“Every person has their own climate, which they carry with them,” Mark Twain once remarked. And if we follow this logic, then the Nordic soul diva Sheila Simmenes has managed to perform a climatic miracle. She took the cool, restrained air of Bergen, Norway, and by the power of her talent mixed it with the scorching, salty breeze of Brazil’s Ipanema. The result of this peculiar “chemical” process was “Beautiful – Eloah Blú Remix” – a track that officially proclaims the beginning of the musical summer.
The story of the recording is slightly intriguing. In 2021, Sheila released the wonderful jazz debut “Love Was Easy,” which secured her status as a sophisticated vocalist. But, as often happens with creative personalities, the boundaries of one release became too tight for her. The songs of the album demanded a new life, a different breath. The transformation of Sheila Simmenes from performer into music producer under the pseudonym Eloah Blú became an expression of creative liberation. The artist herself admits: “This track has been spinning around in my head for quite some time. You know that feeling when an idea seems to tickle deep in your heart? It’s so nice to finally set it free.” In the spring of 2024, Eloah Blú launched a series of global musical experiments, and the fresh remix of “Beautiful” became the culmination of this multicultural carnival.
So what is “Beautiful” in its new interpretation? It is a surprisingly harmonious contrast. The rhythmic foundation of the track captivates with playful, multilayered percussion. Traditional Brazilian instruments add airiness, and the music moves like the sea surf. The singer’s rich vocal abilities harmoniously combine with carefully thought-out instrumental parts. Eloah Blú’s voice is pleasant to listen to. Warm and elegant, it gently draws the listener into the rhythm, as if becoming part of the percussion itself. She sings freely and naturally, with impeccable intonation and excellent vocal technique, which demonstrates her high mastery specifically as a jazz vocalist. Eloah Blú demonstrates a producer’s instinct. Having behind her experience working with completely polar genres – from the Korean pop icon Taeyeon to collaborations with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra – she allows the rhythm to breathe, without building it up with unnecessary layers. The production is elegant and light; there is a lot of sunshine and freedom in it.
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