STORE MIX 131: SIM0NE

"Slow and steady" certainly isn't something you could say to describe sim0ne's career. In just under three years, she's already remixed for the likes of The Pussycat Dolls, horsegiirL, DJ'd at Glastonbury, and created her own sell-out club collective – club zer0. Scottish-born, now London-based, this bedroom producer/DJ first saw attention when her bootleg SoundCloud remix of Lana Del Rey's single, Say Yes to Heaven, went viral – so much so, that Lana made it official. Ever since, she's been a staple in festival lineups, becoming renowned for her acid-infused techno and trance music, evocative of 90s rave classics but with a contemporary spin.  

Completely self-taught, sim0ne started exploring production and mixing during lockdown, making the most of being stuck in her bedroom. Cut to earlier this year, she saw the release of her debut EP zer0, which features a selection of bouncy club-ready tracks like space cadet and freaky. Now, she turns her attention to our latest edition of the Store Mix, and we caught up with her to talk about her journey so far, as well as what makes for the perfect party. 

If partying had a manifesto, what would it would be? 

Life is short so it’s our duty to squeeze as much fun out of every chance we can. 

Can you tell us about the initial intention behind club zer0? 

The music on zer0 came out of a real fascination with 90s rave culture. People talk about it as the pinnacle of club culture and there were also so many new genres and sound that came with the rise of the electronic underground, especially in the UK. I really wanted to make music that incorporated that. 

You started learning mixing and production during lockdown. How was it to then bring those skills into the clubs? 

It was such an electric time, I felt like I hit the ground running when the world opened up after lockdown. I was still learning alongside hitting so many milestones which felt nerve wracking at times but made it exciting too. 

You've played some tracks from your debut EP, zer0, in sets already, but has the experience of playing them live changed since the project came out? 

It was so exciting to finally get it out into the world, there’s a really nice feeling when songs stop being yours and become the crowd's. Especially with this EP as I was touring so extensively it took a while to put together so I made the first demos for some of the tracks over a year ago. Seeing the crowd get excited for your song they came to see and singing along gives it a whole new energy. 

Can you talk a bit about the process behind it? How long were you working on it? 

I think in total about a year and a half - which is far too long for an EP in my opinion - but I was still finding my sound. One of my favourite sessions was the day after Glastonbury, I think we were still slightly insane from the farm but that’s when we put the finishing touches on ‘space cadet’ and ‘always believed’. I think you can really hear the festival energy on the later half of ‘always believed’. 

The EP's a love letter to British electronic music. What were some of the earliest club tracks you remember forming a bond with? 

One that really jumps out is ‘Fly On The Wings Of Love - XTM’ I can remember watching the music video on TV as a kid and probably downloaded it on limewire for my iPod. I dropped at harder remix of it the first time I got to play Warehouse Project and again at Hï in Ibiza which was cool and felt full circle. A lot of French house stuff was also pretty popular when I was growing up. 

Where else do you draw inspiration from? 

Video games. I think a lot of brilliant dance music was made for the PlayStation 2. That trancy sound feels really retro in a cool way. 

Any hint to what the rest of year has in-store from you? 

New music. Soon. 

Describe the perfect kind of party to hear your Store Mix in. 

This one’s definitely for an East London flat party, pre-drinks or afters is up to you.