INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW: SIMPLY UNDREA

Loss is an unfortunate reality of the human experience, and the healing process while grieving has often resulted in amazing music that speaks to us about the power of memory and the enduring strength we feel from those who have sadly left us. It’s out of this solemnity that Simply Undrea, the Oakland-based pop/rock/soul performer, crafted her upcoming EP, Gravitas. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions after I listened to her first single, “Free,” in this recent interview:

Mister Growl: For those unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe the sound of your upcoming album, Gravitas?

Simply Undrea: The sound on Gravitas is definitely rock infused pop. The lyrics are heavily backed by acoustic and electric guitars, the dominant sounds on the album. I also like classical elements as well, so some songs are touched with strings and piano. I would say its Coldplay meets Fefe Dobson.

Mister Growl:  You’ve mentioned that most of your songs start with you hearing one instrument’s melody, and building from that instrument. What instruments do you play on this album, and what artists inspire you most for each instrument?

Simply Undrea: I wish that I was blessed enough to play an instrument! Regrettably, music lessons weren’t accessible for me in school growing up so I never learned to play by traditional means. But as I got older and realized that I could use a computer to make my own beats, I taught myself how. With Gravitas, I was fortunate enough to be able to produce the cohesive sound that I needed. I have a lot of admiration for bands like Arrows to Athens, Hoobastank and all-female bands like Evarose who can really jam!

Mister Growl:  You revealed that this album was born out of tragedy, after you took a hiatus from music after your father’s passing. Still, you seem to focus on positivity in these songs, like in “Hold On” and “Time.” Were your parents part of the inspiration for these positive messages as well?

Simply Undrea: Those two songs were written from lots of personal reflection both before and after I lost my Father. I had a rough concept of “Time” and what I wanted to say because I’m a firm believer in living in the now, the moment. I gave written snippets of the song to my co-writer Peter and he ran with it. He basically wrote blind because the instrumental itself hadn’t been made yet. And “Hold On” was actually a phrase that I started telling myself during my grieving process. The whole song was built off that premise. Hold on even when you think you can’t. It was a message to myself that turned into a song for others.

Mister Growl:  You’re also a dedicated advocate of anti-bullying and suicide prevention campaigns. Just wondering if you could talk about your passion for these causes, and the sort of work you do to promote those positive messages.

Simply Undrea: When I was younger, I was bullied and it led me down a dark path. I started having suicidal thoughts and even attempted taking my own life. So my passion for these types of causes was formed out of personal experience. One of the first songs I released was an uplifting song called “You Are Not Alone (Y.A.N.A)” that was featured on a CD for an anti-bullying movement. I just finished a short video for a suicide prevention project called “What Keeps Me Alive?” I hope it can reach others to think of positive reasons why they’re alive.

I also participate in movements that encourage women because I know that for young ladies, the time between adolescence and teenage years are a delicate time. So I did a mini-photo shoot where I took pictures without makeup in a campaign to raise awareness about self-esteem. That’s why I love working with positive campaigns like these, because these issues are close to my heart and it’s so important to give back. I get that mindset from my Father; he did outreach work so a lot of that is instilled in me.

 

Mister Growl:  The idea of embracing your family is also prominent on the album. Just wondering if you could discuss what family means to you, and how your family has supported your musical career.

Simply Undrea: Being there to truly support one another and uplifting each other with unconditional love… that’s the ideal of what family means to me. My family has definitely been supportive of my music and my career, especially my parents. Shortly before my Father died, he expressed that he wanted to be my Manager and my Mother has always been a motivationd record. Gravitas is more well-rounded and it has a little something for everyone.

Mister Growl:  What was your favorite memory of the recording process for Gravitas?

Simply Undrea: My favorite memory had to be waking up after that nal force in my life. I grew up in a musical household where I was exposed to all genres from Sinead O’Connor to The Stylistics. When I was younger I was extremely shy, so no one even knew I sang at all! My Mother always gently encouraged me to blossom and to share my writings and my voice more openly.

Mister Growl:  You also recently mentioned that a vivid dream about playing music is part of what motivated you to record this new record. Are there any songs on Gravitas, or your previous unreleased 11-song album, that were also directly influenced by dreams?

Simply Undrea: Surprisingly, no. The unreleased material wasn’t based on any dreams. For that album, my co-writer Althea and I wrote songs on various topics that we wanted to cover. Those 11 songs had more of a melancholy sound with more than a few torch songs. After my hiatus, I was more sure of myself and I went back to the drawing board to write a

dream! That had never happened before so it was all very new to me, and exciting. It was like I was brimming full of music. Almost every waking moment for a straight week, I was writing. I would sing snippets of songs around the house. I never went too far without a notepad and a pen.

Mister Growl:  As an East Coaster, I’m curious to hear how you’d describe the musical history and current scene in Oakland, and if music from nearby San Francisco displays any major stylistic differences?

Simply Undrea: Oakland is so full of rich music and art, it’s hard NOT to be inspired here! I love the Bay Area and it’s such a melting pot of talent. You can find any genre and style here so in my opinion, I don’t see too many stylistic differences. Music is universal.

Mister Growl:  Do you have any upcoming plans to perform live?

Simply Undrea: Hopefully! I am still a new artist so performing live is definitely a future goal of mine. But I wouldn’t want to hop on a stage prematurely; I want to be totally ready. It would be great to have an awesome band and to put on a great set!

Mister Growl:  It’s well-documented that only one song from your previous 11-song album survived to be included on Gravitas. Any plans to release the other songs in the future, in the form of a rarities album?

Simply Undrea: Absolutely! In the future, I’d love to reach into the vault and share the music itself from that unreleased record. Maybe I’ll re-record some of the lyrics and put together a rarities album with nothing but instrumentals for the B-sides. That’s a great idea!

Mister Growl:  As a music fan who listens to a lot of heavy metal and hard rock, what about your music do you think would appeal to fans of various music genres?

Simply Undrea: I think that the music on songs like “Free” and “Hold On” will appeal to listeners first – due to the heavy presence of guitars, – and that the words will make them stay. All my songs have meaning and I believe that those messages will appeal to audiences across the board.

Mister Growl: Do you have any closing messages for old and new fans of your music?

Simply Undrea: Yes. To any new fans, welcome! I hope this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. And to all my steady supporters, thank you for sharing my vision and for appreciating my music. To old and new, let’s take this journey together!

Many thanks to Simply Undrea for answering our questions and sharing her music. Listen to the first single from Gravitas, “Free,” over here on Bandcamp, where you can also pre-order the album:  http://music.simplyundrea.com/album/gravitas

You can also learn more about the album’s history and creative process in the following video: