Nicole Simone: Young Chanteuse of Sultry, Retro Pop
By David Chiu

Listening to Nicole Simone’s music is like watching an old surrealistic, foreign movie: it has a distinctive Euro, fatalistic noir-ish quality to it. In fact, this young artist’s old-timey sound is more in tuned with her  influences Marilyn Monroe and Tom Waits than her modern-day peers. Simone is a credit or an exception to trends, rather bravely following her own muse by embracing this cool, sophisticated retro sound.

The Los Angeles-based Simone recently released her debut self-titled EP, featuring the sultry and appropriately-titled song “Melt.” She even enlisted her friend, actor/musician Jason Schwartzman to play on the tune “The Wedding Song.” The heat and feel of the torchy songs are further augmented by Simone’s breathy vocals.

Simone will be playing on Aug. 2 opening for Ferraby Lionheart at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. Prior to the appearance, NewBeats had the opportunity to talk to Simone about her career music, especially why this particular old-fashioned music. Continue reading “Features: An interview with Nicole Simone”