Simon Taylor – Survival (2022)
Mental health issues are something that a lot of people struggle with, but have a difficult time describing or explaining to others. Fortunately, this is where Simon Taylor comes in with his EP Survival. Through the five tracks of the EP, he frankly describes what it is to live with a mental health condition and the struggles that come from trying to overcome it.
Drawing on his own struggles over the years, he uses various genres and styles to get his message across. Following a challenging mental health diagnosis, Taylor started recording songs written as a form of therapy. While he has released some of the music with his band, in 2018 he started performing his songs solo.
The EP opens with the title track ‘Survival’ which lyrically lays out his recent experiences with mental health issues. The piano notes that open the track lead you into a stop-start melody. Rich tones rise up beneath the piano line easing the stark feeling of the track. His vocals have a poetic flow as they draw you into the movement of the music, while tenderly telling you about his struggles. There is a touch of sadness to his performance through the majority of the track that slowly builds into a rallying call. This call encourages every listener to try and overcome the struggles they face. This is tempered by the understanding that if you can’t overcome them, accepting that they are happening can help you survive them.
‘Bad Times are Through’ continues some of the piano notes from the opening track, but twists them into something quite different. There is a jazzy vibe to the movement of the music and the interplay with the vocals. This jazzy vibe turns into a slow awakening of tender and hopeful feelings. This is particularly powerful on the chorus, as a tentative feeling emerges from the vocals. The overall softness of the music cushions the vocals as Taylor lets you know that every challenge is worth it because it brings you to something better. You can’t listen to this track and not feel the cotton soft good vibes fill your senses, leaving you with the light taste of hope.
The acoustic guitar that opens ‘Our Crazy Dream’ brings a new sound to the EP. The folk tones of the melody have an earthy edge that makes you think of open meadows and the gentle breeze that ruffles long grass. While the music brings the touches of sunny days and cool breezes, the vocals have a very deep and powerful message. Woven into the story of personal difficulties is the knowledge that something good is around the corner if we pursue our dreams. There is a really empowering energy to the track that comes through the gentle tones that let you know that obstacles are not as big as they seem, if you believe in what you are trying to achieve.
‘Angel of Mercy’ slinks around your brain with a bluesy tone that brings the lightest dusting of funk. There is a deep richness to the melody that coats your skin in satin before the rock guitars wash over you. There is a darkness in the music that is picked up and considered by the vocals. Taylor’s performance is soulful and rather decadent as he explores his personal experiences with mental health. While there is a really personal touch to this track, there is something about it that reaches into your soul and connects with parts of you that have been left adrift. This connection also offers an anchor in the storms of mental health issues, while also acting as a call for greater assistance.
The EP comes to an end with ‘Going Home’ which comes to life with a gentle Latin flair. The Latin guitar tones have a warm feeling as they settle around you like the heat of summer. It is a peaceful feeling that has you settling back in your seat and relaxing. Inspired by a flight home from a holiday, the vocals have a quiet flow as if Taylor is whispering to you. Through the whispered vocals, you can feel the happiness that comes from going home. As the single progresses, the vocal sample adds something new to the track, enhancing the Latin touch of the melody.
Simon Taylor takes us through his own struggles with mental health, using five very different tracks that take you from struggling to peace in Survival. Each track has a completely different style and musical flair while retaining something that is purely Taylor. As you work through the tracks, you journey through his experiences and feel touches of hope and resilience.
Find out more about Simon Taylor on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
