There is something admirable about an artist who continues to experiment long after the early excitement of a musical career has passed. Simon Baughen has been doing exactly that for more than four decades. From the post-punk and new wave influences of his early work to his more recent psychedelic, pop rock, blues, country, and singer-songwriter releases, Baughen’s career has been defined by curiosity rather than convention.
His early recordings already demonstrated a distinctive creative instinct. SA brought together the dark atmosphere of post-punk with the colourful energy of the New Romantics, while The Extremes took a more abrasive indie rock approach. The two EPs they released, “Eat My Dust” and “Car Crash Music,” reached listeners beyond the UK through radio play in Belgium, France, and the United States. His 1989 album with The Extremists then moved into New York new wave territory, drawing comparisons to the musical world of Television, Patti Smith, and Richard Hell.
When Baughen returned to music in 2012 with Indigo Club, he proved that his songwriting had lost none of its energy. “Savage Soul” became one of the band’s best-known tracks, reaching 24,000 streams on Spotify. His subsequent collaborations have taken him into blues rock and country, including his work with Chester “Crowbar” Crockford. His current Indigo Club lineup with Sue Cohen and Steven Greer has continued to attract listeners, with “Sequela” reaching 29,000 Spotify streams.
His solo work is where Baughen’s broad musical personality really comes into focus. Since 2020, he has released two albums, “Songs of Love and Loss” and “Coast to Coast,” alongside a steady stream of singles. The music refuses to settle into one genre. “Heart of the Sun” embraces retro psychedelic punk, “In the City of Angels” delivers a warning about climate change, and “Miss Jennifer Jones” channels the feel of 1960s pop rock. His more recent material, including “To Grow Old With You,” adds further depth to an already diverse catalogue.
Perhaps the most satisfying part of Baughen’s story is that he continues to connect his past with his present. His 2025 EP “Four Lost Songs of 82” revisits four SA55 songs, bringing material from the beginning of his career into a new era. “Jealousy,” the standout track, has already reached 29,000 streams. Combined with his regular appearances on the Bristol Open Mic scene as a solo performer and as part of The Spring Green Trio, it is clear that Baughen remains a working musician in the truest sense. His career is not defined by one sound or one era. It is defined by the desire to keep creating.
