About

Born in Salvador, Bahia, her interest for music was evoked very early. At only 17, she was singing from the hights of the trio-eléctrico groups throughout Salvador, and recorded – together with the group Novos Barbaros – the success « A terra tremeu », starting as a theme for a famous carnival troup of the city, and ending up as a smash all over Brazil.

In 1994, Simone’s solo career took off, with « Simone Moreno ». Very well received by critics as well as by the audience, this one kept music of great composers of Bahia and Rio, such as Caymmi and Gilberto Gil. With the axé song « Eh moça », she once more had a hit all over the country.

Next album « Morena » (produced by Pepeu Gomes), was a parade of the roots of brazilian music. Simone, already set in motion, was singing a variety of styles. By this time, Simone had turned into a afrobrazilian superstar and toured throughout Brazil, Europe, USA and Japan.

But Simone was up for new challenges, and after moving to Rio, third record « Manda me chamar » was released. It’s a beautiful samba record, produced by famous producer Rildo Hora, very well received  by critics and praised by the great sambistas of Rio (such as Martinho da Vila, Paulinho da Viola and Noca da Portela), who also contributed with songs for the album.

The latest release in Brazil, « Desde que o samba é samba », was a tribute to samba and bossa nova composers such as Barroso, Jobim and Buarque and the album was produced by guitarrist Roberto Menescal – one of the founders of the bossa nova movement – who has produced Elis Regina, Emílio Santiago and Leila Pinheiro among others. Menescal was impressed with Simone’s heartful interpretations in the studio: « She’s an expert singer, who captures every situation she sings, and has the force of a wild horse on the stage. You’d better watch her sing yourself to witness all of her drive, her feeling and her immense energy. »

Simone’s travelling around the planet wasn’t over by far, though. In 2001, Simone moved to Sweden and Europe after having met swedish musician and producer Anders von Hofsten, and the album “Samba Makossa” – a hommage to brazilian music, with beautiful versions of songs from Chico Science and Jorge Ben among others – was released in 2006. It was recorded with musicians from the cold North and became a great success, keeping the hit “Vem pra Bahia”, airplayed a lot on swedish radio. Simone has turned into a well known artist in Scandinavia, and has among many things participated in the swedish Melodie Grand Prix, sung in front of Gilberto Gil at the Polar Prize Ceremony, and recorded house records with producers such as Rasmus Faber and SUMO…

And now, after touring for several years in Scandinavia and Europe, brand new album “Planetas” is released. It’s a journey through all Simone has experienced, musically and emotionally, and keeps only original material, written by the singer together with her funky band Os Lourinhos. Full of soulful reggae, swinging samba and bouncy afropop, it has received great reviews and concerts full of dancing people… Once again, there’s a chance for the europeans to watch the powerful afrosambaqueen on stages closer than the ones between the mountains and the sea of Brazil.

Quotes:

« Her singing is invincible » Noca da Portela, great samba composer of samba school Portela
« This is what was lacking in tha samba: a young interpreter with a good voice and swing » Martinho da Vila, singer and one of the most influent samba composers of the country
« A bahiana with the voice and style of a sambista » João Máximo, in the newspaper O Globo
« Simone follows the tradition along the line where Elza Soares, Clara Nunes and Beth Carvalho have wandered » Sergio Cabral, famous journalist and big authority of samba music in Brasil
« Simone Moreno records the best samba of Rio » Cláuido Uchôa, in the newspaper O Dia

Albums:

”Simone Moreno” – 1994 (WEA Brasil)
”Morena” – 1996 (WEA Brasil)
”Manda me chamar” – 1998 (WEA Brasil)
”Desde que o samba e samba” – 2000 (Albatroz, Brasil)
“Samba Makossa” – 2006 (Soul Dog Records)
“Planetas” – 2012 (Soul Dog Records) 
“På svenska” (“In swedish”) – 2017 (Soul Dog Records)