Today we’d like to introduce you to Simo Love.
So excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My musical and artistic journey began when I was seven years old. I grew up in a very conservative upper middle-class family that would go to church multiple times a week and at seven, I was asked to sing a solo in my Youth Choir. I have been addicted to music and performing ever since. It’s also always been a very spiritual experience for me. My father is an amateur singer and was in many choirs including the Fayetteville Black Civic Choir. So I would be at his rehearsals early in my life on evenings; engulfing Negro Spirituals, Hymns, and Classical music. I feel it was there that my ear was trained. My Youth Choir rehearsals were every Monday and soon because of the success of my solo in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where I am from, I was performing at many events; churches, benefits, and pageants.
At 10, my mother got me a piano teacher and I played for about a year but unfortunately, my teacher’s husband was stationed elsewhere (I grew up in a military city). In 5th grade, I began studying viola. I played throughout High School and auditioned and made the North Carolina Eastern Regional All State Orchestra four years in a row. I love orchestras to this day. My high school orchestra also won a national title at Disney World! In college, against my better judgment, I did not major in Music Therapy. I majored in Theatre Performance and was a Dance minor. Theatre was thrilling for me because I learned to take text and interpret it. Acting became a very personal experience. I would take voice lessons in the music department to hone my skills but my focus was acting. It was also in college that I allowed myself to be a little more open with my gender identity. My LGBTQIAA student led organization would have a drag show every semester at our college night club and I was invited to perform. I was reluctant at first but could not pass up the opportunity to perform as close to the self that I imagined myself to be but was discouraged from becoming.
After college at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina (Go Mountaineers!), I was accepted to the Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. I was struggling with my gender identity and had been praying for a sign that it was okay for me to transition. My first semester, I was cast as Angel in “Rent.” I took that as the sign that I needed to transition. It was also in Santa Maria that I began writing music. Some of the music from my first album was started there. Though, I was living my best life after Conservatory in New York City, auditioning for theatre companies by day, leading a grunge rock band in Long Island and doing drag shows by night. I felt a disconnect to my family. Our relationship was very rocky and I decided to move back to Fayetteville to work out my issues with their ideology because it was affecting my personal relationships. Well, I got cast in several Regional Theatre productions (including Angel in “Rent again), was in a dance company and began transitioning.
Unfortunately, my parents’ ideology did not allow for them to accept my gender and soon, I found myself homeless! I lost my job and decided to move to Miami, Florida. There, I performed at the LGBT Youth Center and gained the confidence to be my authentic self. I decided to move to Santa Barbara, California because of my obsession with Oprah Winfrey and Katy Perry and my Conservatory was close. I continued working on my music and sang background and sometimes lead in a blues band. Soon, I was moving to Los Angeles to use all my skills. I literally just closed the first and only world premiere live theatre experience in the country at the LA LGBT Center. Not too shabby, right? I released my debut album on November 24 on all streaming platforms and because of visibility of people like Laverne Cox, my parents have begun accepting me.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has not. The Bible says, “The race is not given to the swift but to the one that endureth.” I relate to that a lot. Homelessness, financial burden, and being ostracized for my gender identity have all been struggles. Contracting HIV and the years of depression that came with that was also a struggle. Finally, writer’s block was a struggle.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I am an actor and singer. Actor name: Coretta Monk. Singer name: Simo Love My government full name is Coretta Simo Love Monk. I actually have my first album “Counterculturally Black” out on all digital platforms beginning November 24. I grew up listening to so many different genres of music, so I label my music pop, and there are so many influences. Honestly, some of the songs, I don’t know the genre. It feels like if making an album was like playing a tennis match, I threw in every shot in the book (flat shots, topspin, slices, drop shots and trick shots) to win that the album never feels like linear pop music. It is alternative rock, tropical house, r&b, electronica, baroque pop, hip hop, jazz and urban alternative. I am a very honest songwriter. So I am very proud of the journey on “Counterculturally Black.” I am a 90s kid, so I grew up idolizing some really amazing singers.
So vocally, it was very important for me to present myself well. I am most proud that despite the given circumstances of our covidian, very often anti-black, and anti-trans world that I was able to put out an album in this time that reflects the times. I reference the Black Lives Matter and Trans is Beautiful movements, interracial dating, the depression that comes with not yet reaching your dreams and contracting HIV, love, heartbreak and self-acceptance. It’s not really what I have heard before from a trans artist so that makes me proud. I am also very proud that the album is out on my own terms, with my own songwriting, and my sonic tastes. I did not have to conform to what is mainstream. I think what sets me apart from others is my personal story. It’s very different from everyone else’s story.
Therefore, because of my honesty, the listener hears a different journey. My given circumstances are so different than everyone else’s given circumstances that is making music right now. I am a proud Southerner transplanted to Los Angeles who is trans, black, college educated, HIV positive and Christian. I have not heard that narrative. I did not grow up poor but I am currently a struggling artist. I think it’s such a beautiful set of circumstances. My faith really sets me apart and guides my choices.
How do you define success?
I define success by personal growth. One of my favorite Conservatory professors instilled in me that I should acknowledge my successes everyday and not focus on the failures. So I do everyday. I mean, I am being honest in saying I definitely want to be an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Oscar and Tony) and would love a number 1 on the Billboard charts someday so that is a measure of greatness but I have to be honest about where I am in order to accomplish those goals. Also, a good barometer for success is how people respond to you and your art. I feel a great success in having this interview right now. I mean someone thought me inspiring enough to refer me to you all. So in that respect, I feel successful.
Pricing:
- My album is $9.99 on digital mediums.
Contact Info:
- Email: CmoLove@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/simolovemusique
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SimoLove808
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheCmoLove
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/SimoLove
