Musicians on the album
Bjørn Ole Rasch - producer
Jaran Gustavson - studio tech
Robertinho Silva - percussion
Jørn Rud - percussion
Trygve Tambs-Lyche - drums
Per Elling Kobberstad - drums
Per Olav Kobberstad - guitars
Eirik Ask - keys
Tore Bråthen - trumpet
Michael Bloch - sax
Fredrik Sahlander - bass
Peter Mesquita - bass
Yeisy Rojas - violin
Kristin Dahl - backing vocals
Veronica Andersen - backing vocals
Helga Sofia Aarvik - backing vocals
From the cobblestoned streets of Bergen, to the ocean breeze of Ipanema. Sheila Simmenes presents elegant compositions that playfully and lovingly blends nordic and brazilian folk music, jazz, pop and soul.
Love Was Easy is the sound of waves hitting the shoreline, brazilian rhythms, nordic jazz and sophisticated melodies.
In 2015, she entered a studio in Rio de Janeiro with guitarist Per Olav Kobberstad and the legendary percussionist Robertinho Silva to record the demos that has evolved into the upcoming album. Five years and two kids later, the jazz singer is finally emerging with the debut-album and a sound that skilfully combines a myriad of musical impulses - manifesting itself in the realm of world music.
In the last decade, Simmenes has evolved in the nordic underground, participating in many constellations within soul, hiphop, reggae and jazz. As an independent songwriter, she has contributed on several releases with artists such as LAUREN, Satin Jackets, Taeyeon, Jørgen Dahl Moe, Sam & Sky, LEO - Love Exit Orchestra, ++
Her debutalbum "Love Was Easy", has been recorded partially at Master Studio 112 in Rio de Janeiro and at Kongshavn Studio in Kristiansand(NO), with the multiple norwegian Grammy recipient Bjørn Ole Rasch (Secret Garden, Annbjørg Lien) as producer alongside Simmenes.
The music is a blend between Scandinavia and Brazil, composed in collaboration with 8-string guitarist Per Olav Kobberstad, Peter Mesquita and legendary percussionist Robertinho Silva - who has worked with some of the biggest names in jazz history such as Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan and George Duke.
"This album has been a long journey and we have poured a lot of love into it. I believe the listener can both hear and feel it in the warmth, delicate melodies and sweet instrumental work of my musicians and collaborators on this album. To me, the process has been all about bringing people together, both in the studio and when we perform this music live. " Sheila Simmenes
The soundscape is 100% organic and analog, with a hint of vintage sound - while the compositions play with lyrics on local Norwegian dialect, english and brazilian Portuguese.
