George Taylor

A British singer/songwriter whose spacious, atmospheric music is a fine match for his personal, frequently emotional music, George Taylor began writing songs in his early teens but didn't begin presenting his music to the world until 2015, when his debut song "Give It Up" became a smash on streaming services. George Taylor was born in 1993 in Leicester, a city in England's East Midlands. Taylor picked up his love of music from his father, who frequently played Pink Floyd, Madness, and Dire Straits albums around the house (Taylor told a journalist the first song he remembers hearing was "Sultans of Swing"). As a pre-teen, Taylor embraced the work of David Bowie, and would later become a major fan of Bob Dylan and vintage R&B singers such as Al Green and Otis Redding. Taylor began writing songs at the age of 13, and spent many of his teen years honing his craft. In 2015, Taylor, based in London, began focusing on his music in earnest, and the following year he released his debut single, "Give It Up." The track became a hit, receiving more than two million plays on major streaming services in less than six months, and Taylor signed a publishing contract with Warner Chappell Music. He released three more tracks in 2017, "I Hear Your Song, Sweetness," "The Youth, and "Ophelia," the latter informed by a friend's struggle with mental illness; that year, he also played his first American concert in New York City. Taylor's music received enthusiastic coverage in the media, and his music was played regularly by U.K. star disc jockey Zane Lowe. The early months of 2018 brought two more songs, "Stay Warm" and "Come Follow Me Down." ~ Mark Deming