UK born singer-songwriter Erin Gannon Simms’ road of determination has yielded a successful recording career that has seen a host of publishing deals, scores of radio play on stations across the world, co-writes with well-known hit writers. Her songs cracked the Top 10 on web radio UK Broadjam on three occasions and Simms has also been honored as ‘Songwriter of the Month’ by Indie Isles Magazine. Born in Newport, South Wales, UK, Erin cites her Belfast-born father, who once played bass in a band alongside Van Morrison, as having a profound influence on her foray into music. Erin’s mother has always been her biggest fan as well.
Erin Gannon Simms began writing songs at the age of 11, by 14 she had joined her first band, and at the age of 17 she had already received a call from an A&R executive at Sony Records London. Erin’s artistic responsibility and passion for working with others has also allowed her to collaborate with Canadian songwriter and manager T.J. Way. The pair has worked on such projects as the four-song album, entitled “Angels All Around Us”, where proceeds are donated to support children’s battle with leukemia.
In addition, Erin writes with Platinum songwriter Terry Silverlight, and is also working on songs with Grammy nominated producer, Corey MacFadyen. And if all that sounds like a bucketful of commitments, consider that, the multi-charting Erin, also finds the time to be a singing teacher and vocal coach, having graduated from VIDLA Singing School.
Erin, whose style crosses through many genres, is presently promoting a few of her already recorded songs to appear on her up and coming brand new album, “Bitter Red”, which is a mix of country, rock, and pop, with touch of blues. This is going to be a fantastic album; I love the concept behind it and the fresh, crossover sounds, Erin implements throughout the entire album. As is always the case with her releases, every single song is lyrically captivating and very relatable.
Each song really does tell an invigorating, powerful story, which hits you every time you hear them, often times opening up a line or stanza you didn’t think much about before but heard this time around and provokes some thoughts that you kind of overlooked before hearing Erin’s originality of songs chosen for her album presently in the works. I love that about her.
Erin Gannon Simms has an incredible gift for songwriting, which only gets better and stronger with each release. I love the complexity behind her songs and really admire Erin for the integrity she brings about in all she does, but specifically when it comes to recording. On “Bitter Red” Erin sounds absolutely at the top of her game and it’s her superlative vocals that help you become a part of the song and a part of the story. Just in listening to her perfectly placed inflections, timbre, and her vocal range, you are immediately transported into the core of the song. She sets the perfect tone of the story in all her songs, through the sheer depth of emotion she uses to navigate us all through her stories.
Erin takes on a whole different persona in each and every song on “Bitter Red”, making them all individual and unique journeys, life lessons, victories, tragedies or messages of hope and inspiration that we all need to hear. Moreover, throughout the 5-tracks already chosen to appear on album, I love how down-to-earth and authentic Erin is. This is mainly due to the fact that she is committed to being real, along with her desire to connect with, relate to, comfort, reassure, and uplift her fans on every performance. This attitude shines through brilliantly in every song she does – she’s authentic and consistent.
From track one, “Live n’ Let Loose”, written in collaboration with T.J.Way, she continues to outdo herself as she raises the bar higher and higher for herself with each subsequent song. The track is a fierce catchy jam that you just want to sing at the top of your lungs at every repeating chorus, as Erin sings: You gotta live and let loose, you’ve gotta be free. It’s up to you to choose who you wanna be…” And the roller-coaster ride continues on the upbeat “Kiss Vs Coffee”, where Erin so sweetly expresses love in an understated way, with just a slight aftertaste of doubt. The piano-driven ballad, “Only When it Rains” is so infectiously well-crafted and powerful I cannot get it out of my head! Erin’s vocals search and soar so much during the bridge and chorus that it brought Goosebumps to the back of my neck.
Erin’s storytelling ability and the quality of her voice continues to excel on the down-tempo acoustic strumming of “Being Here With You”, as she switches constantly, between her heart wrenching falsetto tones. “I am the sun burning your eyes / I’m your shade / I’m the devil playing with your pride / I’m your saint / Sleep close with your eyes open wide / and if you stay another night / you’ll love…..me”, forms part of the track, “Sun In Your Eyes”, which closes the already selected chosen songs for her album, and perfectly sums up just why we should adore Erin Gannon Simms. Her songs are both edgy and romantic; she’s a classy lady with a pure raw talent!
Erin’s New Single “Adopt the world”, Released By The Soul Touchers, is available via: ITUNES – AMAZON – CDBABY
OFFICIAL LINKS: REVERBNATION – FACEBOOK – SOUNDCLOUD – NUMBERONEMUSIC – THE SOULTOUCHERS RECORD LABEL – THE SOULTOUCHERS FACEBOOK
Love this Review, thank you Rick for all you do and say.
Regards; TJWay
Songwriter/Publisher
Ceo & founder of the soul touchers (Record Label)