Miss Renee Simone
About
Little Miss Renee
Born in the UK to Jamaican parents, Little Miss Renee learned the language of music from her mother’s vinyl collection. As a child she would lie on her bedroom floor with the lights off and listen to the vocal tones of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Whitney and Aretha, singing along with the masters.
Soul, Motown and reggae were a household staple, the soundtrack to every meal. At seven she started buying records of her own. The genres widened as she grew: typical teeny pop for a girl of her age, and everything from classical to old skool hip hop mixed in.
In that broad pre-teen collection she discovered that different songs gave her different feelings, and that she could choose how she felt by what she played and in what order. She made a mix tape for when she felt sad, one that could carry her all the way through the emotions to happy, and then made copies for her friends.
It was here that she learned the alchemy of music.
For her formal vocal training she chose to study classical singing, but in total contrast the eclectic young Miss lived in Germany and danced on podiums in the early rave clubs where electronic music became a part of her essence. Back to London and 90s R&B was her vibe, Erykah, Sade and Lauryn on high rotation as her singing voice was forming.
Her fascination with music and mood led her to a degree in arts in healing, followed by occupational therapy. Her music collection and her deepening understanding of its therapeutic uses became her foundation, the palette she would use to paint the feelings into any room.
It became her signature: reading what people need, and delivering it at the right moment, for the right mood, whether singing or spinning her tunes.
Byron Bay
Miss Renee moved to New Zealand and worked as a breakfast radio DJ and nightclub vocalist. With her co-host they toured the show around New Zealand and Australia, landing in Byron Bay in 2003 where she has been based ever since.
Miss Renee Simone performed and toured with a number of bands, including the island soul band Blackbirds. Their pop-up street shows, with lighting and decor, turned Byron’s streets into something closer to a theatre. It was there she coined the phrase “Byron Bay Experience”, later the name of her event company.
It's just got a beautiful soul and looks great.I could sit and listen to that all night.It's beautiful. I'm first in line to buy the album.
ROAR
Miss Renee Simone exudes a comfortable, rich and warm elegance. A soulful feminine strength.
To be soft and graceful yet being able to ROAR when it’s needed, that to me represents feminine strength.
ROAR is a call for women to grant themselves permission to be everything they want to be, and for mothers in particular to rise up and be fabulous. The songs grew from a year of conversations with women of all ages and walks of life: what makes us strong, what makes us vulnerable, and what gives us hope.
Session vocalist
Miss Renee works as a session vocalist. She has laid down vocals with some of Australia’s finest, including Xavier Rudd, Angus Stone and Bernard Fanning.
If honey had a sound it would be the voice of Miss Renee Simone.
A voice like layers of tiramisu topped with smooth chocolate sauce.
Opener
Miss Renee has shared a stage with Lionel Richie, Lauryn Hill and Leon Bridges, and opened for a number of notable acts.
As a DJ
Pnau
Sneaky Sound System
Peking Duk
As a band
Morcheeba
Eric Bibb · Australian national tour
Omar Lye Fook · Jazz Cafe London
Reminiscent of an early Sade.
A smooth and tasteful blend of styles, like Randy Crawford meets Neneh Cherry.
Press
Renee's music and enthusiasm is infectious, and will leave you on an emotional high.
Final word: mesmerising.
Take my advice and allow yourself to be captivated by Miss Renee Simone.
Read all press reviews
ALBUM OF THE WEEK. Miss Renee Simone has already garnered a reputation for a voice that draws you in with her smooth sound and captivating style. This album is about women finding their place; women who rise to a challenge; women who are still working it out; or women who refuse to give up.
Humble and relaxed, she sat amongst hay bales and organza drapes with such poise, as though she were nestled amid silk and velvet surrounds. And just when you thought this stunning Caribbean goddess couldn't get any cooler, she pulled out a ukulele. Hook. Line. Sinker. This show seamlessly mixes original numbers with covers, leaving one with an appreciation for her song-smithery as well as her honeyed vocals. Simone is an intoxicating performer who shines on stage, and she deserves to be seen clearly by all. A wonderful night of Caribbean-style soul and jazz — take my advice and allow yourself to be captivated by Miss Renee Simone.
Renee has a relaxed and welcoming persona that immediately sets you at ease. I've never experienced such a well-planned set list. Renee begins with a series of soft Caribbean jazz songs, soothing the audience and making them forget the stresses of their day. With each song the tempo grows until before you know it you're swaying to a lively beat, smiling when Renee smiles, and singing along with the chorus. Though undoubtedly the star, Renee does not dominate the stage. She shares the spotlight with her band mates. Most songs include a solo from either the guitarist or brass player and during these interludes Renee rests back, closes her eyes and appreciates the music. It's wonderful to see a band that obviously enjoys performing together. Too often with popular bands or singers, their onstage chemistry seems strained and interactions perfunctory. Renee's music and enthusiasm is infectious, and will leave you on an emotional high.
Captivating in her manner, voice and message… Simone could sing any genre of music and make it her own; her sultry and soulful voice glided around the room settling in for the night on the laps of all the audience members, like a purring pet. Her band were to be commended, with tasteful snare and percussive sounds and beautiful jazz guitar accompanying her; the soloist who pulled out various brass and woodwind instruments and the odd harmonica added just the right amount of colour, and harmonies were musically excellent with brilliant light and shade. Final word: mesmerising.
Reggae rhythms, jazz and blues influences are clear, and these can be attributed to her love of the music of great singers of the 1930s and 40s, such as Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday. She is also influenced by the work of many contemporary artists, and injects her music with a good dose of soul. Her backing band had a very good percussionist who kept a Latin beat running through the numbers, as well as a great guitarist and an excellent multi-instrumentalist who can really do wonders with a soprano saxophone. Miss Renee Simone adds further colour to the orchestrations on her ukulele. It is her remarkable voice, though, that captivates the audience, with her unique way of expressing the meaning of each number, and her versatility in embracing a wide range of material. Her voice is a joy to listen to as she turns every number into a piece that is all her own, even standards, and songs from groups like The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Some might say that she greatly improves them, and I would not argue with that.
It was a real pleasure to be at Jazz Cafe Camden for the Omar show. Supported by Miss Renee Simone, a singer of high quality, who produced a beautifully crafted set, accompanied by a fine band.
Miss Renee Simone and her band can get any crowd dancing like they never have before.
Renee Simone's effortless vocals were only trumped by her broad smile.
Miss Renee Simone played our main stage to an adoring crowd.
A wonderful talent.
A voice like layers of tiramisu topped with smooth chocolate sauce.
It's just got a beautiful soul and looks great. I could sit and listen to that all night. It's beautiful. I'm first in line to buy the album.
It was beautiful. To me it's like a car CD — I'd put you guys on and drive for hours to keep the stress down. It's a calming feeling… beautiful music, and you guys are tight with the vocals. I think you're fantastic.
ROAR is a rootsy, smooth collection of soul and R&B from Jamaican-born, Byron Bay-based vocalist Miss Renee Simone. Simone's songs are delivered with a relaxed, back-porch elegance that recalls both classic vocal jazz and the egalitarian vibes of Blue King Brown or Mama Kin. Good vibes x 11.
Today
Byron Bay and beyond
Based in Byron Bay and performing globally, she works as a vocalist, DJ, event coordinator, and as director of event company Byron Bay Experience.
