Swiss artist Simao Imani returns with “Jeune Enfant”, a heartfelt new single that blends neo-soul, alternative R&B, jazz, indie folk and indie pop into an intimate reflection on growing up, healing and reconnecting with the child within. Running for 3 minutes and 14 seconds, the track offers a gentle yet powerful reminder that personal growth begins with compassion for every version of ourselves.
Your new single “Jeune Enfant” explores healing, self-acceptance and reconnecting with your inner child. What inspired you to write a song around this relationship between your younger and adult selves?
The inspiration behind this was to find ways to embrace myself. I reflected on things that I had been through between the ages of 15 and 25. For instance, one golden piece of advice I had been given was to always be gentle with myself in every situation. I think this is something I wish I had known earlier because I have been harsh with myself in the past to fit in, to feel understood, to be seen and loved. I think we have learnt to be critical but are not often taught to love ourselves and embrace who we are. Even in higher education, I have not learnt that at all, which is dismaying. I think, from these experiences, that from now on I’ll try my best to be gentle with myself, and it starts with nurturing my inner child. I am also convinced that inner child therapy is the foundation of one’s healing journey.
The song uses the image of navigating life aboard a boat as a metaphor. Can you share how this visual came to represent your personal journey and the message you wanted listeners to take from it?
I am convinced that life is a long swim; sometimes the water is still, and you can swim comfortably, then there are waves of a certain intensity that can favour you or disfavour you and these represent the challenges you face in life. At some points, we swim with new people and some leave to swim in their own directions. All of this can be transposed to being on a boat as well. The message that I wanted to convey is that it is crucial to be gentle with oneself and embrace our inner child throughout our life, no matter the challenges we face.
“Jeune Enfant” is your first song written entirely in French, despite English often feeling more natural for your songwriting. What motivated you to embrace your native language for this release, and how did it change your creative process?
Yes, it is the first one! I released another one in French slightly earlier that was written after. I think I write a lot from feeling. I instantly had a visual connection to the water and sea when I heard the instrumentation. And usually I instantly have an idea and I freestyle. I then refine the lyrics to accommodate the message better or to use word plays or associations. I think that I have more tools to write in English in general. In French, I find it a bit more difficult to fit the words with a given melody, but I work on improving myself and this song was essential to develop that skill.
Your music blends neo-soul, alternative R&B, indie folk, jazz and indie pop influences. How do you approach combining different genres while maintaining your own unique artistic identity?
I think I have been introduced to lots of different music genres growing up. All the genres fit a mood or a specific emotion. My approach is to use a specific genre to express a certain emotion since it strengthens the message that I want to convey. I would say that I tend to keep the same singing signature even though the genre can be different.
Artists such as Blood Orange, SZA, Clairo, Bon Iver, Laufey, Grent Perez and Brent Faiyaz are among your inspirations. What qualities from these artists resonate with you most, and how have they influenced your approach to songwriting and production?
I love that they often use dreamy and atmospheric soundscapes. I also think that these artists often push beyond the boundaries of traditional music styles by combining different musical influences that appeal to me. They tend to have diaristic songwriting, which makes their message profound and intimate, which is what I want to convey. In life, it is important to me that others can feel valued, seen, and heard. I think that I am inspired because they are willing to share a part of their vulnerability.
The production on “Jeune Enfant” feels warm, organic and emotionally spacious. How did your collaboration with producer Jonah Brustein shape the final sound and atmosphere of the track?
The track already existed. Therefore, I contacted him for clearance issues, and he was very helpful and provided me with insights. I would love to work with him again in the future who knows or even co-produce with him. That would be an interesting experience and opportunity.
You mentioned that you often begin songwriting by freestyling melodies or words before developing the lyrics further. Can you take us through your creative process from the first idea to the finished song?
I usually produce or get to hear a production, and then I immediately get a feeling, usually, this is my anchor point to start freestyling if I feel like it and have words around the emotion it evokes for me. I identify how I want to put the song in sections (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Outro, …etc). Then, I would freestyle it directly, or sometimes I freestyle melodies and write some sentences, and I associate them with the melodies I freestyled. I consider it a demo, then I try to group the ones I love the most together and constitute an EP as a creative piece that I want to share. Finally, once I am in that creative process, I go to my sound engineer and we bring the idea into life as a finished song.
The themes of vulnerability and self-acceptance are becoming increasingly important in modern music. Why do you think listeners connect so deeply with songs that explore personal struggles and emotional growth?
Yes! I definitely think so. I think with all that is happening in the world, personal struggles, unfairness and technological development. I think that there is a pressing need for individuals to feel connected because we share emotions, feelings and love. I think that there are lots of distractions that takes us away from community and being human and help the others.
“Jeune Enfant” serves as a preview of a larger body of work exploring early adulthood, uncertainty and hope. What can listeners expect from the next chapter of your artistic journey?
My next main chapter definitely is more focused on providing answers on the uncertainties and more focused on hope. The project is closer to early neo-soul signature sound but I still explore genres that I love. I may also have a surprise earlier.
If you could speak to the younger version of yourself — the “jeune enfant” within you — what message would you want to share with them today?
Never let go of your dreams, work towards them. Don’t take things too personal, often negative comments, opinions or insights say more about the person who proclaims them than you. To take care of yourself and know that you can achieve things you thought were impossible. In case it does not work out the way you wanted, then you learn!
Find Simao Imani: Instagram, TikTok, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer
