Bianca Simmone - Super Human

‘Only the hungriest and hard working will survive, sometimes it isn't always even about the talent’, says the West London model, turned songstress Bianca Simmone who is now in the process of releasing her third single Super Human. Her last single Pressure ft Baby Blue received immense support accumulating over 25,000 Youtube hits, she has also had the pleasure of working with individuals such as Eric B and H Money and plans to collaborate with Wretch 32, Neyo, Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne in the future.

I thought I’d catch up with her to find out where it all started, who her inspirations are and what sacrifices she has made during her journey.

‘I’ve always loved music ever since the day I could walk and talk’ says Bianca when asked how she initially got into music, she continues ‘It’s in my blood’ She laughs ‘without music I wouldn’t be unhappy, its like love, without it where would we be? My mum loves music and is a great dancer, my brother can sing and used to DJ and play instruments so it’s in my family’.

‘No day is ever the same really’, she says as she explains a typical day in her life. ‘One day I could be working a 9-5, next minute I’m handling calls and bookings and exchanging ideas in-between working, then head home to go studio on the other side of London and don't get home till 4am and knowing my alarm clock is going to go off and drive me crazy in 3 hrs. Then working all day again to jump in the car and have to drive out of London to do a show’.

‘My audience are 14 - 25, females who are trying to find their feet in life and boys who are turning into men but need a little direction as to how to deal with females as lets face it, they have no clue any more’ says sarcastically. ‘Sometimes they just need it said in black and white and ladies just need to be more real and not beat around the bush about things and also know to put themselves first as we know many fail to do so due to fear of loosing or never finding their love. I’ve lived and travelled down this road so I totally understand and can share my experiences with them all’.

‘I’ve had the honour of working with H-Money and the BOE team. They are special and talented people who I have much love for on a professional and friendship level. I have also worked with Eric B who is a writer and singer - who has worked with Chipmunk on Champion and In The Air -  and wrote for other artists in the US and UK’.

‘I would like to do a track with Wretch. He’s a talented artist with great energy and we get on really well so I'm sure we would make great music together. I would also like to work with Neyo as I think vocally he is great and his writing ability is just spot on. I would love to do a song with Busta & Lil Wayne as their creativity on a track and energy is out of this world, they kill every beat they jump on and I know working with both of them we could make killer hits’.

When asked when is the right time for artists to take their music to a professional level in comparison to it just being a hobby she replies ‘I think the right time depends on each individual, never wait on someone to tell you now is the right time’. She explains ‘You will feel it, you will breathe it and it will present itself to you in a way that will tell you, you need to take it to the next level. The only thing I suggest is to study and graft at your art first before taking a leap, believe in what you are doing and make sure you are ready and determined as the industry isn't as easy as people portray it to be. Only the hungriest and hard working will survive, sometimes it isn't always even about the talent’.

Her music has taken her to a variety of places but she feels the best is when she can sit in a studio and have no idea of what song is going to be made next’. She continues ‘with no writing team or someone directing me and with just me and the producer sitting there creating a vibe with each other to the point we both bring something so magical and full of life to the table that others walk in and listen and are blown away’.

‘I never regret, everything happens for a reason and its all apart of the journey. I have sacrificed financially and definitely sleep time. Emotionally you sacrifice too but you have to as nothing, is just handed to you without hard work'.

‘I’m inspired by many different people and artists, my mum inspires me with her hard work and determination to succeed and provide and always fill those around her with her love. I was brought up on hip hop like Run DMC, Jay Z, Nas, soul artist like total, soul to soul, SWV, I love today's artists like Ciara, Keri Hilson, especially Beyonce, her ability to always achieve more and her hard work, the creative artists who push their bounds and sustain. I guess I look at anyone positive, who isn't afraid to step out the box and be themselves at the same time’.

‘I’m putting out my third 3rd Super Human produced by Truth (BOE) and co-written by myself and Jermaine Riley - former singer of the group Fundamental.  ‘Im also working towards putting together an album hopefully to come out next year. With a few collaborations over here in the UK and in the US too’.

She is also working on building a Company/Academy for young females who are getting into the industry called The BTA Academy which will all be revealed soon stay tuned and follow Bianca via Twitter and Facebook.   

Big Cakes - Blue Cheese

'I've always loved music and always wrote lyrics, so taking it on a professional level was the only thing that made sense', say Big Cakes who is a hip hop musician from East London. Earlier this year he released his mixtape 'Preheat' which featured artists such as Raggo Zulu Rebel, Flow Dan, Sherry Davis and Morfius. Since then he has released his debut album 'Blue Cheese'.  I thought I'd catch up with him to find our more.

'He or she who has ears should hear me. Every hip hop listener should hear my music because the essence of true hip hop is preserved in it', says Big Cakes when asked who is his audience. 'I'm quite skinny, most people expect me to be a big out of breath character that eats cake all day, but Big Cakes is a next kind of cake. After all what's a party if u ainte got CAKE? I've always loved music and always wrote lyrics, so taking it on a professional level was the only thing that made sense'

'Preheat was mixtape just to warm things up while I cooked up and served up my next meal' in this case he means his debut album Blue Cheese' which now available via iTunes. He says 'Before you cook something in an oven you preheat it, to get it ready at the right temperature to start cooking’ which was the idea behind Preheat.’

Cakes has had the pleasure of working with a variety of musicians including Raggo Zulu Rebel, English Frank, Mike GLC, Flow Dan, Frizzle, Logic, Lowkey, Mic

Righteous, Sherry Davis, Nadine Walker just to name a few. In the future he would like to work with Nas, Ghostface Killah, Beyonce, Jehst, Chris Brown and Rhianna. He says 'I think the collaboration of such diverse angles and views will be a beautiful thing'

The music industry has changed in the sense that 'Over here, I would say the market is getting bigger but ideas and originality is dwindling.' I love music and so supporting it is a standard operating procedure. I buy music all the time, from people selling CDs after shows or downloading from the internet. I haven't actually bought a CD from a shop in a little while but that's because I haven't been to a music shop in ages'

In the future Big Cakes hopes 'to keep setting goals and achieving them. You can now BUY his new album Blue Cheese from iTunes or Bandcamp, add him on Facebook and follow him via Twitter.

MyM - Hold Me Down

‘Hold Me Down’ is the debut single from Maryam Shofowora formally known as MyM.  She is a 23 year old musician from South London who has often been compared to the likes of Shingai from the The Noisettes and Adele due to her unique eltro-indie-pop music style. Similar to a majority of musicians MyM's career started at a young age, in her case 7 years old which is where she began imitating the pop starts of her generation whilst watching 'Top of the Pops'. Since then she has gone from strength to strength taking up a career in music as well as acting and comedy. I thought I'd catch up with her to find out more.

'Don't let 'them' or 'situations' hold you down from what you believe you’re meant to do in life, don't let people's pessimistic reality dampen your dreams'. Says MyM, when asked what she is trying to communicate through her new single 'Hold Me Down'.

Like many she has face a variety of hardships, but due to her persistence to make something of herself she persevered in order to make a career out of music. She explains 'Most recently with my singing, I used to do backing vocals for a lot of artist, which I enjoyed. I loved it, but deep down inside I wanted to create my own, but I listened to the doubting voice and held myself back from expressing my full potential but when I realised  what was dwelling inside me I couldn't contain it, it was written all over me. By believing I am born to do what I do, I overcame it'

'It all started at the age of 7 my first love was singing. I sat in front of the TV imitating artist on Top of the pops, which then it grew into acting when I was around 14 and I only got into comedy about 2 years ago by accident, some one said 'your really funny do u wanna host my event' and here we are! My audience are who ever I touch or relate to through my music whether it’s an insecure teen, a single parent father or a 25 year old graduate.'

Her inspirations include 'Beyonce' for her 'crazy work ethic' she says 'her gift is phenomenal, I might not agree with her sexy image but I admire her song writing, vocal ability and performance. She also like 'Little dragon' because she feels they are 'a quirky group'. She says 'their music has no genre and the lead singers vocals are hauntingly beautiful they just experiment and it works giving us classic's like 'Twice''

Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and live Gigs are a few of the ways she promotes herself as an artist. She explains 'These all are great ways of getting my music out there, I prefer gig's because its more intimate and I can talk to people in person. She would say the most successful medium has been 'gig's' because 'once you captivate someone through your 'live' performance they'll now find you on Youtube, follow you on Twitter and befriend you on Facebook its brilliant'

In the future you can expect Mym to be doing a lot more Gigs and hopefully an album towards the end of the year. She has also featured on label mate Commission's new hit single 'Gold Rush' which created a storm on Dave P show on Choice FM. She describes her style as a mixture of genre fusing different styles together, I’ll be dropping another single so if you like 'Hold Me Down' then brace yourself for fire!' Her album 'Changing Rooms' is well also début later this year. 

You can now add her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and check out her latest music via Youtube.