Simonne's Performace Will Blow You Away!

Getting your friends together for a night of dancing is a timeless tradition which can only mean one thing - a lot of fun. I think it's safe to say that good music is a must on a night out but live music is much better. Give us a great performer singing some of our favorite classics in an amazing venue and we are more than happy to party the night away. Isn't that the perfect way to spend the upcoming Valentine's day in fact?
Forget the romantic dinners (nothing against those but aren't we all sick of clichés?) want our recommendation on how you should spend the day of love? Head over to Moe's on the 5th at the Sheraton Hotel and check out the amazingly talented Simonne Cooper who is going to perform on Valentine's Day. With the 1920s bar in downtown New York feel And Simonne's outstanding performance it's bound to be a night to remember.
Simonne Cooper is a singer, songwriter and DJ. Her voice and talent voice has taken her to some of the biggest clubs in New York, Ibiza, Miami, London and Sydney where she's shared the main stage with the likes of Tiesto, Erick Morillo, Roger Sanchez and Carl Cox.
Simonne's career started from a young age when she appeared on the widely successful TV show Young Talent Time which also propelled they careers of Danni Minogue and Tina Arena. Simonne then went on to study music in University in London. Since then, her voice has taken her to the biggest clubs around the world where she has performed at some of pretty huge events which include The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, The Miami Winter Music Conference, The FiFA World Cup (Germany), amongst many others.
The accomplished songwriter has written and performed vocals for the Subliminal hit Feels Alright which was featured on various compilations including Hed Kandi's Beach House, Hed Kandi's Anthem's and Artwork, Without You with Dj Sin Plomo, Need You (Right Now) with Trumpetman, Lovin You with Tom Novy to name but a few. Didn't we tell you she was talented?
What we love about Simonne is that she has an certain charisma and energy onstage which gets the crowd going whether she's singing an original or a cover. City Times managed to have a chat with Simonne about her musical journey, what influenced her sound and what she thinks is so special about Dubai.
You're a singer / songwriter / DJ and presenter but how do you define in a simple way what you do? Is there one role or a word that you specifically relate to?
Passion! Every aspect of the industry that I immerse myself in, I do it with complete passion. I love to push myself to the limits creatively and never stop growing or learning. Having different facets to what I do allows me to do this consistently which keeps it fun and engaging. It has also allowed me to have a lengthy career, which I'm extremely grateful for.
You've performed all over the world. Where is your favorite place to perform and why?
This is always a hard question as each country and venue offers various individual experiences. Over the course of my career, there are so many, I will say though that closing the terrace of Space, Ibiza together with a solo performance in the Sydney Opera house was my all-time favorites. But right now, I love my new home and residency at Moe's on the 5th, on the fifth floor of the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Trade Centre. We have live music every Thursday with my band and I playing house classics and some more contemporary hits in a Jazzy, fusion style, and once per month we have our Flashback 54 event. Imagine being transported back to the heyday of disco, a la Studio 54 70s & 80s, NYC style. Expect glitter, sequins, md a whole lot of fun, dancing, and DISCO all night long! Wednesday night is our signature Ladies night and I play a mix of old and new soulful house all night with a live saxophonist which is what we will be performing for Valentine's day.
Do you have any rituals before you go up on stage?
Generally, after getting the sound and lighting checks done, I like to just have a little alone time and get myself focused. I also enjoy getting to know the crowd.
Do you ever get stage fright?
Yes definitely, not often, but when I do I love those gigs so much as it's when the magic happens...
Why do you still love performing?
For me to have a career spanning over 26 years traveling the world doing what I love is an absolute gift. I am still so grateful for every opportunity to continue this. What's not to love?
You're a songwriter as well as a singer. How do ideas for a song or lyrics come to you?
Songwriting is a very individual process, sometimes lyrics come to me within minutes and I can write a whole song start to finish in 15 minutes. Other times I can pour over the lyrics and melody for days. I always find that my best songs are written quite quickly. Sometimes lyrics come from personal experiences and sometimes from stories I've heard from friends. I like my lyrics to tell a story.
Who were your musical influences growing up?
My parents were into Jazz, so I grew up listening to Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Fats Waller, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billy Holliday. As a teen I was into the soul and disco Divas like Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, and Blondie.
What's on your playlist now? Which contemporary singers do you enjoy listening to?
I'm always researching new music for my DJ sets and I come across some really interesting new music. As much as I love the classics at heart, there are some hot new producers releasing some quality music lately. On a more underground tip I'm enjoying the latest productions by Archie Hamilton right now, I really enjoy his production sound. I've also come across Brasstracks who are creating some really original and interesting sounds, and on a more commercial tip I have to say I like the sound and the style of Nua Lipa.
What do you love about Dubai and also how do you find the audiences differ from other cities?
I've been here 8 1/2 years now and one of the things I love about the city is watching it's growth and expansion, not just architecturally but also the music and arts scene. I'm honoured to be a part of making that happen, and proud of our city and our local artists and DJ's for what we all contribute to that. It's fun and exciting times for all of us leading up to 2020. The audiences used to be much more subdued compared to other cities around the world, but that is slowly changing. People are expressing themselves more naturally and freely, which is an amazing, welcome sight to see and experience as an artist/DJ.
What's your favorite song to perform at the moment and why?
I think one of my new favourites to perform at the moment is the 80's classic Xanadu by Olivia Newton John... It was one of my favorites as a kid and my band play it so well. We added to it in our Flashback 54 event last week and it was received very well. I loved looking out at the audience and seeing everyone singing along. Disco music is so infectious and happy. That's why I love performing it.
What can people in Dubai expect to see when they come to watch you perform?
They will always see me singing and playing from my heart. It's imperative to me that I enjoy it... so I hope that they will too.