She has a captivating and powerful voice, punctuated with powerful lyrics, and those ‘get-up-out-your seat’ grooves. Her voice is a sexy, seductive, sincere instrument that draws you in, and makes you wanting more.
In an industry that strives for individuality, Simone Taylor is an individual soul without bounds. Perhaps it stems from her up-bringing in Oakland, California. “As a kid I never wanted to be like everyone else. I wanted my own style and personality. Thankfully my parents allowed me to figure out who I was on my own. So if you want to stand out in my family, you have to be pretty spectacular at something.”
During this stage in her career, Simone, who is influenced by greats like Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, and Prince, would like to develop more as an artist and musician. As a child growing up in a family as the youngest and only girl, Simone developed her voice and stage presence like every other little girl- by watching her mother get ready in the mirror, belting out Motown classics. At the age of five, Simone sung a powerful version of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Do Right Woman, Do Right Man’ for family guests, and her parents knew she was destined for the stage. A year later, Simone started playing and writing music. “I was so young when I decided that I had something to say in music. I’d always just played another person’s feelings, not my own, and I really felt like I needed to do my own thing. I also wanted to go to college and study more than art and music. Ironically, I ended up getting a degree in theatre, so I didn’t stray too far from my original path. At the end of the day, I’m happy with the journey I’ve taken.”