PHOENIX —
Name:
Simply Three
How did you get started in the art or music world?
We each started playing our instruments when we were 8-10 years old, and we were classically trained. We all went through the public school orchestra system, played in regionals and all-state orchestras, and then we each went to music conservatories for music performances on our respective instruments.
I met Nick (the bass player) in 9th grade, actually! We became good friends, and in college, we wanted to start a group that played cool, classical-inspired arrangements that were edgy, poppy, and fun.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
Very tough question to answer. We like to follow our passion for music, which is why we are still an independent band; we call the shots and choose all the music we play and record. We do it because we love it, and that’s the only reason we’re still doing it!
We love to have fun with our music and follow our emotions while also pushing ourselves for more. We have also sought to have the coolest live show any string band has ever had. We’ve had some amazing experiences with this artistic goal that we are proud of but also still struggle to push beyond what’s currently realistic, which is also a tough challenge for an artist.
A “dream” vs “realism” has always been a huge part of our band’s motivations and goals. Such an interesting topic that I could write about forever haha.
What is your favorite medium?
We love to make recordings, music videos, and perform live shows. We love all of it, but our most favorite is a live show. There’s nothing that can replace the energy of a live audience who is having a blast. That feeds into our energy on the stage, and it becomes this almost tangible, special experience that can never be repeated.
What motivates you to create?
Our passion for music is our motivation! We love playing our instruments, and we also love so many kinds of music. We are true music lovers and just love making music, both recordings and live performances. It’s been a huge passion of ours since we were young. And our wives and children are a big motivation too!!
What was the inspiration behind the piece selected to be featured as an ArtPop?
“Breathless” was a follow-up to our original song “Rain” which did so well on YouTube. Nick wrote “Breathless,” and we loved how beautiful it was, so we worked on it more together and came up with this version. We also got some input from the great Rob Gardner, a good friend of ours, on the arrangement.
We were also very inspired by “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman when we were finishing writing and recording “Breathless.” And “Be Still, My Soul” was a hymn that all of us have loved. We all were raised religiously, and some sacred hymns have stuck with us as just incredibly powerful, beautiful pieces of music.
We loved this arrangement; our good friend Drew Griffin arranged it for us, and he truly captured the essence of a unique, fresh take on the powerful hymn we all love.
How can people find you?
People can find us on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!
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