Hailing from the land of seven hills, Sheffield troubadour Samuel James Taylor started his path in music over 20 years ago, beginning with a decade’s worth of adventure with his band Dead Like Harry, who were picked to perform by Q magazine as one of the Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent acts in 2009. He then continued on as a solo artist, receiving support from BBC Radio 2’s Steve Lamacq and Graham Norton, with multiple side projects (Taylor & Marie, Ophelia, The Greatest Endangered Thing) and as a guitarist for numerous artists throughout the UK and USA. 

After trading in the electric hum of capital city lights to run away into the sunset with a circus queen, he travelled the world, documenting his journey in an EP anthology entitled Tales From A Troubadour before finally taking pause in the quiet landscape of his home in the English countryside. As it sometimes happens with extended journeys, life gives us diversions in the road we weren’t prepared for, and for Samuel this manifested itself in an autoimmune diagnosis, forcing him to hit the breaks on a life of long tours, late nights and heavy lifting. “I couldn’t continue at the pace I was going, it was time to take a step back. I needed to prioritise my health and work out how I was going to move forwards from here.” 

In the introspective years that followed, came time for self reflection and questioning. “There was period of time when I considered giving it all up,” says Taylor. “I couldn’t find myself in my music for the first time in my life. I was always playing shows, touring, connecting with people, I felt lost without that human connection. It was an isolating and lonely place. I wasn’t really sure how to get out of it and, for a while, I questioned whether it would be easier just to let it all go.”

But, as is often the case with stories of love and passion, sometimes the pull of the heart is too strong. Born out of the freedom from expectation that surrounds live performance, Samuel found his muse again. Songs were written, an album formed. “With time away from the constant shuffle and go, I found a new voice, or maybe it was the voice that was there all along. I spent a lot of time listening to the albums that had first inspired me to become a songwriter, albums I remember singing to in the back of the car as a child. I opened up a door to my past through Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Carole King, James Taylor… artists that began the journey for me. I knew it was time to get back in the studio again and I knew exactly how I wanted to make the record.”

Following what seemed like an eternity away from music, Samuel travelled to Nashville in December 2021 to record a full length live album with friend and Grammy nominated producer Neilson Hubbard.

The album, ‘Wild Tales and Broken Hearts’ was recorded live over three days at Skinny Elephant Studios in Nashville, TN (USA) and released in October 2022. The band features musicians Michael Rinne (Miranda Lambert), Juan Solorzano (Ruston Kelly), Neilson Hubbard (Mary Gautier, Amy Speace, Ben Glover) and Rebecca Van Cleave. The album was also engineered by Dylan Alldredge.

After a long journey to the ends of himself and back again, Samuel James Taylor continues to record with his other projects, The Greatest Endangered Thing and Dead Like Harry and alongside these, 2026 also promises new solo releases.

“…the ideal anthem to help you push through hardship and hold on to the dream of better days.” - Belwood Music

“An album about resilience and reigniting the fires to follow the life you dream, to not give in to despair and to rise in the hope of brighter days ahead.” - Folk Radio

“we dare to conclude that “Wild Tales And Broken Hearts” by Samuel James Taylor can without a doubt be added to our list of the best records of 2022.” - Rootstime

“Wild Tales and Broken Hearts greatest accomplishment is how perfectly it showcases his distinct voice, so filled with longing that it can make even the most satisfied listener yearn for something.” - Alan Cackett

“It is atmospheric, haunting, joyous and just wonderful.” - Robs Raw Music

“Both of these songs showcase not just Samuel James Taylor’s talents as a songwriter but intricate skill in building a track from scratch until it’s absolutely perfect; not needing another note or taking one out.” - Rocking Magpie