love songwriting so much because thereâs an element to it that is still really mysterious â like I think any songwriter will tell you, when you get an idea youâre not quite sure where it floated down from, but if you can grab onto that idea and turn it into something, a piece of music, thatâs where craftsmanship comes in; thatâs where you have the opportunity to learn and to nurture that craft, and I want to take a moment to thank the people who were my professors, my teachers, of the craft of songwriting.â
Later in her speech, Swift thanked Rose, who had penned songs for the pop star's self-titled debut album, Fearless, and Red
âLiz Rose was someone who spent hours and hours and hours with me when there was absolutely no sign that anything would happen in my career," Swift said. "My dance card was not full, I was 14, and she wrote with me so many times and taught me how to edit my ideas down into something that would pack an emotional punch.â
âJack Antonoff is such a wonderful creator and such a nurturing presence â with his own art and other artists, heâs just so versatile and such a wonderful friend,â she said of the Bleachers frontman. â[Folklore and Evermore collaborator] Aaron Dessner came into my life recently and he is just such a prolific creator. All of these people changed my writing and helped shape it.â
In closing, Swift said, âThere are amazing songwriters who came before me who deserve this, there are incredible songwriters coming up now who are so impressive and amazing: I have such an affinity and respect for all of you.â
(Read her speech in full at Variety here.)