Simonne and The Dark Stars
Brighton, England, United Kingdom | SELF
Music
Press
"(Their) performance brought dreamy clarinet sounds to the airwaves, hypnotic vocals, syncopated drumming and slow bass during songs such as ‘Free’ and the locally inspired ‘Brighton Rock’. " - Shaz Simone, Brighton Unsigned Magazine, August issue, 2012
"There is a lot of 'same-old, same-old' on the Brighton music scene but every now and then you come across gems like Simonne & The Dark Stars who offer something reassuringly unique" - Jessica O'Loughlin, Brighton Unsigned Magazine, July issue 2012
"Incredibly creative & gorgeously sumptuous!"
- Pete Jones Show for Radio Reverb FM 92.7, May 2012.
Simonne & the Dark Stars – Phoenix Rising
‘Phoenix Rising’ by Simonne & the Dark Stars reminds us of acts like The Dresden Dolls and, in terms of style not sound, Birdeatsbaby. A beautiful track, ‘Phoenix Rising’ was written at the time that Pulp god Jarvis Cocker took to the streets of London in protest of the hike in tuition fees and its lyrics, evoking the rumbling sense of discord felt within many people. Deeply powerful and poetic, the track has a vibration to it, a real presence that is captured well by the delicate flow of the piano and the drive of the drums. ‘Phoenix Rising’ is music for those that like to think, a quiet musical march on the masquerade of false democracy.
From: Brighton
Influenced by: Chopin, Patti Smith, Nick Cave - Andrew Nicholls, SQ Magazine, August, 2012
Discography
Love Like You Never 2013. Honeytone Recordings
Photos
Bio
Award nominees for Brighton Music Awards 2013 & having supported the likes of Gallon Drunk & Polly Scattergood this year is starting off big!! The band unique style have won themselves a published video on NME. The much anticipated release of their debut EP Love Like You Never is due to be released in March under Honeytone Recordings.
Singer songwriter and classically trained pianist, Simonne Weeks, draws inspiration from artists as diverse as Nick Cave, Patti Smith and Chopin. Together with the band they bring lyrical poetry to life with driving rhythm. They take you down the road marked out by haunting and delicate sounds of the piano and Simonne's voice with hints of PJ Harvey and Kate Bush.
Literature, film, poetry and life’s mysteries underpin the unique songwriting style. Love Like You Never has classic themes of hurt, betrayal and love. ‘I want to love like I’ve never been hurt before/ I want to love so it doesn’t hurt no more.’ The chorus is more like a mantra with its crescendo of vocals, slide bass, pounding drums and piano screaming in unison of one’s desire to love in spite of hurt.
A regular on the Brighton music scene, Simonne and The Dark Stars never fail to please the audience, especially with the well-remembered track, Don’t Be Late. The syncopated drumming and piano raise a glass to the dark cabaret and vaudeville shows of The Dresden Dolls.
Simonne is accompanied by Brighton’s finest musicians; Mark Robbins (Dead Whisky) on bass, Billy Poole on drums and Jules Lawrence (Sandy Dillon, Fat 45) on Saxophone, Saw & Harmonica.
Simonne & The Dark Stars have played live shows in London & South of UK at The Rattlesnake, WaterRats, The Brunswick and festivals.
Links
