She is described as “captivating in manner, voice and message” (Rip it up Magazine) “an intoxicating performer” (The Barefoot Review), “a remarkable voice” (Glam Adelaide)
“a voice like tiramisu topped with smooth chocolate sauce.” - Angus Stone
Born of Jamaican heritage in the UK, Miss Renee Simone was raised singing along to her mother's vinyl collection of Jazz and Motown. Her teenage years were infused with the iconic beats of RnB icons such as Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Whitney, Salt n Pepa, TLC to name a few... add a dash of old school hip hop, the sultry tones of UK trip hop and a sprinkling of some well selected pop ... and you start to feel the essence of MRS both as a DJ and a singer.
"A wonderful talent"- Molly Meldrum
After leaving London to go on a holiday to New Zealand she literally never went home. Waving goodbye to the Northern Hemisphere for her new found love of snowboarding she took up a job alongside DJ Freddy Flyfingaz as a breakfast radio DJ and nightclub vocalist. They toured the breakbeats radio show 'Ghetto - fatbeats n freestylers' to every nook and cranny of New Zealand. After NZ the show found its way across the water to Australia concluding in Byron Bay in 2003. MRS instantly found her sub tropical home. She performed and toured with a number of bands and was often seen playing her signature 'pop up street shows' with her island soul band 'Blackbirds'. They took street shows to the next level with exquisite lighting and decor. They had people dancing in the streets of Byron Bay as if they were in a plush theatre. It was there she coined the phrase "Byron Bay Experience".
In 2010 Blackbirds reached the semi finals of Australia's Got Talent and were the first band ever to be crowd funded by TV fans to create their self titled album.
"Its Excellent"- Kyle Sandilands
In 2013 Miss Renee Simone stepped out as a solo artist and was invited to record vocals with a number of Australian icons including Xavier Rudd, Angus Stone and Bernard Fanning. She joined Fanning as a guest on stage at Splendour in the Grass festival in 2014.
The release of her solo album, ‘ROAR’ established her as a unique voice in Australia. Bernard Fanning stated “Miss Renee is able to straddle jazzy soul, folk, pop and reggae and make all of the styles her own. A great singer with a very unique style"
“Mesmirizing” - Rip it Up Magazine
Her songs are about what it means to be a woman and a mother. They are written based on a collection of interviews she carried out with women of all ages across the world and she wrote about the most common themes that came up. One song narrates the scene of a man who gets a woman drunk and manipulates her into sleeping with him against her will. Another speaks of the fire in the belly that motherhood brings enabling a mother to do the seemingly impossible. She sings about the subtle narcissistic abuse that can happen behind closed doors and reminds the listener ‘you get what you put up with’. There is a song about turning off the phone and unplugging the net to revive the soul with music, and a couple of songs promoting the art of letting a prospective lover know how to treat you like the top shelf catch that you are!
ROAR received album of the week on several stations including ABC Radio National, Sydney’s Eastside Radio, 2 Bob FM and Soul & Jazz Radio within the first 2 months of release.
“Will leave you on an emotional high” – OnDit Magazine
"If honey had a sound it would be the voice of Miss Renee Simone” - Bernard Fanning
Her soulful shows are well suited to intimate settings and she can be found gracing some of the most beautiful theatres and rooms across the country including The Lizottes theatres, Byron Theatre, The Gov Adelaide, Brisbane Jazz Club, Mona Hobart, Meeniyan Hall South Gippsland, Tilleys Canberra, Enmore Theatre Sydney, Metro Theatre Sydney, The Recital Centre Melbourne, The Pier Wine Bar Port Macquarie, Brisbane Powerhouse, No.5 Church St Bellingen, Blue Beat Sydney, J Theatre Noosa, Jazz Cafe Camden London and she brings her cool grooves and DJ sets to many Australian festivals such as Bluesfest, Falls Fest, Reggaefest, Mullum Fest, Splendour in the Grass, Island Vibe and Adelaide Fringe Festival.
She has opened for acts including Lionel Ritchie, Morcheeba, Vika and Linda Bull, Omar (London) & Eric Bibb (national tour)
“Miss Renee Simone played our main stage to an adoring crowd” Bluesfest Director’s top 5 picks of 2018
"Reminiscent of and Early sade" - Eric Bibb
“Rootsy, smooth, relaxed back porch elegance” 4ZZZFM
Miss Renee Simone is the Director of Byron Bay's Entertainment Company