Stereo Six: Alexander Simone Shares Some of His All-Time Favourite Tracks

There’s a certain pedigree within the Simone family that Alexander Simone is capably living up to. Simone is the grandson of Nina Simone, the late, legendary R&B singer and civil rights activist.

Music is literally in his blood, and he is now starting to emerge, forging his own path while staying true to his grandmother’s legacy. Alexander has become well known in and around Asbury Park, New Jersey, which is obviously one of the most iconic music cities in America.

He is now starting to build out his own musical catalogue with three impressive new singles released this year. He is backed up by his band WHODAT? Live Crew, touching on many different sounds and influences. Collectively, they are becoming a popular live act in the tri-state area. They combine traditional R&B sounds with classic soul influences and stay true to the traditions of rock n’ roll.

Today, we are joined by Alexander Simone for a very special Stereo Six. He shares with us six of his very favourite songs that have influenced him in shaping his own musical career.

Alexander Simone ‘Green Light’ album artwork

Simone

1. Nina Simone – “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” (1964, Phillips)

“While it’s not only obvious the bloodline I come from, this song represents my stance and constant emotion. In the world we live in today, it’s easy to be misunderstood. As an artist, your art and daily life become your canvas. In today’s cancel culture, it’s easy to shun someone just for a disagreement.

“‘But when you focus on intention—
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good’—

“You begin to understand the person, the art, the artist.

“We all have good and bad days—that’s just life. Don’t judge me by my mistakes, but rather by my intentions.”

2. Donny Hathaway – “A Song For You” (1971, Atco)

“I chose this song because it represents the journey, the reflection—it captures how an artist feels in the background. The delivery is priceless, from the tone and power of the great Donny Hathaway to the unforgettable piano chord arrangement.

“As someone who started out on piano, artists who sat behind the keys with such excellence always stood out to me.”

3. Tye Tribbett – “Superstar” (2004, Sony Music Entertainment)

“This song stood out to me not only for its message but also for the lyrics: ‘I’m not tryna be no superstar,’ that’s not why I do this. I do this because I love you.

“In a time when intention isn’t always rooted in a love for music but in profit and gain, this song kept me grounded. From the infamous Life album, the grooves, the hard-hitting bass lines, and the fact that it was gospel that sounded cool, I was mesmerized by the sound.”

4. D’Angelo – “Lady” (1996, EMI)

“From the intro’s first line, as a musician, you already knew it was going to be special. Then came the perfect layers of harmony and background vocals, which made this song stand out to me at a young age.

“It was cool. He was cool. I wanted to be cool.

“And once again, the neo-soul and essence pouring from behind a piano was enough to make me just sit down and vibe to it!

“Still to this day, there’s no sound like it. Vintage soul was calling out to me—and I didn’t even know it then.

“D’Angelo always had a sound that set him apart, and I wanted to tap into that, not just as an artist, but as a musician.”

5. Bilal – “Fast Lane” (2001, Interscope Records)

“Just the start of this song makes you say, ‘What’s happening?’ Loud screech, bold choice of instrumentation… then Bilal’s iconic voice and harmonies—second to none.

“Ironically, it’s from the First Born Second album. That blend of hip-hop and soul was the sound screaming out to me as a youngin. I knew it line for line, note for note. ‘How can I use my falsetto like Bilal?’

“Every Bilal song is truly a masterclass, even to this day. And when you add production from Dr. Dre?

“It’s curtains!”

6. The Roots & Musiq Soulchild – “Break You Off” (2002, MCA)

“Being introduced to a live band sound with a god-tier MC blended with neo-soul vibes, I didn’t know what it was back then; I just knew the sound had me locked in.

“The hard-hitting bass line drives the tune, and the melody sticks in your brain long after you’ve finished listening. Not to mention the melodic piano outro and drum build-up—the switch-up is priceless.

“‘Coming to break you off…’ just rings in your head over and over—so catchy and soulful. Then you add the blends and layers of a master like Musiq Soulchild, and it’s simply priceless.

“I wanted my music to have the same effect this song had on me, the first time and every time I hear it.”