INTERVIEW:AARON TAYLOR
With a career spanning nearly a decade, British singer-songwriter Aaron Taylor has carved out a reputation for making music that feels both intimate and universal. Blending soul, indie, and warm, guitar-driven sounds, his latest project Yours Always is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, reconnection, and acceptancee, framed as a series of musical letters to those who’ve shaped his life.
INTERVIEW BY: KOfi Owusu
First off, congratulations on the release of Yours Always. It’s a beautiful project, and I have to say Summer in June really struck a chord with me. I thought, “Yeah… I need to have this conversation.” So, let’s dive in. What inspired you to frame the EP like a series of letters?
AARON TAYLOR: Thank you, I really appreciate that. Honestly, it only dawned on me after the songs had been written. I always have a lot of songs on the go, but when I was collating these, I noticed that each track sounded like a letter to a friend, to a loved one, to someone important. A lot of things I kind of wish I’d said before. And the phrase Yours Always just captured that whole feeling. It’s that permanence you put at the end of a letter, a weighty promise. And I resonated with that.
Was there a specific trigger that made you realize that was the direction you wanted to take?
AARON TAYLOR: No specific moment, really. I think when I looked closely at Summer in June, that’s when I noticed the lyrical thread running through the whole EP. They were all messages to people in my life, little unsent letters almost. It felt natural.
You mentioned that you normally start writing on the keys, but you chose the guitar for this project. What pushed you to change that creative habit?
AARON TAYLOR: Honestly, I just wanted to avoid writing the same song twice. When I write on keys, I tend to fall into the same patterns. I’m not that great on guitar, so it forces me to be more intentional. The songs ended up being harmonically simpler—which I enjoyed. Writing this way gave me a sense of creative freedom. And yeah, I think I’ll keep exploring that approach for a while.
Let’s talk about the tracklisting. How did you decide the order of the songs on the EP?
AARON TAYLOR: Across My Mind just felt like the right opener. It’s raw—almost like a voice note someone sends out of the blue, like “Hey, I’ve been thinking about you.” Then Summer in June follows that thread—continuing the conversation, still reaching out. Nevermind was different because it was about accepting that someone might not respond, and just saying, “That’s okay. I wish you well anyway.” It’s like a journey through longing, reconnection, and finally acceptance.
Do you think that’s going to shape your writing moving forward?
AARON TAYLOR: A bit of both, I think. I’ll always want to challenge myself creatively, so maybe next time I’ll try starting on another instrument. But I do like what writing on guitar brings out of me.
Speaking of Nevermind, that track really stood out emotionally. Was it the hardest one to write?
AARON TAYLOR: Yeah, definitely. Nevermind went into a place I usually avoid. Normally my songs have an encouraging undertone—a bit of glass-half-full energy. But Nevermind was just honest sadness. No silver lining, just “I’m hurt, and that’s okay.” It required a different headspace, especially in how I performed it vocally.
That level of emotional honesty can’t be easy. How did you prepare yourself for being that vulnerable on record?
AARON TAYLOR: I didn’t really “prepare,” per se. I just knew it had to be real. People connect with authenticity, not with polished versions of vulnerability. If I’d tried to sugarcoat those emotions, it wouldn’t have hit the same. I just wrote what was at the front of my mind and heart at that time.
Looking at YOUR CAREER, you’ve amassed millions of streams, worked with incredible names, and even gotten love from Elton John. How do you stay grounded?
AARON TAYLOR: It’s funny because I don’t even really think of it as “success” yet. Being a dad now, I measure success by whether I’m providing for my family, leaving behind work I’m proud of, and hopefully creating music that outlives me. Not just viral moments, but songs that people will want to revisit years from now. That’s the goal.
LETS TALK ABOUT legacy—Yours Always takes a softer, more guitar-driven direction. Did you worry about how longtime fans might receive that sonic shift?
AARON TAYLOR: Maybe I should’ve prepared people a bit more. Some singles led up to it, but I think the vibe might’ve caught a few people off guard. In hindsight, maybe more behind-the-scenes content or explanations about where I was headed sonically could’ve helped. But it’s been cool to welcome new listeners through that shift too.
You’ve also worked with some other great artists recently, like JERUB and JONES. How did those collaborations come about?
AARON TAYLOR: JERUB’s on the same management roster as me, so that one was a natural connection for a remix. And JONES just DM’d me, saying she was a fan, and we got in the studio. I don’t have loads of experience producing for others yet, but it was a great time. Definitely something I want to do more of.
Anyone on your collaboration wish list?
AARON TAYLOR: Oh, loads. Cleo Sol’s top of the list. I know she mainly works with Inflow, but I’d love to work with her. Jalen Ngonda’s amazing. Mahalia would be great too. Honestly, the UK is stacked with talent right now. And I’m going to start reaching out more.
Where do you see your musical journey heading next?
AARON TAYLOR: A couple more albums, for sure. And growing the production and songwriting side of things—whether for myself or others. I’ve got a lot more I want to explore creatively.
Finally, what do you hope people take away from Yours Always and your music overall?
AARON TAYLOR: I want my music to feel like a hug at the end of a long day. That’s always been my aim. Life can be heavy, and I want people to feel like they’re being seen, like someone understands what they’re going through. If this project can provide that for even one person, then I’ve done my job.