We recently connected with Simone Reyes and have shared our conversation below.
Simone, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I started working for hip hop mogul Russell Simmons when I was a teenager. Back then there was no internet so pretty much getting anything done took forever. I worked round the clock as Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin and Lyor Cohen grew Rush Communications and Def Jam into the stuff of legend. I was there to watch The Beastie Boys , Public Enemy, LL Cool J and every major rap artist grow into superstars. As I matured into a young woman I slid into a serious romantic relationship and eventually became an animal rights activist. In short what all of this meant was I had zero time to do anything else. My time was not my own. Being a creative person I felt unfulfilled and hungry to express myself but took pride in my work and my activism. Decades later due to Russell’s life circumstances I found myself with a little bit of time for myself. The relationship had long ago ended, I was still an activist but moved into rescue and legislation vs the exhausting on the street protesting I was so used to doing so this freed up my schedule enough to give me a moment to play. I always liked to sing in the shower – who doesn’t ? – but never really considered myself a musician. Then one day I woke up and decided to sing for others. I dove into songwriting and recording other songwriters music. And I loved it. I was much older than the typical new artists out there and wondered if this risk was a crazy dream. Then I realized dreams don’t have an expiration date. I began to feel that maybe other people – especially women – may see me living my bliss and become inspired to do what they thought they couldn’t because time had run out. I believe the risk I took was the best thing I could have done. I’m having more fun than ever making country music and sharing it. My wish is that every person goes for their dreams – opens that antique shop / writes that novel / starts a fashion line etc. I hope everyone takes a risk on themselves. Like me.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
When I was a teenager fresh out of high school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I got a day job at Tower Records in New York City and went to college at night. I was a bit lost. Then my friend Lisa who was the girlfriend of producer Rick Rubin told me that Rick and Russell Simmons were looking for a receptionist to start working at their management and record company at 298 Elizabeth St. I was friends with the beastie boys and figured this would be a good place for me to make money, hang out with my friends and figure out what it is that I wanted to do with my life. Little did I know at the time that I would stay working for Russell Simmons for decades. I was a music industry executive and then a Televison executive under Russell for many years until one day I decided to become a country music singer shocking everyone. It’s started me on a ride I wish I had gotten on sooner but better late than never. I’m having a blast.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The lesson I had to unlearn is that there is no such thing as an expiration date on dreams. It really doesn’t matter at what point in your life you decide to pivot or reinvent yourself. I think that we waste energy and time overthinking what we should and should not do based on imposed rules dictated by society that are constrictive and outdated. Society has tried to make us believe that you have to start your career when you are in your 20s or tell you it’s too late for you to embark on a new career if you aren’t of a certain age. I realize now that we make our own rules, and we are only imprisoned by our own self imposed insecurities, which will do nothing but keep us locked in cages of our own making. We need to believe in ourselves more and throw away self limiting thoughts. We need to lead by example and encourage eachother to flip the script. We can do anything we want to do at any stage in our lives and nobody can or should try sell any other narrative. . .
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to embrace my creative nature while encouraging others by example. I want to not just entertain but inspire. I want people to leave our shows or come away after hearing our songs feeling excited to follow their dreams.
I want people to say “if she can do it so can I. ! “
I don’t have all the answers but I know one thing – if you don’t reach for your own dreams you will regret it. Life is too short for what if’s … if you are still blessed with oxygen in your lungs it’s never too late to set a new goal for yourself. Be your own cheerleader.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simonereyes.com
- Instagram: @simonereyesmusic
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/simonereyesmusic
- Twitter: @simonereyes
- Youtube: Www.YouTube.com/simonereyes