Margeaux Simms: Thank you. I hope it does well. I hope people
can take away from it whatever they want, and not over think
it. I want them to be inspired to do their own thing. Everything
you want to know about me, I put in my music. I rarely hold back
anything.
UG Digital Mag: When are you looking to release it?
Margeaux Simms: We’re looking at April for “Girl on the Left”. We
keep pushing it back because I’ll do more singles, then want to
do more videos. I don’t want to rush it. Putting out an EP for me is
like getting a tattoo. It has to be perfect. Once it’s there, you can’t
take it back. I want to feel good about it in my soul.
UG Digital Mag: Do you feel like Love & Hip Hop was helpful in
you getting your music out?
Margeaux Simms: It was a little helpful. I’ve met other cool music
bloggers as a result, and they come up and talk about the music
more than the drama. I can’t leave my house in New York without people approaching me, and it’s all about the music, which
is good. In the marketplace, it’s more about being able to push
what you do and get away from the story you weren’t able to tell.
It’s reality TV, and there’s a part that’s not reality, yet, it’s trying
to hold you to the character you are on the show. No on understands the psychology of it unless they do a show. When you
think about it, it’s really deep psychology. I feel like reality TV is
made up of genius producers who put this together the way they
can market and manipulate the craft. I’ve learned a lot in business about how you can use that for yourself.
UG Digital Mag: So let’s talk House of Margeaux (HOFM)!
UG Digital Mag: I think it’s great that you’re involved in so much.
Even with your involvement in SXSW.
Margeaux Simms: Yes, it’s a huge platform. I’ve always wanted
to be part of that. Meeting the other musicians and artists, and
connecting with them is a great thing. The showcase I’m a part of
is The Color Agent. It’s a great thing to see.
UG Digital Mag: I’m glad you also mention being from Toronto.
We’re seeing so many more people from there.
Margeaux Simms: Growing up, I’d always hear people say there
were black people in Canada, and we’d always laugh. We’d
forget there are black people all over the world. We all come
from the same places. There’s a lot of culture there. I can’t wait to
perform there.
UG Digital Mag: What are you most proud of about the way
things have gone?
Margeaux Simms: I’m most proud of being able to show who I
am, and for people to see that I’m an artist. I’ll always be an artist.
I’m proud of fighting for my integrity. I can sleep at night. There’s
nothing I did that I am ashamed of.
UG Digital Mag: Any final comments at all?
Margeaux Simms: I would say to read more. Seek the people you
like and why you like them. Don’t believe everything you see on
television. Be smarter, and don’t accept what’s given to you. Be
your own leader and don’t take things for face value. Be your
own individual. +
Margeaux Simms: I studied design when I was in school, and I’ve
always wanted to blend with fashion. Design is such an art form,
and something has to give. I wanted to do that, and with music,
doing my songs, and video treatments, I wanted all these amazing clothes in the videos that sometimes I couldn’t afford. I said
I’ll just make what I see in my head. That’s how it came about.
Then I decided to make a cool merchandise line for the music. I
wanted people to know it’s really coming from me. I’m not just an
artist on a big machine and now I have merchandise being sold
to you. I wanted it to be organized, and I wanted people to know
when they get into my music, they are also getting merchandise
from me that I spent time to create and put together. HOFM is
the merchandise. I showed at fashion week last year, but I just
showed the merch line. I wanted it to be merchandise that people really wanted and can really get into. One day I’ll do a full
collection out of it. I had more ideas I started to make while I was
on the show, and then people started to ask for certain pieces.
From there, I put them on the site and it took a life of it’s own.
UG Digital Mag: I believe it makes your brand that much better
because you’re so hands on and involved. It will do so well for
you because of that.
Margeaux Simms: You have to be involved, and be inspired. I
have to be hands on.
UG Digital Mag: What are your plans over the next year?
Margeaux Simms: For me, the next few singles will be released.
I’ll drop the EP. I’ll be performing in Toronto and New York. I’ll also
be going to Paris in August. I’ll be in New York working, and also
put some things together for Fashion Week. That’s pretty much it.
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