Grammy singer Taylor Dayne is entering a new chapter, one that extends beyond the stage and into hospitality. Alongside her partner and hospitality veteran, Celeste Fierro, Dayne recently opened Saylor Beach House on the North Fork, a new coastal destination shaped by their shared love of food, music, and long summer days. Here, Dayne talks about bringing the space to life, building it with Fierro, and what inspired them to create a place that feels like an extension of their own world.
SPOTLIGHT: Taylor, why was now the right time to step into the hospitality world?
TAYLOR DAYNE: Who hasn’t? What artist do you know who hasn’t branched out entrepreneurially? In all my years in the music business, watching things in the ’80s and ’90s, being aligned with a brand was a no-no. Now, especially with hip-hop and R&B culture, our brand is who we are.
With Saylor and Celeste, she’s already proven herself. To me, it’s about food, luxury, the people I want to be in business with, friendship, and creating a place where we want to be—with the people we want to hang with.
SPOTLIGHT: You’ve known each other for decades. How did that friendship evolve into a business partnership?
CELESTE FIERRO: We met about 30 years ago, at one of my first restaurants in Los Angeles. We knew each other, but that’s when we really started becoming friends again. I think the important thing is that it’s all about relationships, friendships, and making people comfortable. That’s what I’ve done throughout my career, and that’s ultimately what turns into success.
SPOTLIGHT: What do you want people to feel when they walk into Saylor?
CELESTE: People want to feel comfortable. They want to go somewhere where you make them feel special, where they know your name and know they’re going to be taken care of. That’s a huge asset for restaurant owners—really being involved and getting to know your customers.
TAYLOR DAYNE: And I love the experience of meeting people. I want people to know that I’m here and that I’m also a face of this. I can’t help myself.
SPOTLIGHT: Beyond the hospitality, what can guests expect from the Saylor experience?
CELESTE: Obviously, music. Taylor is great with the music component. I’m good at hospitality, relationships and food. Music is not my strong point.
TAYLOR DAYNE: The minute I walk into a place, if I’m not captured by the sound, the vibe and the feeling, it doesn’t take people to another level. We went over the top with Saylor. It looks like a beautiful place you want to spend your summer.
CELESTE: Taylor really does an unbelievable job of getting the crowd going. She changes up the music, creates different Spotify playlists for us, and puts her touch on everything—the music, the vibe. People are dancing and having fun.
TAYLOR DAYNE: And the food is a major component. It’s Mediterranean, light, fresh seafood, not fried food. You can get a little bit of everything that’s just good—what people want today.
SPOTLIGHT: Why does this feel like the right moment for this next chapter?
TAYLOR DAYNE: This is what we want our next chapter to look like. Do we stay home? My kids are 24, her stepkids are in their late 20s and early 30s. That’s not what we’re doing. I have my Vegas residency, I’m still touring—I’m not slowing down.
I think the reason we wanted to do this was because it was going to be fun. It was going to be an experience, we were going to be together, hanging out and having a good time. Why else do it?
SPOTLIGHT: Your upcoming Vegas residency is another major milestone. Why did the timing feel right?
TAYLOR DAYNE: It is the right time. I’m there in November and December, which are perfect months because everybody is there—international travelers coming from everywhere. This isn’t just Vegas. Vegas is a home for fun for the world.
SPOTLIGHT: What can fans expect from the residency?
TAYLOR DAYNE: At the end of August, you won’t see me anymore. I’ll be in New York and LA doing press, and then it’s pre-production. This is a very big project. The storytelling is absolutely essential for me as an artist who has been in this business for 38 years.
I’m incorporating the things that mean so much to me—the luxury lifestyle, my experiences, and everything that has shaped me. I’m a down-to-earth girl from New York, but I’ve lived in different places and traveled the world. Bringing all of that to Vegas feels like such an homage.
SPOTLIGHT: You’ve mentioned artists like Celine Dion, Donny Osmond and Tina Turner. Did any of the legends you’ve worked with give you advice that has stayed with you?
TAYLOR DAYNE: Tina Turner gave me some incredible advice. She told me I needed to develop more patience. She gave me some beautiful, completely soulful advice over the years. Those moments become part of the storytelling I’ll bring to Vegas.
SPOTLIGHT: You’ve reinvented yourself throughout your career. What’s the secret to reinvention?
TAYLOR DAYNE: Reinvention is everything. Look at Madonna. Her timing is impeccable, and she gets with the right people and the right product. She went back to the dance floor, which is what she’s known for. And what do I do when I want to release a single? I go right back to the dance floor.
I had a number one with Cash Cash, “Tell It to My Heart,” and now we’re releasing “Preview Love” with Solomun. That’s what I do.
SPOTLIGHT: And after nearly four decades in music, what still gives you that same rush when you perform?
TAYLOR DAYNE: When people are screaming, I want to jump in and be part of them. My job is to make everybody feel like they’re back in the club and back in the soundtrack of their lives. That’s the magic of it.
SPOTLIGHT: So what’s next for you both?
TAYLOR DAYNE: We have a lot to share. This is a second to third chapter, and I think women in their 40s, 50s and 60s want to hang with you. There’s more CEO women, more women taking over, and it’s great.
I have a full tour coming up in September, including a September 17 show at the Riverhead Theater, before I’m hunkered down in Vegas. And with Saylor, we’re just getting started.
