Marcella Simien

Marcella Simien, daughter of two-time GRAMMY winning Zydeco luminary Terrance Simien, blends Zydeco, Soul and Blues. Founder and bandleader of Marcella & Her Lovers, a hybrid of classic Memphis soul and New Orleans funk, she plays the Creole accordion and was called a "powerhouse voice" by Paste.

Daughter of  two-time GRAMMY™ award winning Zydeco luminary Terrance Simien, and born into one of the first Creole families to settle St. Landry Parish, Marcella Simien is wielding the torch of a veritable creole dynasty blending together elements of Zydeco, Soul, and Blues. 

Marcella grew up immersed in music and visits to the family home from legends such as David Hidalgo of Los Lobos or Taj Mahal, who once sang her “Happy Birthday,” were not uncommon. Her love for music encouraged her to pursue a degree from Memphis College of Art. Feeling a kindred connection to the city of Memphis rich history and bustling community of working musicians, she began planting the seeds of her South Louisiana heritage in the Bluff City. 

Simien founded and serves as bandleader in Marcella & Her Lovers—a hybrid of classic Memphis soul with the freewheeling swagger of New Orleans funk. Featuring an ensemble cast of Memphis musicians, Simien emerges as an undeniably powerful frontwoman. Her lyrics explore themes of love, loss, and healing, and her vocal work embodies feminine strength. With each angelic holler and pump of the Creole accordion, she reinvents the mold of Memphis music while giving a wink and a nod to her ancestors. 

In addition to Marcella & Her Lovers, Simien performs with Magnolias, Marcella & Les Vagues, Magnolias, and Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience. Recently, Simien made her New York City debut at Joe's Pub and her London debut as a duo with Mark Black of Sweet on drums. 

Simien’s first full-length debut “Got You Found” with Marcella & Her Lovers, co-produced at American Recording Studio by Pete Matthews and Toby Vest, received critical acclaim. Paste magazine called Simien a,  “powerhouse voice” that  “lends itself to the group’s swampy soul sound.” And in 2021 Marcella & her Lovers released the album Live From Memphis. An album that encapsulated the band’s charismatic live performance in Memphis, TN on October 31, 2020, and also included songs from the Got You Found.

As legendary record producer and owner of Royal Studios Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell puts it, “Marcella is one of the most soulful artists I've heard since the glory days of Memphis soul music. Her sound and stage presence are constant reminders that soul music is still alive and well.” 

Marcella is currently in the studio working on her debut release as a solo artist.