Paul Simm
Encyclopedia
Paul Simm is an English
musician
, composer
and record producer
, known for his work with Amy Winehouse
, The Sugababes and Neneh Cherry
.
to play on and arrange horns for their Grammy Award
nominated album
, Victims of the System.
Aged twenty Simm moved to London
continuing work as a session musician
, and also working as a sound engineer
at various studios
in London. He has played alongside Carleen Anderson
, Pops Staples
, Mica Paris
, Baby D
, Charles & Eddie and MC Solar.
At twenty seven, Simm stopped touring to concentrate on studio work. He worked on All Saints
' debut album and went on to co-write and produce tracks for the Sugababes
, including their BRIT Award nominated debut single
"Overload", which peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart
. Simm co-wrote Siobhán Donaghy
's top 20 debut single "Overrated" and has written and/or produced tracks for Amy Winehouse
, Neneh Cherry
, Mutya Buena
, Leon Jean-Marie, Groove Armada
and Tom Jones
.
In 2002, Simm along with co-writers McVey, Lipsey and Howard was awarded writing credits by ASCAP for the song "Make Over", which appeared on Christina Aguilera
's Stripped
. The track was originally listed as having been written by Aguilera and Linda Perry
, but critics claimed that it had borrowed heavily from the Sugababes' song "Overload".
In 2005 Simm was commissioned to compose music for Gucci
's Gucci pour Homme II campaign.
, Silvio Pacini and Neil Pearson. The band was signed to London Records
by Pete Tong
and an album 162 was released in September 2003.
scheduled for release in October. He has also written and produced tracks for G.Love and the singer and fashion photographer Wendy Bevan, as well as forming a new record label
, SomNamBul Recordings.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, known for his work with Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, The Sugababes and Neneh Cherry
Neneh Cherry
Neneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
.
Biography
Simm was born in Birmingham and started playing the piano aged five, primarily self taught he progressed quickly and by the age of eleven was playing regular local gigs. He also took up the trumpet and was later approached by David Hinds of Steel PulseSteel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
to play on and arrange horns for their Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominated album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Victims of the System.
Aged twenty Simm moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
continuing work as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, and also working as a sound engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
at various studios
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in London. He has played alongside Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson
Carleen Anderson is an American soul singer, who has had success in the United Kingdom. She is the daughter of the singer Vicki Anderson and stepdaughter of Bobby Byrd, and is most well known as the lead singer in the Young Disciples as well as for her own solo career.-Early career:Anderson was...
, Pops Staples
Pops Staples
Roebuck "Pops" Staples was a Mississippi-born Gospel and R&B musician.A "pivotal figure in gospel in the 1960s and 70s," he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and singer...
, Mica Paris
Mica Paris
Mica Paris is an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. Her forename is pronounced Misha.-Beginnings:Paris' roots are in soul and gospel music...
, Baby D
Baby D
Baby D may refer to:*Baby D , a UK dance group*Baby D , Atlanta underground rap artist*Baby D, a fictional character in the 2000 film Next Friday-See also:*Baby Dee, American performance artist and singer-songwriter...
, Charles & Eddie and MC Solar.
At twenty seven, Simm stopped touring to concentrate on studio work. He worked on All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
' debut album and went on to co-write and produce tracks for the Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
, including their BRIT Award nominated debut single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Overload", which peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Simm co-wrote Siobhán Donaghy
Siobhán Donaghy
Siobhán Emma Donaghy is an English singer-songwriter of Irish descent. She was a founding member of girl group the Sugababes, although she left in August 2001 and was replaced by Heidi Range. Donaghy left the group after one album...
's top 20 debut single "Overrated" and has written and/or produced tracks for Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Neneh Cherry
Neneh Cherry
Neneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
, Mutya Buena
Mutya Buena
Rosa Isabel Mutya Buena is an English recording artist who rose to fame as a member of girl group the Sugababes. With the Sugababes, Buena had four UK number one singles, an additional six top-ten hits and three multi-platinum albums. After leaving the group in December 2005, she released her...
, Leon Jean-Marie, Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
and Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
.
In 2002, Simm along with co-writers McVey, Lipsey and Howard was awarded writing credits by ASCAP for the song "Make Over", which appeared on Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
's Stripped
Stripped (Christina Aguilera album)
Stripped is the fourth studio album by American pop recording artist Christina Aguilera. It was released on October 26, 2002. It reached the top two of the album charts in both the United States and United Kingdom and features two UK number-one hits: "Dirrty" which gained criticism and controversy...
. The track was originally listed as having been written by Aguilera and Linda Perry
Linda Perry
Linda Perry is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer. Once best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, Perry has founded two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer...
, but critics claimed that it had borrowed heavily from the Sugababes' song "Overload".
In 2005 Simm was commissioned to compose music for Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
's Gucci pour Homme II campaign.
Virgin Souls
Simm is a member of the band Virgin Souls, along with Cameron McVeyCameron McVey
Cameron Andrew McVey is a British music producer, best known for his work with Neneh Cherry, Massive Attack, Portishead, All Saints, and Sugababes.-Family:...
, Silvio Pacini and Neil Pearson. The band was signed to London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
by Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
and an album 162 was released in September 2003.
Current work
In 2010 Simm has been working on a new band project called LeeLou, with their debut EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
scheduled for release in October. He has also written and produced tracks for G.Love and the singer and fashion photographer Wendy Bevan, as well as forming a new record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, SomNamBul Recordings.