SHANON Watkins is a stocky, tattooed, red-haired, left-handed bloke with an infectious and enthusiastic approach to life and music.

So it may come as a surprise that this acoustic folk/pop artist harbours a stout fondness for the music of an all-out American pop star such as Taylor Swift.

Even more surprising may be that he has made his feelings public.

The Brisbane artist, however, is quite happily doing both.

Watkins' new single Secret Love of Tay Tay is an upbeat, melodic tribute to this formerly undisclosed appreciation for "Tay Tay”, as she is affectionately known.

His music has always been about the fun. He expertly weaves a soulful musical tapestry of blues and folk with a dash of country pop, described by the AU Review as "songwriting talent that continues to display blossoming potential” when his previous single Sunnyside Up premiered with the AU Review early last year.

"Secret Love of Tay Tay was mostly written in my car while driving in heavy traffic, banging on the steering wheel in frustration,” Watkins said.

"I was listening to a Taylor Swift song on the radio and was singing along, not fully conscious that I was actually enjoying it.

"It happened again at a later date. I was enjoying another of her songs and discovered it was her via Shazam. At first I was embarrassed. But now I'm not afraid to admit that I like some of her songs.

"For better or worse, my appreciation of Tay Tay is coming out in the open.”

His own music is a world away from hers, however, with references to the likes of John Butler, Jason Mraz and Ed Sheeran.

Watkins is enlisting his musical compadres Jeremy Taylor, Lewis Bell and Sam Parker and embarking on an east coast jaunt, including the Sunshine Coast, in the hope that someone out there may share his secret love of Tay Tay - the guilty pleasure he intends to lovingly impose upon his growing fanbase.

Shanon Watkins is at Solbar, Maroochydore, on February 2. Secret Love of Tay Tay is available from major online retailers - the second track from a forthcoming album.