Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor’s new release ‘Bolero Loco’ enters the Latin ballad genre on a new scale with heartfelt lyrics that come directly from his heart and soul; he’s even captured a quarter of it in Spanish too to give an authentic Latin feel to the song.

The vibe of the song is carefully done: it’s bittersweet with a beautiful melody and lyrics that could make you cry. The soft rhythm of the guitar digests it into some sort of lullaby that feels soothing and nostalgic – as if it’s something from our childhood memories.

The slow-tempo tune, which was recorded mostly by Taylor, presents his story in a whole different light. It’s cathartic and identifiable unlike most other songs that try to follow down this path. - NE Volume

North East-based artist and singer songwriter Simon Taylor has just released his new single ‘Ibiza Nights’, inspired by artists such as Air, Blue States and Bent. Simon Taylor knows how to bring his message across to his fans and listeners, seeing him perform live about a year ago at local venue Cobalt, the artist hasn’t left my radar and I’m glad to hear he is now releasing new music again!

‘Ibiza Nights’ tells a nostalgic tale of returning home to the rut of every day life, longing for and holding on to memories of visiting the White Island. Simon writes from the heart, with passion and a soothing and comforting suave that give his songs something familiar yet still unknown. ‘Ibiza Nights’ is a slow paced folk-inspired song that focuses on Simon’s wandering and almost spoken vocals.

Simon Taylor is always discovering new musical corners and with his latest release shows how charming it can be to combine singer songwriter, with indie folk and a hint of shoegaze, it is fun and done well and I am curious to hear what other musical directions Simon will uncover. - Music For The Misfits

As a teenager advancing to a young man, Simon Taylor dabbled in poetry and played the guitar a little. However, it was not until the age of 24, following challenging mental health problems, that musical thought started to arrive with ease, along with a wish to take the subject more seriously. “Writing helps me to articulate things that I might suppress both within myself and to others in real life.” He says of his craft.

Over twenty years, Simon has retained the essence of his style yet inevitably added elements along the way. “From the start, I had a desire to mix Latin and Anglo-Saxon influences and create my sound. This remains the same, but I have also started to write more chorus-heavy rock and pop songs recently.”

He is affected by his immediate environment in terms of devising, allowing his surroundings to lead his art. “I have written songs based on my travels that convey the feel of where I was at the time – songs like Ibiza Nights on the EP. These ‘travel’ songs can be more laid-back than songs I’ve written in the more intense, urban environment of Newcastle.”

New EP Under The Volcano features material from a peaceful period, which can be heard in the lyrics of opening track Ibiza Nights: “Hope, hope, made it back alone“, although the song has a more melancholic beginning, written as a necessary method to stay connected to music after a desperate situation. “I had a breakdown in 2018 and it ended up changing my life. I wasn’t fit enough to continue with my band, but I still had many songs that I wanted to record. I developed a home recording set-up and decided to record the songs I had written during my solo travels before I became unwell. The inspiration for it was to simply get back to recording my songs again after a frustrating period when I had been unable to.”

The resulting EP features four low-key, calming songs, warmed with a Spanish flavour. Formentera Dream is lighter in mood as he finds peace on the isle, and Bolero Loco’s pretty time signature acts as the waves of the Mediterranean sea gently brushing the shore. The EP’s closing title track is a compelling number that adds variation to the three before. “The EP features nylon string guitar and percussion amongst other sounds to create that Spanish flavour, but the title track is quite different. The song itself came from a place of some distress as I wrote it when I found myself effectively stuck on the island of Tenerife mentally unwell after I had unwisely decided to travel there by myself. Recording that song was a cathartic process.”

Appealing to listeners with an interest in World music, Latin vibes and cool jazz, and sitting comfortably alongside some of the region’s revered acts including The Baghdaddies and Weekend Sun, Simon’s sound is nonetheless resolutely his own. Simon shares a goal: “My aim is to one day perform my music with myself on piano alongside an orchestra. I can’t really play piano yet, so I’ve got a busy few years ahead!” - NARC Magazine

“Our Crazy Dream,” a new song by singer-songwriter Simon Taylor, is immersed in passion. The phrases conjure up such bright, colourful images in your mind. The songwriting takes us through all of Simon Taylor’s hopes and wishes for his loved one. The wording perfectly conveys the warmth of the relationship. I also liked how the chorus is sung, “Because I love our crazy dreams,” which hits you right in the heart. You can feel the tears of joy rolling down your cheeks, and you return that optimism all around you. The songwriting is crucial in keeping the song together and is the most important part of making it a memorable piece.

The tune is based mostly on classical guitar patterns. As the song proceeds, the voice humming and strings add to the emotional richness and intensity of the music. The vocal delivery has such sensitive intonations that boost the expressiveness and significantly enhance the mood. Listeners will like the ambiance and the words, which are filled with warmth and affection and will be well received by lovers of all kinds. I had such a lovely and relaxing experience while listening to the song, which really immerses you in the music and becomes increasingly fascinating as you follow the lyrics, endearingly crafted. - Sinusoidal Music

It is a well-known fact that some of our best ideas come to us as we’re falling asleep or while taking a shower. Highly inconvenient from my perspective because those are the times when I rarely have access to a pen and paper. I mean, think about it, writing down ideas in the shower? Yet, it still happens, and I still find myself forgetting the amazing idea in a few minutes. Fortunately, there are those who keep the thought in mind and jot it all down as soon as possible; Simon Taylor is one of these people with his song ‘Our Crazy Dream’.

Influenced by the likes of Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Tim Buckley and even Nick Drake, Simon Taylor draws together elements of folk and pop in his enchanting music. Soothing and sincere, Taylor crafts melodies that effortlessly captivate one’s mind and soul; ‘Our Crazy Dream’ is another one of these tunes. A multi-instrumentalist, Taylor combines an acoustic guitar, percussion, bass and piano in the heartfelt tune. I find the interspersed inserting of the piano particularly appealing as it enhances the poignancy of the track with its simplistic tones. Yet, it is more than the languid melody that refreshes my soul. Along with the melodic arrangement, he speaks to audiences on a deeper level with the lyricism.

Despite being penned following a personal breakdown in 2018, ‘Our Crazy Time’ could be considered conceptual as it touches on the emotional and mental effects of living in this uncertain time. Recorded and produced during the UK’s third lockdown at the beginning of 2021, ‘Our Crazy Time’ explores life challenges; however, it is not a melancholic song but one of empowerment. The lyricism is tender and sincere sending a poetic message of redemption and hope. Taylor shares that “…the song is an ode to pursuing one’s goals in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.”

One of the tracks from his upcoming EP Survival, ‘Our Crazy Dream’ is a brief insight into the effects of mental health and how one can come through the tunnel into the light. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the EP. - The Other Side Reviews

Good Day Noir Family, our “E.A.Poets Approved/Bands We Like” section is dedicated to Simon Taylor. I discovered this Artist while shuffling songs on Spotify and I liked his passion while he sings his songs.

The thing that struck me from the first seconds is the sound of the guitar which seemed like a caress on my cheek.

I was fascinated by how Simon plucks the strings and the emotions that he manages to give playing these simple melodies.

Honest and sincere music, a voice capable of speaking directly to the heart and soul of the listener.

This artist has his own way of interpreting the lyrics, more than singing he tells us a story and it seems like listening to him in front of a fire.

The string arrangements are also very beautiful, adding a touch of melancholy that increases the pathos that this beautiful song manages to create.

Surely we are faced with a great singer-songwriter that I recommend everyone to go and listen to. - Edgar Allan Poets