GENRE: Music - Musician, composer, singer, performer. INSTRUMENT: talented guitarist. STYLE: Alternative pop-rock . FROM: New Zealand. EXPERIENCE: Has played guitar since young and you can tell, he's terrific. Simon was newer to singing and song writing but has had very fast growth in both. It has been great watching his potential bloom so fully. AWARDS: the Artist Advance MainStage Career Development Award. WELL-EDUCATED: Graduated in finance/economics from Auckland University in 2003 but switched to music immediately upon graduating.CD TITLE: ALL or NOTHING CD REVIEW: Upbeat, terrific guitar arrangements and playing, great production, thoughtful well-crafted lyrics. This is a first CD, but has all the components of a much more seasoned artist. Several hits here!
It's fun to remember that I met Simon in an airport and listened to a few songs in a car in the parking garage, he was 'fresh off the boat' from New Zealand. What I heard were his first self-produced songs, made with friends back home in New Zealand. They were pretty rough, both over-produced and under-produced, the song-writing tending to wander about, the vocals, uncertain. Still, there was something that caught my attention. His guitar work and arrangements were excellent and showed talent, and his song-writing, though pretty rough showed promise.
I spent a little time with Simon and was soon impressed with his focus, dedication, and hard work. He took every opportunity for growth, applied it in a very focused manner and grew artistically by leaps and bounds. That, combined with his like-ability (this is a terrific human being), led me ultimately to choose him for an Artist Advance MainStage Career Development Award , and I sure haven't been disappointed in the results. (The MainStage Career Development Award provides the opportunity for a new artist to receive all resources required to develop their talent and career. For more info, click here.)
Over time, Simon worked on his song-writing, took voice lessons, honed his performance skills, gained studio skill, and solidified a focus and plan for his career, all the while growing in quantum measures in confidence and ability. We recorded a demo in a studio at Orcas Island, WA that was a great experience. Following that, Simon's song writing really accelerated and he was ready to do a CD.
That CD, recorded in Sedona, AZ, and called ALL or NOTHING, is now finished and I think you'll agree that Simon has done a terrific job. We are getting very enthusiastic response to it, and in fact, we've gotten funding to go ahead with a promotion of the CD. Simon moved to NYC, has put together a new band, and is starting to do some local gigging. I'm pretty impressed with him! More important even than the music, this is one very special human being, and everyone who meets him is very taken by him. Add his tenacity to the mix, and if I were a betting person, I would put my money down on Simon Spire.
Voice of America's Border Crossings radio interview April 30th, 2008
