Taylor Fagins, B.A. '17

UCI alumni Taylor Fagins won 1st Place in American Songwriter’s 35th Anniversary Song Contest with his original song, “we need more.” in January 2021.

For his victory, American Songwriter awarded Fagin $10,000, a Martin guitar, and a personal meeting with a music publisher and record label. Fagins can also be seen in American Songwriter’s January/February magazine issue, titled “Legends Issue.”

Fagin’s work, which draws inspiration from his personal reflection on the Black Lives Matter movement, was written in a single day. This song acts to express Fagin’s emotions surrounding his struggles, fears and life as a Black man in America.

“It all started with a thought, something my mom said,” Fagins tells American Songwriter in an interview. “She was complaining about my little brother doing something wrong, and she said, ‘Little boys don’t do that.’ That phrase came up in my head when I sat down to write.”

After graduating with a B.A. in Drama in 2017, Fagins left Irvine and moved to New York City in 2018 to begin his professional career as a playwright. In addition to his playwriting, he also learned about music production through his friend, Paul Chang, and began producing his own music and lyrics. When Fagins created “we need more,” Chang worked with Fagins as the producer.

Out of hundreds of entries, Fagins’ poetic lyrics and powerful message make “we need more” a standout song that uniquely draws attention to racial injustice through a vulnerable, personal lens.

To view the award-winning song and learn more about Fagins, visit www. taylorfagins.com.