As the year winds down, I’ve been doing a little bit of people watching. Seeing them dashing around on their gift runs, and hoping some fresh snow will make the holidays feel even brighter. There’s this wish in the air for a postcard-perfect, Hallmark movie feel—white flakes drifting down, hot cocoa in hand, and all that. I get it. But I’ve got my eye on something that nudges the season in another direction. Instead of dreaming about white drifts, what if we lean into a greener kind of holiday cheer?
On December 20, Taylor Acorn is adding her own flourish to the festivities. She’s dropping a two-song acoustic EP simply called Greener (Acoustic). It’s the gift that might change the way you think about this time of year. She’s taken a couple of her known favorites—“Greener” and “People Watching”—and eased them out of their louder jackets, letting them settle into a quieter, more fireside-ready vibe. A stripped-down, bare-bones versions that feel as if they’ve been brought inside from the cold and warmed up.
Now 2024 has been anything but quiet for her. She wrapped a sold-out U.S. run, dipped into the Australian tour circuit, and hit this year’s summer festivals. By now, you’d think she’d be taking it easy, sipping some seasonal drinks, and laying low until the new year. Instead, she’s chosen to surprise us with something that trades bright stage lights for a softer glow. It’s one of those unexpected gifts that shows up under the tree and catches you off guard when you least expect it.
Personally, I’ve always been drawn to the way a simple acoustic arrangement can strip away some elements and reveal the bare heart of a track. Sometimes you hear these versions and realize they’re more than just a neat twist or some kind of novelty—they can shift a song’s very center. One example that never fails to give everyone chills is Johnny Cash’s take on “Hurt.”
That’s what really jumps out about Taylor Acorn’s EP. She’s not unplugging for the sake of it, she’s showing how natural it is for her to stand in that quieter space, guitar in hand, and let the feeling do all the talking. It’s something I’ve come to appreciate about her approach. This makes these two tracks feel less like side projects and more like an essential part of her year’s work
About the EP, Taylor comments:
These songs have been two of my favorites off of the album since the day that we wrote them and so I’m extremely excited to be re-releasing them, this time with a very simple yet really pretty (well I think but I’m biased) sound. I think there’s something so special about an acoustic or piano version of a song especially one that feels so personal and vulnerable. I’m just really proud of the both of them. I can’t wait for everyone to hear them!
The original version of “Greener” already started out with a subtle acoustic thread running beneath it, but it was still built around a pop punk backbone—one with a chorus that has an almost euphoric quality, lifting your spirits and leaving you wanting to sing along in this cathartic way.
It’s cool how there’s a slow kindling in that buildup, something that glows softly at first and then pushes the song until it becomes a steady flame once that chorus lands. That shift from quieter chords into a brighter more open stride hits you and that is what pop punk is all about after all. It’s an amazing hook and a moment that grounds the whole experience.
“Greener” is about looking back on a time when everything felt warped and unrecognizable—when you’re caught up in a situation that leaves you questioning what’s real and a totally different and rough patch of your life. It’s laced with that sense of being stuck under someone’s thumb and not fully seeing it until later. Then there’s a turning point.
The stars line up, circumstances change, and suddenly there’s a new understanding. Things feel better, lighter, and more open-ended. Even as it takes on a more cheerful color, the track blends that freedom with the lingering feeling that you’ve been through something weighty.
With the acoustic version, it’s as though the song steps into a quieter room without losing any of its character. The original’s spark remains undeniable, but now it’s shared through a gentler, but yet still intense approach. Along with what made the first take special, this acoustic version highlights a different corner of the same room, letting certain details stand out in a calmer light.
Taylor’s vocals hold such presence here that it’s almost as if you’re sitting across from her. That memorable chorus we all know and love, still stands tall. Each shade of “Greener” offers a unique perspective on the song’s emotional core I feel. This acoustic take enhances even the original in giving us a revitalized perspective. It’s the same story, presented with a newfound sense of vulnerability.
“People Watching” also gets this stripped-back treatment, and much like “Greener,” it also settles into a setting that feels . The original track’s dreamy riff, courtesy of RickyJab, is traded for a more delicate instrumental arrangement. The sharp, almost militaristic snare that punctuated the original is now absent, making way for the gentle tones of keys and what I can only describe as heavenly strings.
Where the original boasted a powerful, explosive chorus throughout its various sections, this version opts for a more subdued and relaxed feel. This shift in dynamics accentuates the new atmosphere.
What Taylor’s given us with this EP is essentially the same songs we know and love, but with a completely different vibe. And really, it’s more than an acoustic version; the change in feel and overall atmosphere almost makes them feel like entirely new tracks. Take “People Watching,” for instance. It keeps that core of self-reflection, that observant look at people and their interactions.
It’s still about trying to figure out love, relationships, and why people do what they do. The original definitely had a fun, upbeat energy, a real sense of charm in talking about growing up and celebrating how your understanding of love changes as you get older. But the acoustic version takes all of that and adds a whole new layer. It brings out this stronger, more emotional feeling—a real sense of appreciation for those experiences.
It’s absolutely great how she’s managed to take the same exact songs and, by turning a few elements up a notch here and easing them down a bit there, give you a completely fresh way to experience them. There’s something really special about seeing both versions shine in their own different light, each one offering a new angle that still feels true to what we’ve come to love.
Greener (Acoustic) will be available on all major digital platforms this Friday, December 20th.