9 Quick Ones with SIMA – August 2018

According to a recent press release: “Rock / Pop artist SIMA has released the official music video for her single, “Head Over Heels.” Sima’s currently working on a new project called ‘Broken Wings.’ ‘Broken Wings’ is an inspirational documentary/musical project bridging Israeli-Palestinian differences through the healing powers of music. Sima feels that her extraordinary journey is just the beginning; however she feels privileged to be traveling along such a rewarding path. She looks forward to continue learning, growing, and sharing her story, truth, pain, struggles and blessings with the rest of the world.”  We get Sima to discuss new music, influences, and much more in our 9 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My latest single, “Head Over Heels,” is about being in love. About finding that special someone who you can’t get out of your mind, someone that you can trust to be by your side, no matter what. It talks about how sometimes in life we give up on love, because we get hurt so many times, that we become numb to it and forget how it feels to be in that vibration, to be in love head over heels with someone, until you finally meet that special person who changes all that and brings you back to life. For many years I was focusing on my career and I realized that I’m neglecting a big part of myself and I wanted to find balance in life. I didn’t want to deprive myself of things that are important to me. I wrote down the things that I want in a relationship and how I wanted to feel again after so many years of being single and putting up so many walls. I knew the importance of the law of attracting, visualizing, feeling and creating that excitement and openness in order to allow everything that I want in life, including loving, supportive and healthy relationship to come in.  Although ‘Head Over Heels’ talks about love and finding that special someone, it’s not your typical love song. It has an intense bad ass rock sound. It’s intimate and at the same time, has in your face attitude of a woman who is not afraid to express her feelings and deep desires. The song start with a piano sample that, I used in the original rough pre-production and a few other samples. It’s pretty much stripped down at the beginning, so listeners might think that the song is slow pop love song, but, by the time that the chorus hits it’s becomes a lot more rocking and intense. The song has a really cool arc musically. I wanted to create a mix of rock music with electronic pop.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

It’s always been my dream to be an artist. I really don’t remember a time that I didn’t want to sing and be an artist. I’ve been singing since I remember. It’s like I was born with a mic in my hand. I grew up in a small town in Israel called Lod. Growing up in Lod wasn’t easy for a girl with big dreams. Lod is a small, poor Israeli city with many socioeconomic problems, violence, crime and drug-dealers. There wasn’t much to do there creatively and socially. But I did have an amazing group of friends growing up and we spent a lot of time together laughing, hanging out, and playing music. As a young girl, I used to lock myself in my room for hours and sing in front of the T.V and listen to music that came from the U.S. At an early age, I instinctively knew that my innate music abilities were incredible gifts that I should embrace and pursue. My strong voice and inspirational lyrics made it apparent to everyone around me that I had something profound to share. I realized that I wanted to do more than entertain I wanted to use music as a tool, to reach out and inspire others. I started writing poetry and journaling about my experiences growing up. Music was my escape from my reality and a safe space that allowed me to express myself. Music and singing made me feel like I’m not alone. It allowed me to connect to something bigger then myself. My sister had a big part in my love for rock music. My sister and I shared a room, so I was forced to listen to the rock and metal music that she listened to, which in retrospect, I’m grateful for. She introduced me to amazing records and bands like Pearl Jam, AC/DC, Nirvana, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, The Doors and many more. She also took me to my first rock concert to see Deep Purple when I was 11. I left Israel and moved to NYC at a young age to fulfill my artistic dreams, to find freedom and a better future. Although it was extremely difficult for me to leave my family and friends behind, I felt strongly that achieving my dream would also fulfill my life’s mission.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

My main influences come from artists like Bjork, The Cranberries, Massive attack, Tool, Portishead, A perfect circle, Alanis Morssette and many more.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

That’s a hard one. There’s so many. I always wanted to collaborate with Linkin Park. After Chester died (R.I.P.), I had to sadly take down this dream from my vision board. I would like to collaborate with Corey Taylor from Stone Sour, Slipknot, Dave Draiman from Disturbed. Also, Maynard James Keenan from A Perfect Circle, Tool. Lady Gaga, Collaborating with Bjork would defiantly would be a dream come true.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

I describe my music is Rock/Pop with a mix of electronic influences. Piano and synths, live drums and sometime electronic drums, bass, driving rock guitars, intense and powerful vocals coupled with poignant and honest lyrics. As well, on my new record, I’m exploring some of my Middle Eastern roots with instruments like the Oud, as well, singing in Hebrew for the first time in my years.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

The best thing about being an artist and musician is the ability to express your deepest thoughts, emotions and feelings through the universal language of music. Music can break down any barrier between people and bring people together. It allow us to say and express things that most people are feeling and dealing with on a daily basis and sometimes they can’t really express it, or they believe and think that they are alone in it and no one else can get it and understand them and when they hear an artist write about it and sing about it makes them feel that there’s someone perfectly capturing exactly how they feel.  As artists our job is to give others the safe space, the stage to express themselves by shading the layers and exploring life conditions. I think what makes artists so unique is their self-expression. The ability to relate to people on a deeper level through music. You can write about your deepest secrets and pain and turn darkness into light and healing. It’s transformative. It allows you to relate to the world and everything in it. Music always was that safe space for me where I can process, explore and write about everything that I went through in life.

7. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

A Psychologist. I would probably be working with kids, women and families. Working at a job that allows me to travel the world and help others.

8. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

I don’t really have a ‘do over’ moment because I truly trust that everything in life is a lesson and happen for a reason. It gives you the ability to grow as a person and as an artist and allow you to thrive to become a better human being. But, I would say that letting go of self-doubt and identifying myself with my past experiences and upbringings were a big one for me. Learning self -love, trust and appreciation that are when my biggest transformation and breakthroughs happened. When I truly start seeing how others see me and look up to me. Sometime you only see and believe in the ‘Story’ that you’ve been told growing up, a story that you end up believing that is true. When I start trusting myself, my inner strength and abilities to rise up and show up to anything that life throws at me and stopped looking outside of myself for a saviour, it allows me to take my power back and empower myself. It’s a wonderful feeling to be guided by your soul and spirit rather than exterior circumstances.

9. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

This is a hard one. There are many records that truly changed my life like, Pink Floyd The Wall, Led Zeppelin IV, Fleetwood Mac Rumours, Michael Jackson Thriller, Metallica Metallica, Pearl Jam Ten, Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill, The Cranberries No Need To Argue and all of Bjork. I remember when I heard The Wall for the first time, it was a musical experience I had never had before. I was probably 12 years old and I was introduced to the record through a friend whom I grow up with back in Israel. It was so different, diverse and unique. It’s a genius, timeless and rare record. It was so raw, uncomfortable at times and honest. It made me see things on a deeper level and open my eyes to harsh realities. It’s the first time that I heard a band that sounded so different musically, Psychedelic, experimental and trippy. I was fascinated by the storyline of the record and each song. The movie put it all into such strong and powerful visuals. It talked about human condition, struggles in life, pain, sex, fear, loneliness, addictions, family dynamics, especially with our mothers, I could relate to that because, my mom was also very over-protective of me. It also touched on important issues in our society like war, depression and suicide, the education system. It was symbolic and used powerful metaphors like the wall and the breaks in the wall to express all those emotions of isolation. It was and still is a piece of art. Interestingly enough I ended up writing a song called ‘Breaking Down The Walls’ many, many years later.

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Category: Interviews