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
Little Miss Renee
Born in the UK to Jamaican parents, Miss Renee Simone’s musical journey began when she inherited her mother’s cherished vinyl collection. The Little Miss sang along to legends such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. At the age of 7 she began buying records to add to the collection and she was off!
Her influences are as diverse as her sound, drawing inspiration from R&B icons such as Erykah Badu, Sade, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston and TLC. With a deep appreciation for the culture of old-school hip hop and the soothing vibes of UK Neo Soul, Miss Renee Simone’s musical palette is both rich and expansive.
The Little Miss moved to Germany as a teenager where she embraced the vibrant German rave culture as a podium dancer. It was here that she solidified her love for electronic music before moving back to London where she added UK garage and jungle to her mix.
"A wonderful talent"- Molly Meldrum
After leaving London to holiday in 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 with DJ Freddy Flyfingaz as a breakfast radio DJ and nightclub vocalist at Mount Maunganui. The pair toured their breakbeats radio show 'Ghetto - fatbeats n freestylers' around New Zealand. The show jumped the Tasman to Australia and concluded in Byron Bay in 2003. Unsurprisingly, MRS instantly fell in love with the sub tropical paradise and has been there ever since. 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", later becoming the name of her Byron event company.
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.
“I’m first in line to buy the album” - Danni Minogue
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.
"Its Excellent"- Kyle Sandilands
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. The songs were formed from 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. ‘Dust off your wallet’ lets 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.
“Rootsy, smooth, relaxed back porch elegance” 4ZZZFM
Today
Miss Renee Simone is a dynamic and eclectic artist who beautifully embodies the breadth of her musical education in both her vocal style as a singer and her tune selections as a DJ. With her super-power for reading a crowd, each of her performances is uniquely tailored to include the whole range of audience members she is presented with on any occasion.
Her versatility shines through, making her a sought-after performer for private events and major festivals alike.
“Miss Renee Simone played our main stage to an adoring crowd” Bluesfest Director’s top 5 picks of 2018
Miss Renee has graced the stages of renowned festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Island Vibe and Bluesfest. She also performs for esteemed brands including Versace, L’Oreal, Sunglass Hut, Snapchat, Ferrero Rocher, Charles Heidsieck, Campari, Bacardi, Patron and the list goes on…
Her soulful live band shows are well suited to intimate settings and she can be found gracing some of the most beautiful theatres and rooms across the country.
"If honey had a sound it would be the voice of Miss Renee Simone” - Bernard Fanning
Miss Renee Simone band have opened for acts including Lionel Ritchie, Morcheeba, Vika and Linda Bull, Omar (London) & Eric Bibb (national tour)
"Reminiscent of an Early sade" - Eric Bibb
Her DJ act features a captivating blend of live vocals over her DJ set. She starts by seranading with soulful jazzy numbers and progresses though to high energy party bangers to close out the night.
“Will leave you on an emotional high” – OnDit Magazine
Miss Renee Simone is the Director of Byron Bay's Premier Event Company