Simo – There is this story how we met and how it came to this wonderful record:
On our first day in Essouira we went to the La Mama pub where we recorded also Bassam and Ayoub for a jam session, it was shortly after the heavy rains.
We wanted a drink but did not changed any cash yet, so I left the bar in the Medina (Old Town, for first visitors rather a sympathetic Labyrinth) and went to the ATM.
Of course during this time the Heavy rain falls started again and the way’s was flooded, so the Labyrinth changed.
Good that Simo came around and showed me the other way around, just under this door, left, right, straight, there are you – easy – I said thank you and we went our ways.
After 5 days in Essaouira he catch me on the street and told me, that he is also a singer songwriter and showed me his songs in a hurry – and they were goooood !
Unfortunately I had so many artists to record and told him “next time” but we changed contacts.
Next day during the recording session with Andalucious and Anas with his Moroccan Orchestra, other artists should show up, but they never came.
So I called Simo, he came in panic with no guitar, wrote the song, went home for the guitar and 2 hours later we recorded “Obscure”, fresh written – and what you can find here is the first take !!!
True artist and deep respect, I hope you enjoy the track the same way as us, please find out more about Simo below!
Interview
Hey Simo how are you doing man ? Thanks for the great recording session in Essouira and for taking time for this interview, man, please introduce yourself, who are you, where do you come from ?
Hey ady first of all its been a pleasure to meet you, let me introduce myself to you:
My full name is Mohamed Halhoule, as im not really religious i prefer Simo
I come from a city not to far from Essaouira called Safi
Please let us know since when you play the guitar and sing and how does it started?
The inspiration of learning guitar and singing started in earlier age
When I was a child , me and my family, we used to watch movies sometimes in the end of the day.
As you know, for some scenes of movies its normal to hear instrumental music in between.
So it was the first influence for making music and then comes singing:
In school, my class mates always used to love my voice, and then in the age of 18 I started to be curious and beg my parents to buy me a cheap guitar which was very hard thing in this country.
So in the age of 20 i started to play with a slowly structure, reading tabs and listening heavy metal
Cool man, I’m happy you started to play, do you play also other instruments?
Yes a bit of djembe, slide guitar and a bit bass
Which musicians are your biggest influence, the ones that pulled your trigger to go out and play?
Bob dylan, Neil young, Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, Tom Petty, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Ray Lamontagne…
… and of course the whole band pink floyd
Are you able to make a living from your music or you have another job / studies?
It’s something I chose after I finished school to play music, so why not making a living from music – it’s also a way of not being depressed. I would love to meet big artists or at least see them because it never happened to me here in Morocco.
Do you play always solo or sometimes with Bands?
I used to play with a Norwegian guy but he moved to Casablanca after we recorded an album with 10 cover songs. So I play alone till the wind lead the leave to the right place
Please let us know about the music scene in Essaouira – I met a ton of very talented musicians there and would love to record each one – Is it hard to get gig’s in Essaouira? Do you know each other and jam sometimes together ?
Well, this is very difficult question, music here is very intense it’s like the Beatles when they separated or Crosby Stills Nash and young too.
Kind of ego and jealousy between people who have similar age maybe.
And gigs they don’t really pay well 10 euros to 20 which is not a value of musician
I agree man, people who hire musicians always forget the value. Musicians spent their time to learn the songs, have to take care of the instrument, change strings and they bring people to the club – Unfortunately it is not valued in many regions.
Okay, Simo, you are crazy – I invited you for the recording session and 2 hours before the session I informed you that I will not record any cover songs.
One minute later I saw you sitting down with a pencil and a piece of paper, writing down the lyrics for the song “Obscure” that you can find below – Please enjoy this wonderful track and support the artist by just giving a like and share it :)
Can you share the lyrics with us and translate the arabic part ?
Sure, the Arabic part means:
Peace and love words been heard before Once upon a time Romeo and Juliette
Please see it with a little bit of irony
What are your future plans in your musical career ? More gigs ? Collaboration with other musicians ? More concerts inside and outside Essouira ?
No plan
Alright – Bro, where people can find you playing live and get the beauty of your guitar playing and singing ?
They can find me in the big square of Essaouira in sunny day time and my place too when I’m free for jam
Please tell us something about your guitar, is it special to you ? Where did you got it from and which brand is it ?
This guitar that I have coast me months of working in the street and then i gave all that money to my Norwegian friend cause he wanted to go back to Norway and bring me one – So he did and bring me this one, made in Czech Republic.
So in the end i got it called “furch” (handmade). otherwise in my country its hard to find good guitar
How was your experience to get recorded by Hit The Road Music Studio ? Did you felt well, excited, do you like the result ?
The experience was very nice chilled and professional and its my type of recording when it comes to live and not much crazy effects
Thanks a lot, your music is so pure and true that there are no effects necessary man – good luck for the future, great spirit man!
Do you like to send special thanks to somebody or send greetings ?
Special thanks to my family and friends around
Brother it was a pleasure to record you and I hope to see you soon either in Morocco or in Europe or wherever !!! Choukran and all the best !!!!