I never presume what holidays people celebrate, but I asked acclaimed rock, soul and indie/pop singer Simi Stone if she was prepped for the rest of the season.
“Oh I celebrate all of it,” the Woodstock-area “Pyramid” singer and diva in the making responded. “I am making most of my presents by hand this year and some things came to me on my travels, but other than that I’m way behind. I keep forgetting if New Year’s happened already, I’m in my own world.”
She can be forgiven for that. The year 2016 was intense for everyone, but Simi not only poured herself into her budding visual arts endeavors but is one of the more active and respected performers in the region. She has toured extensively with her former band Suffrajett and as a solo artist, and shared stages with everyone from Simone Felice, Joan Jett, Natalie Merchant, Conor Oberst, Tracy Bonham and Amy Helm. She is just a natural, giving off the kind of authenticity for a fraction of which many performers would give up their favorite pinky ring, or maybe even their pinky.
“2016 was one of the most intense years I can remember,” she reflects. “I had my first-ever visual art show, which is the last thing I ever thought I would do. I sang with David Byrne at Carnegie Hall and I worked on my first sound track for a feature film.”
Most people I know might let themselves slack a bit and perhaps stay home in their pajamas sipping victory hot chocolate from Fruition for the rest of the year if they got to even shake David Byrne’s hand, but Simi is a driven and natural talent. New Year’s Eve finds her wrapping up 2016 at Helsinki Hudson alongside bluesy rocker (and Meatloaf’s daughter) Pearl Aday, who’s band includes Pearl’s beloved little bald metal legend husband Scott Ian of Anthrax.
“It’s gonna be a blast! We’ve played Helsinki several times,” Stone exclaims. “It’s one of our favorite spots.”
I ask her what her favorite part of winter in the Hudson Valley is.
“My favorite things for sure are the trees without their leaves,” she answers. “I get to see the shapes against the beautiful winter skies. It’s just thrilling! Also dinner with friends by warm fireplaces!”
More than ever we need female role models with strong personas, not like that isn’t always important. Simi is relatable, super cool and has a next-level voice. She is a genuine person. I asked her if she is worried for artists or women in the days ahead.
“Oh my gosh, you are so sweet! I’m excited for the new year,” she admits, keeping it on the positive side. “There have been wonderful things about 2016, but it’s been a tough year. We lost many beautiful people. Prince, David Bowie, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen and that’s just to name a few! And a couple close friends of mine died as well. We definitely need strong female voices. We have to be loud and peaceful, smart and ahead of the crazy coming to Washington D.C.!”
Stone’s visual art work started a little over a year ago after a depression spiral. After a split from her lover, Simi had what she described as a crack from reality. She thought she would die. The pain from her whole life, it seemed, had been waiting for this moment to come forth. She cried for over a week and lost a lot of weight but slowly started to regain some fortitude. An artist asked her if they could paint her and the man and she loved in his studio. She fell asleep clutching Van Gogh and Gauguin books and while able to write perform and record, any down time alone proved quite painful. The artist and his companion inspired her and gave her some materials.
“I got handed some pastels when I was in a very bad way emotionally and they saved my life. It all came gushing out,” Stone says. You can see and purchase some of her at turns vulnerable, lively and colorful work at Ardnaglass.com.
With that we will start to wind this week’s column to a close. Let me remind you that in ancient 4th century times, Saturnalia-observing pagans were more easily converted by being told they could still celebrate the same time of year and so many people agree this is why the birth of Jesus was chosen as Dec. 25. Saturnalia usually concluded with a human sacrifice rather than three wise men and a little baby in a manger. Pagans also were way more comfortable with fornication than a religion which would rather have a God among men be immaculately conceived than have to fret about how body parts (especially women’s) work. But Merry Christmas anyway, unless you are one of the rando Trump supporters who pop up commenting on my Facebook posts. If so, know that at this point I will take perverse enjoyment in ridiculing you and casting you back into Hades where you will get coal for Christmas since apparently coal jobs “stolen by illegal Mexicans” warranted destroying the world.
Join the family! 
