We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, here at The Honey POP we love small artists! We’re constantly on the lookout for the newest music that we love and think you will too. Recently, we’ve come across Sid Simons and we adore everything he’s done so far. Not only are we able to tell you about Sid, he was so kind as to answer some questions and introduce himself to you, our dear readers!
If you’re looking for a new artist to love, or just looking to learn more about Sid Simons, you’ve come to the right place. We talked about his travels, his upcoming album Beneath The Brightest Smiles, and more!
Hi Sid, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us today! Since this is your THP debut, could you introduce yourself for our readers who may not know you yet?
Hey! I’m Sid Simons. I grew up in Australia, lived in Shanghai, China for a few years and currently live in Brooklyn NY. I’ve played in a handful of bands and toured all over the world for years and finally decided it was time to steer my own ship and build out a project under my own name. While it may look like a solo project, ultimately it’s only possible with the help of my best friends and collaborators who inspire me every day.
Congratulations on announcing your debut album, Beneath The Brightest Smiles! You’ve created music with a few other bands, how did you decide it was time to release your own album?
I was just very ready to do my own thing. I pretty much quit every band I was playing in within the same week. Whether it was due to creative differences or some poor habits within the groups, it was clear that the time had come to reconfigure a bit. I had all these songs of my own piling up, and I wanted to ensure that they would see the light of day. Control over how and when they do has also been really great.
Speaking of your older music, are there any of your previous songs that you think would fit into Beneath The Brightest Smiles?
I can’t see anything else I’ve created prior to this record fitting into this tracklist. It really feels like its own identity, and many of these songs came about during a specific window of my life which was soundtracked by the ideas that show up on the album. That window had a beginning and end, so anything that falls outside of that timeline has been strategically allocated elsewhere.
You have a show scheduled on May 25th after the release of Beneath The Brightest Smiles! Are there any songs on the album you’re particularly excited to play live?
We’re going to play the full album from frontline to back! There’s about three songs we’ve never played live, one being a song called “Please Stop Smoking Mum” which I never thought would work live but it’s sounding great in rehearsals so I’m really excited to give it a go. On the record there are some really sparse arrangements and comparatively some really huge ones. We’re super excited to play both and cultivate an amazing live environment!
Some of your music has a 60s/70s influence in them. Are there any artists from that era that influenced this album?
Yea I grew up listening to all that old stuff like The Beatles, T-Rex, Bowie… so it really has seeped into my pores. Whether they know it or not, there isn’t a single rock artist alive who isn’t influenced by The Beatles. I see it like the free space in Bingo. Even when you try intentionally to shake ‘em, they seem to crawl back into the music, especially for me.
With all your travels you have a diverse cultural background! Does your upcoming album incorporate anything from the cultures you’ve experienced?
A majority of this record’s songs are built around experiences of living in multiple different cities and countries, and going all over the place on tour. One track is about a wayward GPS that tried to have me and my bandmates killed while on the road, another is about an eerie town we drove through in Texas that led to some personal revelations about the many ways life can be lived. I’ve now built up quite a handful of songs like these. Those stories are all sprinkled throughout the album for listeners to uncover.
You’ve mentioned in the past that you don’t really sit down for songwriting sessions and just write when the inspiration hits. With that, how many songs did you write for this album?
It’s never really a conscious thing. I don’t ever say “today’s the day I’m going to write a song,” I’m just constantly playing guitar or piano or just writing lyrics; I’m never fully aware of when I’m writing a song until I’ve almost finished it. We went into the studio with Gordon Raphael having 16 songs in mind and at the end of the week I chose the 9 that I thought were the best.
Beneath The Brightest Smiles isn’t out yet so this question may be a bit premature but we must know! Are you willing to share what else the fans can expect from you this year?
Lots in the works, first thing’s first, we are getting out of New York and bringing the songs around the U.S and Canada. By the time this is published it will have been announced – I’m doing a run in the PNW in June, including a show in my birth town of Portland, OR, where I haven’t been since I was 2. A lot of people in New York have been able to hear these songs live, but bringing my band “The Darlings” on the road is going to be many people’s first time seeing what we are all about. I am really excited about headlining Bowery Ballroom and some bigger shows in and around NYC this summer and fall. More music videos and live sessions are in the works, and perhaps, if I’m lucky, engaging in the rock n’ roll tropes that typically find their way into these matters.
Thanks again to Sid Simons for taking the time to speak with us! We’re looking forward to listening to Beneath The Brightest Smiles on May 17th. In the meantime, tweet us @TheHoneyPop or find us buzzing on Facebook and Instagram to share your excitement about all things Sid!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SID SIMONS FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
