Photo Credits: Evan Marcus Imagery
Simone Green is a singer and songwriter from Little Rock, Arkansas and is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. While at the University of Iowa, Simone was a member of the popular band Shade of Blue in Iowa where she opened for such renowned artists as the late “Queen of Blues,” Koko Taylor, Raheem DeVaughn, George Clinton & the P-Funk All Starts and Jazz legend Joe Lovano, Maceo Parker, and Roy Haynes. As a solo artist, she opened for Stokley and Denise Williams.
In 2022, Simone released her solo EP, East of Ordinary, on Anka Shank Music LLC, which delivers R&B, House, Contemporary and Adult selections. It is currently available across all major digital platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and Bandcamp.
She is an active member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and has lent her voice to several award-winning television commercials for major international companies such as Wal-Mart, Charmin, Toyota, WVON and the Illinois Lottery. Her songs have been used on the wildly popular dance video game, Dance Dance Revolution. Additionally, her song “Keep Ya Body Movin” was featured on the hit television series, Ugly Betty. The ADDY Awards is the world’s largest advertising competition with over 50,000 entries annually. The American Advertising Federation bestowed this honor upon advertising jingles performed by Simone in 2006.
Not only is Simone a celebrated vocalist, but she is also a highly respected businesswoman in the Chicago legal community. She is the Founder and Director of CLS Legal Staffing, which is one of the premier companies of its kind in Illinois. She is a sustaining member of the Illinois Paralegal Association, National Association of Legal Assistants and was a member of the Northwestern College and Wright College Paralegal Advisory Boards. Simone has served as an invited speaker at several major university paralegal programs on legal recruiting maters. She has conducted mock interviews at the Institute of Paralegal Studies at Loyola University Chicago and was a Career Counselor for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s resume critique program.
East of Ordinary EP is a music project recorded to debut all original material developed on behalf of Chicago, Illinois based singer, songwriter, and entertainer, Simone Green. As destiny would have it, the teaming of Simone with music producers Lee Pearson Jr and Erwin McEwen brought about many creative vibe sessions where these songs on East of Ordinary manifested from a synergy of artistry. Pearson and McEwen curated the music with the specific mindset to allow Simone’s vocals and authentic talents to shine. An added benefit to the project was Simone’s complete involvement from start to finish that includes conceptualizing song story lines, vocal arrangements and mixing of each song presented on the forthcoming EP release.
East of Ordinary delivers R&B, House, Contemporary and Adult-Oriented selections. While Simone has many outstanding proven performances that deliver on just about any musical genre, confidently, she takes her stance with this release to give existing and new audiences a taste and peek into her musical soul. Eager to have her recorded project in universal circulation, even more exciting will be her live performances of this body of work where she skillfully displays her ability to entertain and engage audiences far and wide.
GO BANG! Magazine: How did you get started in music?
Simone Green: I fell in love with music at a very young age. My parents always played music around the house, in the car and it was part of our daily lives. I heard my cousin sing a Clark Sisters song and from then on, I knew I wanted to sing.
GO BANG! Magazine: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in the music industry professionally?
Simone Green: In college at the University of Iowa. I was part of a four-girl group (Harmoney) and we performed at talent shows and showcases around the state.
GO BANG! Magazine: Who are some of the artists that inspired you early in your career and who inspires you now?
Simone Green: From the very beginning, I’ve been a huge fan of Prince. His talents are off the charts! I really miss him! Patti LaBelle was a big inspiration for me early on because I connected with her powerful vocals. As I’ve grown as an artist, I’m simply in awe of Aretha Franklin. Her range and what she can do vocally is impressive as hell! Right now, I’m inspired by artists right here in Chicago like Terry Hunter, Isaiah Sharkey, Terisa Griffin, and Maurice Mahon.
GO BANG! Magazine: How would you describe your “sound”, as far as your singing tone and songwriting style?
Simone Green: I would say my singing tone is more sultry and sometimes coarse. I sing hard! LOL.
GO BANG! Magazine: You are vocally and musically fluent in several different genres of music including R&B, Contemporary, Adult-Oriented and HOUSE! Of the four styles of music you perform, which is your favorite and why?
Simone Green: The House music and ballads are my favorites because I love how the audience responds to them. I feed off that energy and lose myself in the moment. That’s when you have some truly magical musical moments.
GO BANG! Magazine: March of 2020 is when the world went on lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The world opened back up in 2022. How did you cope during the pandemic?
Simone Green: For the first six to nine months of the pandemic, I was completely depressed. I have a very busy and hectic schedule and when all of that came to an abrupt halt, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I thrive on routine and suddenly that was thrown into chaos. I had no structure, nowhere to go and nothing to do. I coped by drinking lots of wine and snacking all damn day!
GO BANG! Magazine: Things are getting a lil better now and a “new normal” is here, which means live concerts are returning. Are there any concert tours planned for you any time soon? If so, when?
Simone Green: My dream is to go on a European tour in the next two years. In the short term, I’m hoping to take my Aretha Franklin Tribute on the road throughout the US in 2023, so stay tuned!
GO BANG! Magazine: Chicago loves them some Simone Green. What would you like to say, not only your Chicago supporters, but to your supporters and the GO BANG! Magazine readers, aka THE BANGERS, across the planet, regarding their support and love for you and your music?
Simone Green: To all my fans and THE BANGERS, I love y’all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued love and support! It means the world to me, and I promise to keep striving for excellence!
GO BANG! Magazine: Earlier this year, you released your solo EP, “East of Ordinary.” Can you tell our readers all about the EP and what they can expect from it?
Simone Green: I am immensely proud of this project! I collaborated with a fantastic team of writers, Lee Pearson Jr., and Erwin McEwen, of Anka Shank Music on every song. The EP consists of all original songs and I’m proud to say that I’m a songwriter on every tune. It’s a mix of R&B and House music. It’s a nice and chill vibe that will make you wiggle in your seat and dream a little bit.
GO BANG! Magazine: One of the songs on the three-track EP that stood out to me, because it was House, is “Don’t Say Nothing.” I loved it! Tell us about that song and your involvement in the House music community.
Simone Green: I absolutely love that song! I connected with the track the first time I heard it! It’s a great dance tune and I hope to have a few remixes out before the summertime. I love House music and have been a fan since my college days in Iowa City. I’m from Little Rock, AR and didn’t hear House music until 1990. Several of our campus DJs were from Chicago, so House music was everywhere.
GO BANG Magazine: Are there any artists you would love to perform with or write for that you haven’t thus far?
Simone Green: To share the stage with the likes of Jill Scott, India Arie, The Roots, or Silk Sonic would be a dream come true. I love them all and it would be an honor to work with all of them.
GO BANG! Magazine: To follow up on that, are there any “dream” producers that you’d love to work with, but haven’t yet?
Simone Green: I would love to work with Terry Hunter (I’ve been manifesting it for a few years!) and I’d love to work with Raphael Saadiq. I love Raphael’s music and writing style….and Terry Hunter is the king of House music right now. I’m a big fan and praying I get the opportunity to work with him, sooner rather than later!
GO BANG! Magazine: In addition to being an outstanding singer/songwriter, you are also an astute businesswoman in the Chicago legal community. How has your legal background aided you in your career in the entertainment industry?
Simone Green: I’ve been working in legal recruiting for 25 years and have met and worked with lots of lawyers and legal professionals. The biggest benefit of this experience as a performer has been the skill of negotiating. I negotiate contracts and offers with my clients and candidates daily and I’m proud to say that I know how to close the deal. Because I manage my singing career, the art of negotiating has helped me with booking my gigs and executing contracts across the board.
GO BANG! Magazine: As we’re doing this interview, it’s the holiday season with Christmas and New Year’s knocking at the door. What are you thankful for this year and what are you hoping for next year?
Simone Green: I’m thankful for good health, my supportive and loving family and friends and the gift of doing what I love. I’m looking forward to recording with a couple of Grammy-award winning producers from Chicago this year and broadening my fanbase in 2023.
GO BANG! Magazine: In conclusion, I want to thank you for granting me this interview. I also want to wish you a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, as well as inform you that you have now officially been BANGED!!! GO BANG!
Simone Green: Thank you so much! 
Watch Simone Green’s performance:
https://www.facebook.com/SimoneGreenLive/videos/413158447238898
https://www.facebook.com/SimoneGreenLive/videos/dont-say-nothing-by-simone-green/1240135716517302
Video courtesy of: Q’s Lounge
Video courtesy of : YouTube/Bird’s Eye View Productions
Simone released her solo EP, East of Ordinary, on Anka Shank Music LLC, which delivers R&B, House, Contemporary and Adult selections. It is currently available across all major digital platforms including:
(CLICK to purchase/download) Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and Bandcamp.
You can catch Simone Green performing locally, in the Chicago area, at the following upcoming shows:
Friday, January 13th: Ques Lounge, 8404 S. Kedzie, (Chicago)
Sunday, January 15th: Linger Martini Bar, (Oak Forest)
Friday, January 27th: Copper Still Martini Lounge, (Homewood)
Friday, February 10th: Ques Lounge, 8404 S. Kedzie, (Chicago)
Saturday, February 11th: Dining On The Green (Park Forest)
Saturday, February 25th: Linger Martini Bar, (Oak Forest)
Friday, March 3rd: Ques Lounge, 8404 S. Kedzie, (Chicago)
Follow Simone Green on social media and website:
Website: http://simonegreenlive.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimoneGreenLive/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonegreenlive/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimoneGreenLive
Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the Owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions and the Owner/Publisher of GO BANG! Magazine. Follow him on Facebook @Pierre Andre Evans, Twitter @Playerre, and on Instagram @Pierre_Andre_Evans.
