Rising independent star Simpson's latest track, "Cherry Ice Cream Sundae", was produced by James Dring (Gorillaz, Blur) and Emily Lazar (Beck, Vampire Weekend), with saxophone elements by David Winograd. Initially recorded as a freestyle in her bedroom, Simpson knew she was meant to give this song shape and meaning connected to a bigger purpose in 2020. Elements of jazz and neo-soul production set the mood to the dreamy and introspective tone felt throughout this song. Taking inspiration from Nikki Giovanni's Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day, this free-spirited track is written as an ode to the care we show ourselves even when the surrounding world seems bleak.
"Who are we when we allow ourselves to be whole, unfiltered, messy and kind of like ice cream? We get a spoon to share with a friend. We all crowd under one small umbrella to shield ourselves from the rain. Small gestures like these can be a world of difference. They remind us that we are already whole, good, and deserve to treat ourselves with as much tenderness as we treat everyone else."
Simpson, speaking on the inspiration behind "Cherry Ice Cream Sundae"
Simpson released her preceding singles "I Miss My Dawgs" and "Summer" earlier in 2020. The quintessential indie-pop tune, "Summer" became an instant seasonal hit for open road cruising and has reached 1 million streams across platforms. Sameer Ghadia from Young the Giant featured the song on his Alt Nation show, Point of Origin on SiriusXM, focusing on new artists to watch. Both tracks were initially written to woefully honor the long-distanced quarantine friendships that sustained her through those times and to the memories of summers past. Simpson dedicated the release of "I Miss My Dawgs" to Breonna Taylor, with proceeds from the pre-order raised for Breonna's GoFundMe. In 2017, Washington D.C. native Simpson released her hit, "Switch Lanes" that catapulted her career. Influenced by everything from '90s alternative rock to jazz, the artist and activist is creating a sound all her own. She has opened for artists like Crumb, Celeste, Superorganism, and Shabazz Palaces.
