Podcast Corner: Why Alfie Hudson-Taylor walked away from the sibling music group
Alfie and Harry in their Hudson-Taylor days.
An interesting podcast that offers a stark look behind the music industry, co-hosted by Alfie Hudson-Taylor and up-and-coming Cork artist Fionnán Barrett aka Finscéalta.
Alfie was one half of the chart-topping titular band Hudson Taylor alongside his brother Harry.
Signed to Rubyworks Records, home to the likes of Hozier, they released four albums and were a going concern for 12 years, breaking up in 2022 - though that was only announced officially in October 2023, with Harry releasing his debut solo single under new moniker Lady Bird Lad at the end of that month.
He wrote on Instagram: “The whole thing is still a bit raw, to be honest.”
You can take the title of Alfie’s podcast, released less than a month after Harry’s Instagram statement - at face value; rather than a band breaking into the industry, this is about how the industry broke the band.
Barrett asks Alfie directly, at the start of the no-frills show, how did Hudson Taylor call it quits and whose decision was it.
“Well, firstly, it was my decision, completely. And secondly it wasn’t the first time I wanted to do that, by any means. It was maybe the fifth or sixth time I had seriously considered walking away from the business and band - and my brother, essentially. Why last year? I just had enough and I felt like I had to respect myself and my work. I had gone through 12 years working in music… and failed to make a consistent, even a minimum, wage.”
There’s been four episodes of the podcast so far, but for sheer honesty, the opening 25-minute salvo is among the most gripping shows we’ve heard all year. It sounds like there are still things left unsaid - but Alfie Hudson-Taylor still reveals so much.
Episodes since then have focused on music videos and monetisation, social media, getting released from a record label and the relief of it (announced during the ‘Escapism’ episode, Alfie says that “it has not even fucking sank into me yet, this happening. I am very very grateful for this happening and I can finally start building a life and a career in music from this position, not being held back from a past mistake”), and an interview with one of Alfie’s heroes, Scottish singer-songwriter Greg Holden. An engaging listen, and an essential podcast for budding musicians.
One of the best venues in the country, Listowel’s Mike the Pies has started up an interview series with episodes to date featuring up-and-coming Limerick act Kingfishr, Cork stalwart John Spillane, and Dublin supergroup Echo Canto, featuring Dave McPhillips (The Coronas) and Dave Pyro (Republic of Loose).
