25 September 2026
One of the most unique talents coming through in the UK right now, Taylor Bleu might just be the next generational artist to emerge out of South London.
With a commanding vocal presence met by vulnerable and deeply personal songwriting, Bleu is steadily establishing a reputation as one of the most hotly-tipped alt-R&B voices. Having supported Sam Smith at the London Coliseum earlier this month, he now shares his deeply moving debut EP, Crayon Scars via Polydor Records, a stunning six-track offering that introduces the world to the tributlatory life yet brilliant sound of Taylor Bleu.
Taylor’s sound is rooted in utter sincerity, one he describes in his own words as “honest, confrontational and raw.” That perspective was heavily cultivated back home in South London, where his surrounding environment played a significant role in forming his resilient outlook. “The friends I grew up with weren’t afraid to say how they felt and dealt with things as and when they happened,” he reflects. “I’m glad I grew up with who I did because it’s given me extremely thick skin and an outlook on life that I now bring into my music. I think that honesty and the way I’ve learned to carry myself has naturally bled into my artistry.”
Influenced by a wide sonic palette ranging from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to “a mixture of bashment that would be repeatedly spun from a CD that was burnt off a laptop,” Taylor was absorbed by the arts from a young age, but notes that his music is driven more by his emotions and feelings as opposed to other works. “Growing up listening to so many different genres has made me very open-minded musically, but what influences my music more is how I’m feeling at the time. Whatever mood I’m in tends to shape what comes out naturally.”
This distinct sound and identity shines through with flying colours, with Taylor’s commitment to authenticity and rawness the backbone of the music in which he creates. “It’s one of the most important things to me,” he explains. “Trusting my gut and staying true to my morals has been vital. It’s helped me stay grounded and, on many occasions, it’s kept me alive.”
This unflinching truthfulness is the bedrock of his debut EP, Crayon Scars. The project serves as an introspective expression of his narrative, delving bravely into childhood trauma. “I wrote a bunch of songs, and while I had a few favourites, I started to realise that a lot of them were about my childhood,” Taylor shares. Exploring working titles like Abuse Is a Beautiful Tool and Somewhere in South, he eventually found his anchor. “I thought about crayons, something I used as a kid, and Crayon Scars came to me. From there, everything started to fall into place. I’ve handwritten the lyrics for every lyric video and the EP artwork in crayon… once I had the title, the whole project came together quite quickly.”
On the standout EP opener ‘Mad House’, Taylor pairs alt-R&B textures with a candid look at mental health and his home life growing up. Written from a place of anger, resentment, and frustration, the track confronts the lack of stability he experienced. “All I ever wanted was somewhere safe to call home,” he admits. “So the song is me saying, ‘This is my reality. Welcome to my house.’ There’s a lot of pain behind that anger, but I think being able to put it into music has helped me start understanding where those feelings come from. I feel like I’m slowly moving from just surviving what happened to me to understanding it.”
Whilst ‘Mad House’ is written from a place of frustration, ‘The Staircase’ feels written from a place of gratitude, warmth and comfort. A window into Taylor’s “safety and stability”, ‘The Staircase’ arrives in the form of a stripped-back, plaintive piano ballad that articulately documents the sentimental importance of the staircase where he spent much of his childhood. “That space is still somewhere I’ll go and sing now. No camera, no exceptions, no pressure. It helps me reset. I hope someone listening to ‘This Staircase’ realises that love doesn’t always have to be attached to another person”, Taylor elaborates.
Releasing these deeply personal stories into the world is one thing – performing them live is something else. Just last week, Taylor opened up for Sam Smith at the London Coliseum, one of the most stunning and historic venues in London, for a milestone experience he describes “a madness” and incredibly nerve-racking. “I’m no stranger to high stakes, but normally the stakes I deal with are ones I’m used to”, Taylor explains. “I think I felt more shook because it was the second time I’d properly performed these songs in front of people, and because these songs are so personal, I’m constantly trying to stop myself from getting emotional when I’m singing them”.
Performing and releasing Crayon Scars serves a purpose bigger than himself though. “My goal is to spread awareness that we need to protect kids and those who can’t protect themselves… No one spoke up to the abuse I faced when I was a child. In my adulthood, I have chosen to speak up for those who can’t, and I genuinely know my story and voice will be strong enough to provoke change.”
The creation of Crayon Scars has allowed Taylor to process these emotions more clearly, embarking on some difficult reflection periods to ultimately alleviate the weight of his memories. “I’ve still got a long way to go before the nightmares completely stop, but this EP has made me proud of who I am and how far I’ve come. It’s shown me that I can take some of the hardest things I’ve experienced and turn them into something meaningful.”
With his debut EP now out in the world, Taylor Bleu’s upwards trajectory is more than exciting. Crayon Scars is a beautiful body of work, one that’s introspective, heartfelt and sensitive nature is amplified through Taylor’s stunning vocals and emotive sensibility.
Listen to Crayon Scars here.