Riva Taylor keeps it musical with genre-blending new EP

Riva Taylor keeps it musical with genre-blending new EP

17-09-25

From Les Misérables to Latin grooves, Riva Taylor’s journey has always been defined by music with drama at its heart. The internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter first made her mark as the youngest artist ever signed to EMI’s Classics & Jazz label, stepping into the spotlight as Young Cosette in Les Misérables on the West End stage. Now she returns with Keeping It Together, a five-track EP that draws on those theatrical beginnings while charting bold new territory.

The EP blends timeless pop melodies with sultry Latin rhythms and cinematic jazz textures. It’s music that feels ready for the stage — sweeping, intimate and full of storytelling. Taylor herself cites the cool sophistication of Astrud Gilberto and Sade, infused with the golden-era elegance of Bacharach and the emotive richness of Streisand, whom she supported at BST Hyde Park. Yet these influences are woven into a contemporary, international sound that belongs firmly to Taylor.

“This music is me letting go,” she explains. “Latin rhythms gave me the space to reconnect with a more playful, intuitive side of my artistry. These songs are both intimate and expansive — cinematic, but grounded in real emotion.”

That theatrical instinct runs through the record. The bossa-drenched Great Unknown carries the yearning of a show-opening number. Valentine Road plays like a dramatic torch song, while Keeping It Together, the title track, has the makings of a modern standard. Hey Ho! channels the playful swing of a jazz club encore, a nod to the cabaret tradition. Each track feels like a self-contained story, performed with the conviction of someone who grew up in the world of musical theatre.

Taylor recorded the EP with Marcus Foster (Ellie Goulding, GIVĒON), building on her collaborations with Craigie Dodds (Amy Winehouse, Sugababes) and Juan Luis Ayala (Los Rumberos) in Mexico City. Her 2023 bilingual hit Cubano with Los Rumberos became a surprise success in Latin America, opening the door to a new musical language that now shapes this project — one that blends English lyricism with bossa nova, cumbia and rumba without losing sight of her theatrical pop roots.

“Working across cultures and genres has been the most liberating experience of my career,” she says. “This isn’t a departure — it’s a homecoming to a version of myself I hadn’t fully met before.”

From the child who sang “Castle on a Cloud” in Les Misérables to an artist crafting genre-defying music, Taylor has never lost her connection to the stage. With Keeping It Together, she has created a record that honours those roots while embracing fresh horizons. Available now on all major platforms, it also sets the stage for her forthcoming album and live shows next year — performances sure to carry both the intimacy of a cabaret and the sweep of a West End musical.

Listen to the brand new EP HERE.