Sohn

Christopher Taylor (born 27 August 1979), professionally known as Sohn (stylised as SOHN), is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. Born in London, he first released music under the name Trouble Over Tokyo before beginning the Sohn project while based in Vienna in 2012. His music has been characterised as electronic soul and as a fusion of R&B and synth-pop.

Sohn has released four studio albums: Tremors (2014), Rennen (2017), Trust (2022) and the instrumental Albadas (Dawn Songs) (2025). Alongside his own recordings, Taylor has worked extensively as a writer and producer for artists including Banks, Kwabs, Aquilo, Ólafur Arnalds and Nick Jonas.

Career

2005–2012: Trouble Over Tokyo and beginnings of Sohn

Taylor was born in South London. His first solo project, Trouble Over Tokyo, was active from 2005 until 2012. Three albums were released under that name: 1000 (2005), Pyramides (2007–08) and The Hurricane (2010). In March 2012, Taylor announced the end of the project and subsequently issued a final EP, Simplify.

His debut EP, The Wheel, was released by the London label Aesop on 5 November 2012. Pitchfork described him at the time as a "Vienna-via-London producer".

2013–2014: 4AD and Tremors

Sohn signed to 4AD in April 2013. His early releases for the label included "Bloodflows" and "Lessons". "Lessons" was released digitally in September 2013 and subsequently on limited 12-inch vinyl.

Taylor spent an intensive period working overnight in his Vienna studio on his debut album, Tremors. Its single "Artifice" also reached number 26 on the UK Independent Singles Chart.

2015–2018: Rennen and collaborations

In 2015, Sohn performed "Carry Me Home" for the soundtrack to The Divergent Series: Insurgent. The song was written by Taylor with composer Joseph Trapanese and was nominated for Best Original Song at the World Soundtrack Awards.

By the sessions for his second album, Taylor had moved from Vienna to Los Angeles. He spent about a month writing alone in northern California, deliberately restricting himself to a small number of musical elements on each song. "Conrad", the title track "Rennen" and "Hard Liquor" followed ahead of the album.

Rennen was released on 13 January 2017 and reached number 96 on the UK Albums Chart.

2019–2021: Metropole Orkest

In 2019, Sohn performed a one-off concert at the Melkweg in Amsterdam with the 54-member Metropole Orkest, conducted by Hans Ek. The performance included orchestral arrangements of songs including "The Wheel", "Conrad" and "Artifice". It was released by 4AD as Live with the Metropole Orkest on 5 June 2020.

Taylor also continued his production work. On Banks's 2019 album III, he co-wrote and co-produced "Till Now" and co-produced "Godless".

2022–2024: Trust and independent releases

Sohn returned with "Figureskating, Neusiedlersee" on 11 May 2022. The song's title referred to Lake Neusiedl in Austria and reflected on Taylor's earlier life in Vienna.

Taylor also continued his work with Banks, contributing production, mixing and writing to her 2024 acoustic project Goddess: Unplugged.

In 2025, Taylor established his own imprint, AdaptPivotMove.

A companion short film was directed and shot by Carla Cervantes Caro and Mònica Figueras Domènech in the Costa Brava region of Spain.

Production and songwriting

Alongside his own recordings, Taylor has maintained a substantial career as a songwriter and producer. His management maintains separate current production and songwriting discographies.

Year Artist Track 2012 Lana Del Rey "Ride" 2013 Disclosure featuring London Grammar "Help Me Lose My Mind" Banks "Before I Ever Met You" Rhye "Open" Angel Haze "Echelon (It's My Way)" 2014 Wild Beasts "Mecca" 2015 The Weeknd "Where You Belong" 2016 Honne "Gone Are the Days" 2017 Maggie Rogers "Alaska" 2020 Mighty Oaks "Forget Tomorrow" 2021 Birdy "Deepest Lonely" 2025 Wafia "Big Thoughts"