Simone's latest single, "Calling You" released in July 2024, is beautiful and haunting. The purity of the vocal blend between Simone and James Napier who also features on the track is perfectly complimented by the stunning guitar playing by Damien Cooper who is often found on the West End in London, playing for the best shows in the world.
Simone released her 5th studio album, The Art of Collaboration on April 8th 2022
A beautiful contemporary jazz album featuring sixty of Australia’s best jazz musicians. The Art of Collaboration showcases the incredible jazz talent in Australia. This album was the #1 HIGHEST SELLING AUSTRALIAN JAZZ ALBUM for 2022 and was entered into FOUR categories in the 2023 Grammys.
Simone collaborated with the country’s top jazz musicians to pay homage to five iconic Australian hits; Beds Are Burning (Midnight Oil), Burn For You (John Farnham), Fall At Your Feet (Crowded House), The Horses (Daryl Braithwaite) and Mystify (INXS) as well as her own original music.
The album features some of the biggest names in Australian jazz including Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Rai Thistlethwayte, and Paul Grabowsky – as well as a cohort of 60 Aussie jazz heavyweights.
“Simone Waddell has taken a classic Phil Buckle song and made it her own. I was excited when I was asked to play on this recording. I knew the song well, but enjoyed being taken down some other routes on this journey into Burn For You…” Tommy Emmanuel
Simone gathered 60 jazz musicians and singers to collaborate on ONE album with all Australian iconic songs, including some of her original songs, and all Australian players. Every artist on the album is a standout in the field of jazz and the cover songs that have been carefully selected are embedded into the hearts and souls of so many Australians. Simone has been writing songs since her teenage years, and it is only natural that her own artistry would be an element of the album as well.
The album was recorded across SIXTEEN professional studios in Australia, Los Angeles, Tennessee, and London. The album was mixed and mastered by grammy award winning engineers Erik Zobler, George Massenburg and Paul Blakemore.
“The Art of Collaboration” is an unprecedented project in Australia, and a vision Simone has had since 2013 which has finally come to pass. An idea that she truly believes in is to celebrate the incredible musical talent we have here in Australia, and to bring the genre of contemporary jazz into the spotlight.
“As soon as I heard this piece (My Diamond) the greatest compliment that I can ever give a song is, as soon as I hear it, I go, I want to play on that, I want to play that song, and that's what I thought right away. It just creates a mood instantly.”- James Morrison
Simone Waddell was the first Australian to win a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After completing her music degree, Simone continued her career internationally into Asia, Europe, the U.S.A and Australia, performing in countless top venues both solo and with world class musicians.
Simone is one of Australia's Top Contemporary Jazz Artists performing jazz, soul, and funk infused with groove.
Genres also include pop, R&B, zouk, gospel, and even some classical. Simone won the Nescafe Big Break and was awarded $20,000 for her musical achievements and was the first jazz vocalist in Australian history to achieve a Masters Degree in Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She was mentored by the late Australian iconic singer Kerrie Biddell, who was the focus of Simone's research.
Simone, a prolific songwriter, has recorded four previous albums, "Take My Love," "Make It Happen," "My Romance," (jazz album) and “Surrender," plus two EPS, "New Day" and "Keeping My Peace On," as well as multiple singles.
"My Romance" and “Surrender," produced by Australian legend Jim Kelly, were launched as live events in Sydney to sold out venues.
Her music videos have 500,000+ views worldwide.
Simone is an ambassador for Messenger Rescue to raise awareness and resources to bring freedom to those trapped in sex trafficking. Her EP, “New Day” was created for this purpose with Signature Music Design in the US, and was released in December 2017.
Highlights include playing keyboard and singing backing vocals on the Australian tour for Grammy nominated hit artist, Taylor Dayne, performing numerous times at Parliament House for State and National Government Leaders, and being the Opening Act for Australia’s well known jazz singer, Vince Jones for Australian Music Week.
Simone’s inspirational song “Born to Win” had high rotation on Sydney radio and was selected as the headlining song at the crowning of Miss World Australia and as the theme song at Heal For Life, a healing program for adults and teens recovering from abuse.
As one of the leading voice coaches in Australia, Simone has run many of her uniquely designed, "YOU HAVE A VOICE!" live vocal workshops and taught thousands of voice lessons for over twenty five years, including her recent work in Uganda with the globally recognised Watoto Children's Choir.
Simone also facilitates stunning four and five day retreats in natural settings which are transformational and life changing for all who attend. "Song of Your Life Retreat" and "You Have A Voice Summit" are world class programs.
As a live artist, a show including exceptional musicality, heartfelt original songs, and incredible vocals, is what you can expect when Simone Waddell hits the stage. She is known for her stunning mix of contemporary jazz, and soulful melodies with groove. Her recent original music has already been hailed as, “the best music coming out of Australia right now.”
Simone’s voice and music have been described as “world class”, “drenched with soul and feeling” and “utterly amazing.”
Simone has performed at various events and venues such as her 2019 tour in China performing in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Manly Jazz Festival, the Devonport Jazz Festival Concert Series, (Tas) the 5th and 6th annual Bastille Festival, The Basement (Sydney) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, (Melb) Paris Cat Jazz Club (Melb) and at a number of well known Japanese jazz clubs on her recent and past tours in Japan.
Her collaboration "Breathe" a duet with Cornell Thigpen (Mary J.Blige, Steve Nicks, Babyface, Isley Brothers) was released October 2017.
Simone is known to perform with the absolute best musicians, who are a perfect match for this Australian songstress.
“Thank you Simone for including me on this fantastic project, The Art of Collaboration. I’m always busy, and it’s hard to fit projects into my schedule, but when I heard just three of the reference mixes on this album, I knew I wanted to be part of it. Simone brings a modern approach to contemporary jazz, while remaining true to the art form. Her voice is fresh and impassioned and simply a joy to listen to. Her collaboration with so many super talented musicians makes this an album that deserves multiple plays.”
ERIK ZOBLER
Grammy Award Winning Producer & Engineer
Credits include Anita Baker, Miles Davis, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Sara Vaughn, Dianne Reeves and Michael Jackson.
“In this crowded, noisy world of allegedly “unique” singers/performers, Simone distinguishes herself as an extraordinarily pure singer-songwriter and performer. She is an evocative lyricist, and a deeply passionate and sensitive collaborator, well-informed and confident in the genre.”
– GEORGE MASSENBURG
- Grammy Award Winning Engineer
“Just listened to the mix of “Burn For You” …what a great sounding masterpiece it is. Thanks for asking me to contribute. You smashed it!” – Tommy Emmanuel.
“When I saw the list of the musicians who were going to be on this album, I was like, WOW, this is amazing. I feel under pressure now playing….all these other fantastic musicians on the record. Well, I think everyone feels a bit like that when they look at the company… it's pretty incredible!” Ben.
BEN BUTLER - Guitarist
- Sting, Bruce Springsteen, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, The Greatest Showman.
Simone is a really talented singer, a talented songwriter and a great teacher. It's just wonderful that she's doing this particular album with this stellar cast of musicians. It's a real, real special treat to be part of all this. I'm honoured and thrilled.” - Mark Costa
MARK COSTA - Bass Player - Marcia Hines, Guy Sebastian, Tom Jones, Leo Sayer, We Will Rock You, Priscilla Queen Of The Dessert.
“What created the magic for us to sing? You Simone wanting us to sing on it! You wanting to collaborate with us as Indigenous musicians. And that in effect helps you feel proud of what you do for your culture. You made the effort and endeavour to get us involved. You wanted traditional language and you wanted an elder person and you wanted a young voice, too. And that to me, is just the bomb. And I thank you for that Simone.” Aunty Marlene Cummins (Beds Are Burning.)
The Australian – Eric Myers
This amazing album, Simone Waddell’s fifth, has so much going for it, it’s difficult to know where to start. A gorgeous singer, her talent of Kate Ceberano proportions. Waddell moves effortlessly between jazz, soul and pop genres.
Twelve tracks include excellent versions of five classic hits from John Farnham, Midnight Oil, Daryl Brathwaite, Crowded House and INXS, plus impressive originals mostly written by Waddell herself. Sixty musicians and singers were enlisted, recording in sixteen studios in Australia, Britain, and the US. Jazz icons such as James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, James Greening and Tommy Emmanuel are here, and singers include Rai Thistlethwayte, Pat Powell and Barry Leef. The sound is impeccable, and the considerable promotional clout behind the release – extremely rare for what is essentially a jazz album – results in a very glossy package indeed. A big investment has paid off handsomely. I daresay that Australian music has rarely seen such a prodigious assembly of talent congregated on one superb album.
Eric Myers.
“I have had the privilege of working with many awe inspiring vocalists throughout my career and can openly say from my heart that Simone Waddell is amongst the very best of them. Her voice is stunning, as is her personality,
that shines through every time she sings. Simone is a gift to the world of music.”
Martha Baartz - Australian saxophonist
"Simone is a beautiful whirling dervish of energetic creative talent. She has come back into my life to record an album at my Tone Ranger Studio after many years in the gig world since her studies. The studio environment bares the souls of all participants and Simone would stand as one of the easiest and most focused artists that I've worked with. She possesses an open creative spirit and the musicianship and vocal technique allowing it all to come together. I'm looking forward to a long musical relationship with Simone over the ensuing years."
Jim Kelly - Guitarist/Producer, Tone Ranger Studios
"Simone has such a beautiful instrument! Her commitment is one of her best assets. You can be an extremely talented musician and still not make it into Berklee but Simone has a combination of musical ability, and commitment. I was so impressed upon hearing her sing, I offered her the chance of a musical lifetime to complete her degree at Berklee on a scholarship."
Dr Warwick Carter - former Dean of Berklee College of Music
www.simonewaddell.com
