Surinamese/Dutch folk-pop singer-songwriter néomí releases her debut EP 'before' alongside new single 'redemption' on June 24th through PIAS
LISTEN TO ‘BEFORE’ HERE
Having already treated us to the wondrous offerings ‘if i wasn’t made for love’, ‘eyes filled with sky’, ‘i’ll be there’ and ‘not good enough’ in recent months, which have since been supported by the likes of The Independent, GIGWISE, Under The Radar, La Blogotheque, Cool Hunting, Ones To Watch, LOCK Mag, Record Of The Day (Song of the Day for each track) and many more, as well as landing spots on Spotify’s New Music Friday (NL), Morning Tea, Easy On Saturday and Easy On Sunday playlists, and supported by 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 unveiled her highly-anticipated debut EP ‘before’ alongside the captivating new single ‘redemption’.
Having already cultivated a strong reputation for warm and wistful compositions, the new EP ‘before’ looks to cement her vibrant aesthetic, and deliver a beautifully rich and alluring array of calm yet powerful offerings. Featuring both previously shared singles, 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.”
Highlighted by the new track ‘redemption’, she caps off this part of her journey with one of the release’s more jubilant efforts. Written as an ode to the family that raised her, she looks to cement their legacy within song and offer a humble thanks to the path that has led her to this point.
Adding about ‘redemption’, “I wrote redemption with a smile on my face which doesn’t happen that often. This song is just truly a thank you to my family. I have so much love for them. I am grateful for the culture my mother gave me, the wisdom my father passed on and the life lessons my sister taught me. This song is about the nostalgic feeling of being younger and feeling safe with my family. It is about asking for forgiveness for not understanding how precious family is, and about understanding how precious family is. It is me telling them “I would do anything to give them back the years they had my back”. And a promise I will have theirs forever.”
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 recently supported Novo Amor at Paradiso, Amsterdam and Celine Cairo on her Dutch tour in May &June and HAEVN June 19th – 26th.
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