Surinamese/Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter néomí announces debut EP 'before', out June 24th through PIAS
LISTEN TO ‘I’LL BE THERE’ HERE
Following up the release of her stunning breakthrough singles ‘if i wasn’t made for love’ and ‘eyes filled with sky’ earlier this year, which have since been supported by the likes of The Independent, GIGWISE, Under The Radar, La Blogotheque, Ones To Watch, LOCK Mag, Record Of The Day (Song of the Week), Beats Per Minute, When The Horn Blows and many more, as well as landing a spot on Spotify’s New Music Friday (NL) and Easy On Saturday playlists and support from all three of the main Dutch radio stations – 3FM, Radio 2, and KINK, néomí, aka Surinamese/Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter Neomi Speelman, has now announced her plans for her eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘before’ alongside the soaring new single ‘i’ll be there’.
Having already cultivated a strong reputation for warm and wistful compositions, the new EP ‘before’ looks to cement her vibrant aesthetic to date, and deliver a beautifully rich and alluring array of calm yet powerful offerings. Featuring both previously shared singles ‘if i wasn’t made for love’ and ‘eyes filled with sky’, the new five-track collection establishes néomí as a wonderfully inventive emerging artist, showcasing the full breadth of her sound throughout.
Speaking about the new EP, she said, "This EP is about the juvenile you, the story from ‘before’ life starts. It’s for the inner child who’s careless, free maybe even a bit heartbroken. On the verge of growing up but fighting against it. I hope it awakens and reminds listeners of the juvenile we all have inside. This EP means growing up to me, and seeing the world from the first baby steps into adulthood.”
Much like her work so far, the new track ‘i’ll be there’ sees her elevate within her guise like never before. Stripping back much of the atmospheric production behind her recent cuts, this new release sees her sweeping voice ride across a simple and wistful acoustic-led composition to deliver one of the more intimate efforts on this new EP.
Adding about ‘i’ll be there’, "‘i'll be there’ is a song about being there (mentally) for one of your loved ones. Sometimes it is hard to make choices in life. Sometimes you have the feeling that everything comes down to you and that everyone is watching what you’re about to decide. Your head explodes and you can’t see clearly, and you just need someone to stand next to you and say; “no matter what, I’ll be there”. And I hope that people will feel that feeling throughout this song."
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.”
Before EP tracklisting
if i wasn’t made for love
redemption
not good enough
i’ll be there
eyes filled with sky
néomí will be supporting Novo Amor at Paradiso, Amsterdam on May 12th and supporting Celine Cairo on her Dutch tour from May 6th - June 3rd and HAEVN June 19th – 26th.
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