The world fell in love with Simone Joy Jones on the big screen. She burst onto the season in 2022 playing the role of Lisa on the “Fresh Prince” reboot , “Bel-Air,” and has stamped herself as one of Hollywood’s young bright stars. This year, she has shown us her musical talents under her stage name S!mone, and with her latest single “Short Notice.” One thing is clear: she can do it all.
S!mone caught up with rolling out to discuss her music success and her upcoming project, Magnet.
What has been the reception to “Short Notice” so far?
I love my friends and my family because they will tell me the truth. And so, I was really happy because, you know, I didn’t know what to expect yet. My friends and family coming up and being, like, “this song was really good” or another thing I loved hearing is “you’ve gotten better.” I love people hearing and recognizing my growth. And I also like how people have said this song is really fun. And I really like that about “Short Notice.” I think it’s fun and a little campy.
What can we expect from your debut project Magnet coming out Nov. 1?
Ten tracks total and eight new ones because “Borderline” and “Short Notice” are already out. The project has a little bit of jazz fusion — and honestly it’s a mix of a lot of different genres. Magnet is filled with all different producers. Each producer is different. It goes from Solomon Fox to A-Lex and Benji, and all of them do completely different things too. I love Magnet because it really shows me. You know, I want something that was very attractive, cool and sleek, and I feel like this is a good representation of who I am as an artist right now.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I really love Esperanza Spalding. I love Terrace Martin. I love Rakim. I’m really into big 80’s influences: Anita Baker, Prince, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston — like, the really big singers. The singers who use their voice to really pull you in and evoke a lot of emotion.
What’s your recording process?
Everything on this album, we built from scratch. I’m coming in wanting to know everybody. Who are you right now? Who am I right now? Let’s work and expand on a moment. So, for example, on “Short Notice,” I was in Atlanta with A-lex and Benji, and all these people who came in the studio. We were, like, let’s make something cool with the people who are in here. Benji had a really cool baseline that felt bouncy and sexy, and a lot of tracks come from stories because multiple times we were, like, ‘okay this reminds me of that memory.’ But I’m always there in the mixing process. Every session that we have, I’m right there. I hope I’m not annoying. But every sound that you hear on the album, I stand by.
Do you prefer acting or singing?
I feel like the crack of it all is the storytelling. I’m so grateful for the life and doors that acting has opened up for me. Honestly, I would be miserable if I couldn’t sing. I think I’d be absolutely miserable.
