Getting Social with Francesca Simone, recording artist of Playground.
IN HER OWN WORDS
Playground is an exploration. It is my first endeavor at expressing my vision of the myriad and diverse influences that have shaped me as a musician.
In just five short years, I have grown from playing beginning guitar to performing at major venues in California including the upcoming 2013 GRAMMY's where I'll be playing at various events as part of the GRAMMY Camp - Jazz Session Combo.
When I’d just started playing the guitar, my then-friend, now-producer Ray Obiedo, said that he would help me record a demo. Every summer I pestered him about it. Finally last year, he said, “If I’m going to record you, we should do an album, not just a demo.” By this time, I’d written several compositions, and I was more than ready!
When I’d just started playing the guitar, my then-friend, now-producer Ray Obiedo, said that he would help me record a demo. Every summer I pestered him about it. Finally last year, he said, “If I’m going to record you, we should do an album, not just a demo.” By this time, I’d written several compositions, and I was more than ready!
And just like that, we did it.
While recording Playground, I worked with Dennis Chambers, David K. Mathews, Karl Perazzo, Benny Rietveld, Marc Van Wageningen, and Brian Collier, a group of big-hearted and brilliant musicians who work with Carlos Santana, Sheila E., and Lauryn Hill, among others. We laid the basic tracks in only two studio sessions. The album is a product of my many influences including funk, jazz, rock, Latin, and R&B. I wanted the collaboration process to be spontaneous and fluid. Thus, the idea of a playground where, with my friends, we have free reign.
