Tay Katour of Metropolitan on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Tay Katour shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Tay, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Music has a way of making me completely lose track of time. Whether I’m writing lyrics, vibing to a beat, or just letting an album play from start to finish, I get so wrapped up in the rhythm and emotion that hours can slip by without me noticing. It’s like stepping into another world where time doesn’t matter. I usually ‘find myself again’ when the last song fades out and I realize how much lighter, calmer, or more inspired I feel. Music is both my escape and my reset button.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey, I’m Tay Katour. Most people first knew me from Instagram (@RealtayKatour), where I was all about fashion influencing—putting looks together, sharing my style, and inspiring confidence through creativity. But over time, I realized the most powerful brand I could ever build was simply being myself.

These days, I wear many hats as both an artist and a digital creator. Alongside fashion, I create and sell digital products that help other creatives and entrepreneurs grow—because I believe in using my own journey to empower others. At the same time, I’ve been leaning deeper into my musical side, experimenting with sounds and storytelling that feel true to who I am.

In 2024, I released my EP The Opposite of Toxic—a project that was born out of honesty, growth, and reflection. Recording in New York and building the marketing campaign around it was such a defining experience for me. It showed me what it really takes to bring a vision to life and share it with the world on a bigger scale.

What makes my journey unique is that it’s not boxed in—I’ve gone from outfits to digital creations, from visuals to sound, from styling to storytelling. Fashion will always be part of my DNA, but music is where I get to pour out my emotions and truly tell my story. My evolution as a creator—whether through style, digital products, or songs—is something I want my audience to feel, connect with, and grow alongside.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is definitely my mom. She’s the definition of hardworking—no matter what challenges came her way, she always showed up, gave her best, and never complained. Watching her taught me that hard work isn’t just about putting in hours, it’s about having pride in what you do and pushing forward even when it’s tough. Her example motivates me every day to keep going after my goals with that same dedication and strength.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been losing the people I love, especially my father. Grief has a way of shaking your whole world, and for a while, I felt lost trying to make sense of it all. What helped me heal was leaning into my faith. It gave me the strength to keep going, the hope to believe brighter days were ahead, and the peace to honor my loved ones by living fully. Healing isn’t always a straight line, but my faith has been my anchor.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Honestly, no—the public version of me hasn’t always been the real me. For a long time, I cared way too much about what people thought, so I put out a version of myself that I thought would be accepted. Now, I’m learning to strip that back and let my true personality shine through. I want people to see the real me—the flaws, the humor, the creativity, all of it. It’s a process, but I’m excited to grow into that kind of authenticity.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I lived with purpose and passion, that I turned my pain into art and never stopped evolving. That I was bold enough to be myself, even when it wasn’t easy, and that I inspired others to do the same. When I’m gone, I want my story to be one of love, resilience, and creativity, and that I left something behind that still moves people even in my absence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tay-katour/1730119438
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realtaykatour

Image Credits
Jay Allen Media – Photography