Track Title: Picture Perfect
Performed by: Neika Simone
Written by: Toneika Simone Stephens-Young
Produced by: Churchboi, Writazblok
Genre: R&B
Bio:
Relaxing jazz vibes with a touch of funk and soul, the lovely Neika Simone is enchanting audiences with her angelic vocals. Heartfelt and emotionally driven, her alluring songs express a range of emotions, exploring universal human concepts like love and heartbreak. Her highly acclaimed EP, Beautiful Moments, has been ascending the charts on SmoothJazz.com while her hit single, “My Door,” has maintained a stable spot at the top of The Urban Influencers list for R&B and Soul. Attracting audiences around the world, Neika Simone is offering her soothing sounds to ease heavy hearts.
Born and raised in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, her devotion to music is a lifelong passion. The name “Simone” was given to her in honor of the iconic vocalist, Nina Simone. It proved fitting for the aspiring artist, as Neika began singing at a young age in her hometown church youth choir. Soon after, her parents enrolled her in piano lessons at the age of 7. As a teenager, she started writing songs of her own. Shy and quiet, her talent gave her great confidence and served as an outlet for expression. A classically trained pianist and vocalist, in her later years of high school, Neika’s teacher encouraged her to apply for music scholarships. She auditioned and was offered funding to study under one of the best music industry programs in the state. Neika attended Elizabeth City State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a concentration in piano. She later attended Norfolk State University to obtain her Master’s in Music Education with a focus on voice.
As Neika Simone continued to grow as an artist, she developed a deep admiration for jazz. She was initially drawn to the genre after her first studio experience. In college, she attempted to add vocals to projects for other students in her program. After an ad libbed session, she was quickly dismissed, as the producers were looking for singers geared more toward hip-hop. She received great praise, however, for a voice well suited to the nuances of jazz. From there, her descent into the style progressed naturally. Neika discovered how much she admired the classiness, elegance, and sophistication of great vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and Sarah Vaughn. She held a reverence for the qualities they express in their music and their grace as phenomenal women in general.
For a brief period, major events took precedence in Neika Simone’s life, and the music stopped. She took a step back to navigate hardships such as health complications from endometriosis, divorce, and grief after the passing of her brother. As life began to settle, Neika needed to return to her true path. Music had previously been a constant in her life, so she shifted her focus back in that direction. She returned to her studies, reacquainting herself with chord progression, music theory, concept, and structure. Currently living in Richmond, Virginia, she met jazz musicians in the local scene and quickly found a band seeking Motown singers. Neika sang with them for several months, and soon, she met the manager of The Recliners. She worked with the group for a short time, until they disbanded. The remaining singers created a new band, Left Turn Right, who played and performed high energy shows. Neika also sang with the group, Fouray. With support from her friend and bandmate, Victor Nelson, she dove back into songwriting. Their combined efforts led to the release of the track, “My Door,” and Nelson also helped with her first EP, Beautiful Moments. Things picked up and Neika’s career saw a boost of momentum. In November of 2021, she released the single, “Sweet Craving,” followed by her EP in February of 2022. Other names in the industry who have helped her along the way include...
