Words by Art Jefferson
Photography by Letizia Guel and courtesy of Aime Simone

The Oxford dictionary defines the meaning of the word identity as “who or what somebody/something is”. No one understands the importance of identity more than Aime Simone. The Berlin-based artist has defined who he is and what he stands for, refusing to let the past dictate his modern or future existence. Aime Simone’s lyrics in his songs are equally external as they are introspective, as he sings of the state of the world whilst playing his part to uplift, yet also opens a window into his personal journey that has led him to where he is now.

Born in Paris, Aime Simone’s life has been one that has at times been difficult, in other moments triumphant. However, his experiences have ultimately played crucial roles into the man that he is today. As a teenager, he endured traumas, battled PTSD and eventually ended up in multiple clinics. Admittedly a dark period, Simone constantly wrote in his journal. What could be considered bleak, things would soon shift. Whilst staying in a clinic, one day he was granted permission to attend a Pete Doherty concert at Bus Palladium in Paris. Taking his journal to the show with the intention of giving it to Pete, he tossed it on stage during the performance which ultimately led to Doherty inviting him up to perform with the rock star. This was the beginning of a friendship between the two. Pete Doherty began mentoring Simone, which would help him not only creatively but also during some less than stellar points in life during that particular time. Aime Simone eventually opened for Pete during shows.

When Doherty took time off to get his personal life together, Simone found himself trying to then figure out what the next step would be. Still working on music, the next window of opportunity came knocking, this time via the fashion industry. Simone, while getting the chance to work with various clients, ended up exclusively with Saint Laurent during Hedi Slimane’s tenure. This enabled him to not only walk shows but fly to Los Angeles, where he lived for a stint. Slimane would eventually leave the brand and Aime Simone, whilst coming to the understanding that the fashion world wasn’t all peaches and cream, had to once again decide what the next chapter of life would be. Simone left L.A. and headed back to Europe. Although at times there were slippery slopes, he eventually settled in the city of Berlin, which is where he currently calls home.

Whilst the creative has released several EPs under the name Ghost, I, Aime Simone is about the moment of now. His latest work speaks to the current global situation, whilst musically refusing to be limited by sonic boundaries. His record ‘In This Dark Times’ touches on the Covid-19 pandemic that has not only forced the world to be on lockdown but has shifted modern life as we know it. Yet throughout everything, Aime Simone views the situation like that of a philosopher, understanding that sometimes changes are inevitable with the artist continuing to do his part by delivering art full of passion and ultimately love.

When did your journey into music begin in terms of playing guitar and songwriting?

Aime Simone – I was playing with my dad’s guitar as a kid, around 11 I started playing my first riffs and at 13 was learning more seriously. I wrote my first song at 17.

Your music is extremely uplifting and motivating. You’ve also battled PTSD during your teenage years. Whilst your songs are inspiring and healing for your listeners, would you say that recording and releasing these tracks are also therapeutic for you as well?

Aime Simone – Making the songs is definitely healing for me, however releasing it is only for other people. When it’s out there the song doesn’t belong to me anymore, it belongs to the people listening and connecting to it.

Let’s talk about your friendship with Pete Doherty. Your initial encounter with him at a show is something that many people could only dream about. If I’m correct, you tossed your journal on stage? He began reading it to the crowd before inviting you to play with him during that performance. What was that experience like at that very moment?

Aime Simone – It was really unexpected. An amazing accident. In the moment when I was dragged onstage it felt like my surroundings were all of a sudden cloudy and sparkly, like when something meant to be is manifesting and everything feels right.

Pete also eventually began mentoring you? What were some tips that he gave you in terms of creating and also, what is it like playing various shows with Pete?

Aime Simone – I think the most valuable thing that he taught me was to be fearless in creating. According to him, fear breeds anxiety and depression which is paralyzing for creativity and also living. 

Opening shows for him is something I will always keep dear to my heart, it felt like my art and my potential was recognized by Peter and he wanted people to discover it too. I felt very loved and understood.

You left Paris and relocated to Berlin. What prompted the move and how has the city of Berlin inspired you in terms of creativity?

Aime Simone – I needed to leave Paris and I decided on Berlin because it seemed like a city I could identify with. I didn’t really know anything about it, it was just a feeling. When I arrived in Berlin for the first time I completely fell in love with it, the variety of scenes, the people, the attitude, the textures of the concrete, the nature. The grey and the mud. The dark club music aspect merged into my guitar pop songwriting. 

Last year you had a residency at Night Embassy in Berlin. Watching some of the videos of you performing there, you can tell the crowd was really into the sound. Can you talk about your artist residency at the venue?

Aime Simone – At Night Embassy I organized two weeks of live performances, every night with different artists, presented like a story with each night being a different chapter. It was a really special experience, I got to perform almost every night and I met so many different people. I got to work on how I see my show, especially the lights. It was like a marathon of art, every day for two weeks with no break was so intense and I loved it. 

In your track ‘What’s Up With The World?’, you state “Now I feel alive, feel alive. I know that this can invent us again.” This song is definitely needed during these current times. What was the motivation behind writing this track?

Aime Simone – The song was originally about climate change, represented as a love story. It is about this feeling of hopelessness and anxiety, and finding a strength in coming together with love to face it. It coincidentally came out just as the Covid-19 crisis was starting and felt very relevant to that as well. It is a message of hope that anything can be saved if you take the path of healing and thrive on love as the energy you choose.

With your latest song ‘In This Dark Time’, it sounds like one trying to break free of uncertain times, yearning to start a new life. Can you give a bit of insight regarding the single?

Aime Simone – ‘In This Dark Time’ is a direct answer to my feelings about Covid-19 and the impact it has on our lives, an impact which I found very similar to several experiences I had in the past. It’s about turning to love to light the way out of the darkness.

With the world going through lock downs and quarantines, how do you see the future of music and performing?

Aime Simone – I see it as uncertain, but I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing. I think that is the nature of life anyways, not to know what the future is made of. I think in our society we get caught up in the idea of planning everything until we run into an obstacle to realize the accidental nature of life and how our existence is only part of a bigger plan that we have no control or knowledge of.

Finally, what projects are you currently working on and what can we expect in 2020?

Aime Simone – I’ve been working on an album that will be released this summer. It’s done and I decided to keep writing to keep myself creative, focused, flowing, sane during this pandemic, so basically what I mean is, I’m currently writing a second album.

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