"Northern Star" is the title track of the new Help Musicians-funded e.p by Newcastle upon Tyne, UK singer-songwriter Simon Taylor. A widescreen rock song with perhaps echoes of another romantic Northern soul, Richard Hawley, it tells the tale of a captivating young woman set in the beautiful Northumberland village of Alnmouth. 

Written & arranged by Simon Taylor
Vocals & electric guitar - Simon Taylor
Drums - John Hirst
Bass - Ian Paterson
Keys - Paul Taylor
Trombone - David Matthew Gray

Produced by Lisa Murphy at Blank Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne & The Production Room, Newcastle upon Tyne between March-June 2024
Assistant engineer - Joe Wallace

Artwork photography by Ellen Dixon
Artwork Design by Simon Taylor

Northern Star E.p

Northern Star

"So Easy" is a moody ambient pop track which bleakly surveys an end-of-year North-East England urban environment and ponders how there will ever be escape from such a grey scene. Despite such ruminative subject matter this song is uplifted by Simon's brother Paul Taylor's ethereal keyboard work and hopefully Simon's own personal story of survival.

Music & Lyrics: Simon Taylor
Produced by Mark Wood at Recovery College Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne, September 2023-May 2024
Guitar & Vocals: Simon Taylor
Keys: Paul Taylor
Photo by Ellen Dixon

So Easy single

So Easy

"The Day You Swallowed The Sun"'s unusual title was influenced by Simon reading about the ancient folklore of the Guanche inhabitants of Tenerife. In brief,  the title is a metaphor for somebody with a negative mindset who has turned their back on child-like curiousity in favour of worldly cynicism. It is the first single from Simon's upcoming e.p "Stars".

Thank you to Ziad Jabero at Chilli Studios for producing this track and for his extensive musical skills and knowledge and to Simon's talented brother Paul Taylor for his ever-beautiful keyboard skills on this track.

Music & Lyrics: Simon Taylor
Produced by Ziad Jabero, Chilli Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne, April 2024-April 2025
Guitar & Vocals: Simon Taylor
Keys: Paul Taylor
Photo by Jon Forster
Seagull sample by Snapper 4298 from www.freesounds.org

Stars E.P

The Day You Swallowed The Sun

"Bella Señora" is a romantic, Spain-inspired rumba that is the second single from singer-songwriter Simon Taylor's upcoming e.p, "Stars". And sorry for the nonsensical Italian-Spanish hybrid song title Hispanophobes (this song was written back in 2018). I'm finally getting around to learning this beautiful language properly after all these years, (Spanish that is, I studied Italian at school...).

Music & Lyrics: Simon Taylor
Vocals, Guitar, Percussion & Bass: Simon Taylor
Produced by Ziad Jabero at Chilli Studios, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Simon's guitar, vocal, percussion and bass parts recorded at Chilli Studios, February-April 2025. Mixed and mastered by Ziad at Chilli Studios, May-August 2025
Artwork photo by Jon Forster

Stars

Simon Taylor

Bella Señora

Looking Out For Number One (Guide Track)

I Smell A Rat (Original Guide Track)

Company Man (Demo)

Simon Taylor is a singer-songwriter from Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Simon's music combines elements of rock, pop and Latin with influences ranging from Serge Gainsbourg to Leonard Cohen. Simon has been performing his rock, pop and Latin-influenced songs regularly since 2011 while based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. His upcoming new e.p "Stars" is a collection of mellow folk/ pop / jazz ballads recorded and produced at Chilli Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne by The Baghdaddies’ musical maestro Ziad Jabero and featuring his brother Paul Taylor on keys. The Latin pop track "Bella Señora" is the second single to be released from this e.p.

Simon Taylor

Popular tracks