We had a few brief moments to speak with Mia Simonette, a performer that has just released “Count (Body and Soul)” and “Say it”.
How did you begin to perform?
I began performing at age 8 and joined my first band when I was about 9. It has always been something that I really love doing and feel really passionate towards.
How did “Count (Body and Soul)” move from initial thought to finished effort? What was the recording process for this single like?
I started with a chord progression, melody and lyrics and put together a very basic acoustic version on my piano. A few weeks later I went into the studio with some ideas for other instruments such as bass and drums to be added. My producer Sam Ford was amazing during the collaborative process and within a few sessions we had a finished product which I’m really happy with.
What significance do your songs possess?
The songs haven’t been written for any particular purpose or significance. What I wanted to do was create lyrics that flowed together nicely and combine them with a catchy melody so that people would enjoy listening to them.
What artists and styles most influence your overall sound?
I have quite a few influences from different genres although the finished product is mainly R&B/Soul sounding. My vocals have been heavily influenced by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Beyonce and lots of old school rock vocalists such as Grace Slick. The basis of my songs are jazz chords, as one of my favourite styles is Jazz, but other parts of the songs follow a more easy listening Soul feel.
Are there any live dates or events that you will be performing to support the new releases?
At the moment I’m just playing in local venues and at festivals around Perth, where my sets consist of a mix of my originals and covers.
How can interested readers find out more about yourself and your music?
I have recently created a Facebook page titled “Mia Simonette Music”, which has links to both my SoundCloud and Triple J Unearthed accounts where my music is available to listen and download.
What has provided more of your fans – Soundcloud / TripleJ or traditional word of mouth?
I have gained more fans through, word of mouth and Facebook. Soundcloud and Triple J have gained views through the links on my page.
We are still pretty early in 2015. What goals do you have for the year?
Hopefully to write and record more songs to complete my first EP and perform them around Perth gaining more fans and people that like my music!
Thank you so much for your time. Do you have any final thoughts for us at NeuFutur?
Thanks so much for this opportunity, its been a lot of fun!