“‘Come Together’ is about the social unrest and the struggles we continue to face everyday,” Sim Simah told Remixd Magazine.
Meet Los Angeles-based independent artist Sim Simah. He just released the music video to his new song called “Come Together,” which is a visual showcase that speaks to America’s current battle with race and police brutality.
“This song goes out to the Breonna Taylors, the George Floyds, and the many brothers and sisters around the world we have lost to police brutality,” the caption of the YouTube video says.
The visual uses powerful imagery from the recent nationwide protests in order to convey the deeper message of unity. “Come Together” has an overall sorrowful undertone as the slow melodic beat plays over the accompanying visuals — which have been credited to news footage.
Keep reading to learn more about who Sim Simah is, and the inspiration behind his music and this music video.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I am from Redondo Beach. I spent 4 months studying abroad in Seoul, Korea. I spent a year and a half living in San Francisco. I moved back to LA around Thanksgiving 2019 and have been in Redondo ever sense.
What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name?
My artist name is Sim Simah. My real name is Simeon Phillips. I got my name in 2015 when I used to walk around and freestyle everyday because I use to not really be good at it. But one day it was just coming out and I thought everything I said was gold. I was going for like 30 seconds straight and then I got to this point where I was like, “Cause I’m that n—a, Sim Simah.” And was like, “Oh s–t! That’s it.” Been rockin’ with that name ever sense.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music?
Somewhere between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I was known as the kid in the dorm that was always bumping Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap, Donald Glover’s Because the Internet, Vic Mensa’s INNANETAPE, and Kanye’s Yeezus. At some point I would get so passionate when I was listening to songs that I would imagine myself performing them in front of other people. My sophomore year in college, I actually met Chance the Rapper at a rugby party and ended up smoking with him. It was chill and I told him about how he was the first concert I had ever been to and he that was dope.
My sophomore was when I really wanted to perform because my friends starting to going to concerts and I have never really to been to any besides the Chance one. And then I went to Travis Scott and everything changed lol. They way he used his platform to talk to people and make them feel better really stuck with me and I just thought I want to do the same thing for other people. I always felt like I couldn’t give anything back to the world until I really started messing with music.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
I grew up play with piano when I was a kid and picked up the drums in college. I was going through a lot in middle school as a teen and I remember going home and listening to Kid Cudi on Myspace everyday. He really helped through a lot. My Mom had a great selection of CDs that include India Arie, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and many other greats. In college I started listening to more alternative music like inner wave and Tame Impala. During my last semester at LMU, I ended up working for the local radio station KXLU and was able to hear what’s going on in the under rock scene and that was really cool.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you? What genre does it fit into best?
I haven’t really found a way to describe my music. Sometimes I like writing about fun stuff and “being cool” and sometimes I make songs like ballads about social issues. I’m like a Vic Mensa, Kanye West, XXXTENTACION. I don’t like to pin myself into one thing.
What ultimately inspired you to dedicate yourself to a music career?
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out what my purpose is in life and I believe regardless of whatever your profession is, it should be to give your gift to the fullest. At times I would have these thoughts or rhyme schemes that would stick with me for a long period of time, and that led me to writing songs. If I died and people never got to hear them, I wouldn’t think anyone would get the chance to truly know me or understand me.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you to make it?
The emotional connection it can have and how it can bring people together. How it can empower and set your mind at ease. Songs to me, can be like them perfect remedy you need to alleviate yourself of what you don’t want to feel and bring you to a desired state.
Tell us about your latest release, a music video called “Come Together.” What’s it about?
“Come Together” is about the social unrest and the struggles we continue to face everyday. It’s taxing on the mental and in the song, I am just having a conversation with God.I am also releasing a cover to XXXTENTACIONS “UGLY” but only on YouRube. This song is also about the systematic mental illness that breads hate in our country.
What was the inspiration behind “Come Together?” And what has the response been like so far?
So far the response to “Come Together” has been phenomenal actually. My mom cried when she heard it. My aunt said it was beautiful and heartbreaking. All the homies said it was fire so I think this is what the word needs right now.
What are some projects you’ve done in the past that you are most proud of and why?
My latest project, Blue Light Anthems, is most definitely my favorite project. When I was staying in San Francisco, I was dealing with a lot of mental health issues and I had a lot of things I needed to get off my chest that I felt were bogging me down. Even while I was working a full time job, I still wanted to turn that into something that was so ugly inside of me into something I loved and was beautiful. The project is sad and has a lot of raw emotion in it — with a lot of sonically different tracks.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?
My next project should be an EP with five or six tracks coming out in the next two to three months. I’m working with a single executive producer named Entropy and am getting a feature for each track. I want the upcoming EP to show that we have strength in numbers and there’s a lot to be said that we can’t say.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music?
Don’t be afraid of s–t. Don’t take no s–t. Invest in the Black dollar. F–k the police, but also get involved and help out in the community. Go change the world for the better.
You can watch the video for “Come Together” below and follow Sim Simah on Instagram @simsimah_sound.
