néomí releases debut single 'if i wasn't made for love' on February 10th via [PIAS]
Photo Credit: Sabine Verbee
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néomí is the moniker for Surinamese/Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter Neomi Speelman who writes authentic and sincere stories backed by dreamy soundscapes on which her delicate bewitching vocals sit. Debut single ‘if i wasn’t made for love’ takes inspiration from the modern day folk songwriting royalty Ben Howard and Bon Iver, accompanied with the choral prowess of harmony maestros The Staves and tonal originality of Phoebe Bridgers & Sharon van Etten.
néomí explains: “’if i wasn’t made for love’ was written in a time where I doubted love in the most possible way ever. And let’s be honest, love is the most stupid thing in the world. Think about it: you want someone, you fall in love, you love each other, you hate each other, it hurts, you break up, and you keep doing that because every time you think once more ‘this is the one’.
With ’if i wasn’t made for love’, I sing about the beauty and mystery of life. And what love brings to me, and I think also to others. The idea is: if life were simple, love would be simple as well. But in the end, it’s wonderful that love is complicated. I’d rather be ‘not made for love’ than understand it.”
2020 was set to be the breakout year for néomí as she recorded her first singles with British engineer/producer Edd Hartwell (Tom Walker, Birdy, Tom Odell), supported singer-songwriting legend Don McLean and was also invited to the UK to play her first shows abroad. However, the out-break of a pandemic quickly followed by a life-changing event scuppered these plans with néomí using the next 12 months to develop as a songwriter and add to her growing catalogue of songs. Now, with the world slowly returning to normality, néomí finds herself signed to [PIAS] with dozens of songs ready and waiting to be uncaged and take flight.
néomí: “It hurt me I couldn’t connect with people last year through my music, but I know now even more, that when the time comes, we will connect. And I hope people are just as eager as me to experience my music together. Like an artist I admire much once said: “the music has served me, now let the music serve you.”
As a youngster néomí’s first step into music didn’t exactly start on the right foot when she was told she had to attend piano tuitions. It was agreed that she would attend the lessons for 5 years and, after these 5 years, she could decide whether to continue or not. Nevertheless 5 years passed and the unimpressed Neomi quit the piano and vowed never to play music again.
4 years would float by until néomí would find herself at a musical junction. During a browse on a popular Internet video website she stumbled across a live video of Ben Howard performing ‘Old Pine’ with a cellist in tow. Spellbound and inspired, néomí came out of her musical retirement, picked up a guitar and began teaching herself how to play from online tutorials.
As her skill and confidence grew she looked at applying to music schools and, due to an administrative error, was invited to audition in Amsterdam. Despite being too young to apply néomí was accepted on her raw talent and potential. Over the next 4 years she would hone her song writing and sound, her main influences stemming between Bon Iver, Bob Dylan, and Ben Howard. She says of the trio “their lyrics are outstanding and insanely beautiful. I don’t think they make songs, but they make art, poems. That’s something I also really try to do; make little poems instead of songs.”
‘if i wasn’t made for love’ is released on February 10th 2022 via [PIAS]. Expect further singles with an EP ‘before’ scheduled for release June 2022.
néomí Online
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/neomi.music
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/neomismusic
Contact
PR - Lorraine Long – lorraine@longevitypr.com
Management – Lee Waller – lee@justtalentmgmt.com