PRODUCER PROFILE: SIMONE TORRES
We spoke to Simone Torres, an outstanding vocal producer, sound engineer, and vocalist from Long Island. Simone Torres has worked for years alongside her mentor, the five-time Grammy award-winning producer Kuk Harrrell. Torres has worked with artists ranging from Jessie J to Cardi B to Sia to Leslie Odom Jr to Cher and many more. We asked Simone 10 questions. Below, she sheds light onto her creative process, her first production project, and more.
What first sparked your interest in singing and then producing/engineering?
My relationship with music began like many when I was super young. I always connected with it strongly but when I was nine, my dad started an entertainment company. He used to DJ and sing a bit so he picked that up again. I started listening to a lot of older music, and fell in love. I remember “auditioning” for my first singing teacher, Marianne Barry, a woman who worked at a local karaoke shop, by singing for her in the corner of the store because my dad wanted to see if I could start gigging with him. Ever since then, singing has been a big part of my life. I gigged every weekend from when I was nine until college, and then about five times a week throughout college. I realize now that I was really lucky because Marianne was never a stickler on technique. She taught me how to breathe, but other than that, everything was about conveying the story of the song through your voice. I think because of that, I’ve always approached singing in that way. You’re trying to have your audience feel the record, and that carries through to vocal production as well. I started to think about learning the engineering side of things after years of being in the studio and not having a single piece of recorded music that I was proud of. I didn’t know how to communicate what I wanted, I only knew that it wasn’t right so I decided to learn it myself.
Tell us the story about the first track you engineered.
I’m not sure if I remember the story of the first track I engineered. I remember the first track I vocal produced though. The first time I vocal produced was in college. The producer, JT Gargarian (who is an amazing engineer and working with 6lack right now) brought me into vocal produce his artist Stephanie. It was my first time in a session where I was not the engineer or the singer, but specifically the vocal producer. It felt like everything that I had done culminated in that moment. I had pre-production meetings with the artist and producer where we talked about what we wanted in the song and what that would entail.The pre-production even touched a bit on vocal coaching, showing her how to use her mix to get the sound that I was looking for. I remember that it felt like home. The artist was so happy to have someone who understood her, what she wanted, and who could help her get there, and the producer was happy to have someone who could convey his vision to the artist and get that out of her as well. It was great. I’ll never forget that feeling of “this is what I am meant to do with my life.”
You work alongside five-time Grammy Award-Winning vocal producer Kuk Harrell. How has he, as a mentor, influenced and changed your career as a producer, engineer, and vocalist?
Kuk is the best mentor I could have ever asked for. All around. Not only is Kuk amazing at his craft, but he is truly an exemplary human being that I learn so much about life from. He has shaped how I interact with people, developed me as an engineer, vocal producer, and simply made me better overall. Kuk has taught me that it is the skills that will get you in the room, but your personality and how you treat people that will keep you there. Vocal production is all about your people skills. Your interaction with the artist and everyone in the room. The relationship you cultivate with your artist is everything. As Kuk says “you’re marrying a stranger.” That could not be more true. In order for an artist to give you magic, they need to be able to trust you completely and feel comfortable to make mistakes, crack, etc. They are their instrument so what we do is very personal. Kuk is amazing and has taught me so much.
Kuk Harrell. Image Source: Chicago Reader
How does your production for artists such as Dua Lipa differ from what you do as a vocalist?
It doesn’t differ too much actually. My approach to singing has always been about telling the story and conveying emotion. Making your audience feel the music, what you are saying. That’s how I vocal produce. It’s about catching the magic. You want the people listening to the record to be able to feel what the artist is feeling. We get to create the soundtracks to people’s lives, and that is such a privilege.
Who are your biggest musical influences and why?
Some of my biggest musical influences as a singer are Etta James, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Beyonce. They are all able to reach out and touch something in your soul through their music. They make you feel what they feel.
Recommend to Gender Amplified some new musicians and artists to pay attention to.
A new artist that I think you should pay attention to is Joanna Teters. I first heardher while I was in school at Berklee, and she is just starting to put out her own music. She is incredible, super soulful, reminiscent of Joss Stone but a bit smoother. She’s great.
Another person is India Carney, her voice is just so special. There’s something magical about it that I can’t explain. Lastly, RuthAnne. She is a songwriter from Ireland who has had great success and is just now launching her solo career. She is amazing, and has a powerful and extremely emotive and soulful voice. Look out for them!
Where are some of your favorite places to find and buy gear?
I really like sweetwater actually. You work with a sales representative that will take care of you, I love how personable they are. They give you that small business touch even though they aren’t. Also, their tech support is great if anything ever goes wrong. A lot of the time I’ll buy my things from there because it gives you that extra level of protection. They’re the best.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in music production or engineering? What is one piece of advice he/she should know?
Learn everything you can about your craft. Experiment, research, take notes. Find out who makes the music you love and research what they do, but at the end of the day after you’ve learned all you can about the tools and the tech, remember that it is you as a person, with your background and everything that you have been through, that will make what you do different than everyone else. Find what that is, what makes you special, and run with it. Also, I think that finding a mentor is imperative. This industry can be cold at times and having a mentor to guide you is invaluable.
What are your ultimate goals for your careers as a vocal producer or engineer?
I want to be known as the go to vocal producer in the industry, the next Kuk Harrell if you will. I want to be known as someone who is just good to be around and to work with, that makes the vibe of the room open and light, that can help the artist reach their vision. One huge goal that I have in my ten to fifteen year plan is to win producer of the year. A woman has never won it and I think that is crazy. I want to work to be the first.
Tell us where to find your music!
You can find my music on all platforms! On my website, simonetorres.com, on the credits page there are links to what I’ve worked on. You can find it there!