Marcella Simien
About
Marcella Simien is the daughter of two-time GRAMMY winning Zydeco luminary Terrance Simien, born into one of the first Creole families to settle St. Landry Parish, and her music blends Zydeco, Soul and Blues. She grew up with visits from legends such as David Hidalgo of Los Lobos and Taj Mahal, then went to Memphis to pursue a degree from Memphis College of Art and began planting her South Louisiana heritage in the Bluff City. She founded and leads Marcella & Her Lovers, a hybrid of classic Memphis soul with the swagger of New Orleans funk, singing and playing the Creole accordion. Their full-length debut, Got You Found, co-produced at American Recording Studio by Pete Matthews and Toby Vest, drew critical acclaim; Paste called her a "powerhouse voice." The band released Live From Memphis in 2021. She also performs with Magnolias, Marcella & Les Vagues, and Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience, and has played Joe's Pub in New York City.
Quick facts
- Daughter of two-time GRAMMY winner Terrance Simien
- Bandleader, Marcella & Her Lovers
- Paste: a "powerhouse voice"
- Albums: Got You Found; Live From Memphis (2021)
- Zydeco, Soul and Blues on the Creole accordion
- Louisiana roots, Memphis-based
Videos
Official links
Press quotes
“Simien’s powerhouse voice lends itself to the group’s swampy soul sound.”
“her music blends Memphis soul with New Orleans funk to create something altogether new.”
"Marcella Simien has been a fixture of the Memphis scene for over six years now"
"her brand of “swamp soul” is inherently multicultural, reflecting both her zydeco-playing father, Terrance Simien, and the rich roux of her native Louisiana’s other musical flavors"
Booking
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Booking inquiry Media resourcesLatest release
Got You Found (2020)