Exclusive Interview :: SIMEON BELLE

Here is the latest interview from our writer; Dmarco, as he meets Simeon Belle..

So it was around early 2015 I started hearing the name ‘Simeon Belle’ bopping about, rumour had it he was rising up and would be one to watch, the rumours were right. I wondered how I could meet this fashionable chap, rocking the cool garms, afro and snazzy beard. Turns out he’s a quite the socialite, so all I had to do was get out of the studio more, socialise and I’d be sure to catch him in a club, so I did… and we had a good chat!

Marcus: When did you start DJing, and what or who were your early passions and influences?

Simeon: I started DJing about 12 years ago. I started to learn after I had started producing tracks and thought it would be a good way to get my stuff heard. I was influenced by the garage scene – Karl ‘tuff enuff’ Brown, DJ EZ just to name a couple.

Marcus: What do you personally consider to be the incisive moments in your artistic career?

Simeon: The signing of my first EP was real special moment, it gave me the belief and confidence to go forward with things.

Marcus: What are currently your main challenges as a DJ? What is it about DJing, compared to, say, producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you?

Simeon: The main challenge is to stand out from everyone else, playing a lot of my own productions helps me to do this.

Marcus: What do you usually start with when preparing for a set?

Simeon: I like to have an idea of what I’m going to play first and through the set, but I’m not too firm with this as you have to see how the crowd react so usually I put a list together.

Marcus: What makes you decide to play a particular record during one of your sets? Is there a criteria other than pure subjectivity, for selecting what to play at a gig?

Simeon: I like to have an idea of what I’m going to play first and through the set, but I’m not too firm with this as you have to see how the crowd react so usually I put a list together.

Marcus: So we have all been hearing the word’s ‘Huarache Hoes’ being sung amongst a few dance floors & over a few airwaves with Lorelle on Reprezent & also Jess Bays on Kiss 100. Tell us a bit about this track and how it came about…?

Simeon: Hahaha…. I came up with the concept quite a while back and was waiting for the right track to go with for it, so I had the backing track and I was going to perform the vocals myself like I did on my track differently, but SJ happened to be there when I wanted to lay vocals on it and he killed it, and made it as catchy as I hoped it would be. The actual concept came through me seeing a lot of people wearing huaraches everywhere and although the word hoe is used, I wasn’t meant in a derogatory way I just wanted to create a fun track!

“I was influenced by the garage scene; Karl ‘Tuff Enuff’ Brown & DJ EZ to name a couple”

simeonbelle2Marcus: Now then, we’re looking forward to your next release ‘The Drop’ out with Arcko Digital on the 6th of June. What other tracks have your got in the pipeline & are you collaborating, remixing or continuing with some more of your own Jams?

Simeon: I have some remixes that I’m working on and some collaborations too. I will have a track coming out on Happy Records (Spain) called ‘What do you want’ soon, and remix a did for Louie Anderson called ‘Warning’.

Marcus: As we continue to keep up to date with your social media around the globe, tell us more about your recent trips to Bali & the Gilli Island, & what else you have in store for us to catch you in the summer?

Simeon: My trip was great, I played a few really cool parties and got to work in the W Sound Suite. I have a residency with Locker Room Records over the summer, we take over Cargo (Shoreditch, London) for a series of day parties, plus we also have the 1st birthday of the label coming up on the 2nd of July not to be missed!

Marcus: Now before we depart, could you share with our readers one interesting fact about Simeon Belle that they don’t know….?

Simeon: I have always been artistic and have painted shop signs, graffiti and designed clothing!

Catch Simeon at Locker Room Sunday’s on June 12th 2016 at Cargo. To see the full lineup.. CLICK HERE

– Marcus Ali (Dmarco), Public House UK.

Here you can listen to Simeon’s forthcoming release ‘The Drop’ on Arcko Digital, out Monday 6th of June…