You may remember Cody Simpson as the young Australian pop singer, known for the singles “iYiYi” with Flo Rida (2010) and “Pretty Brown Eyes” (2013). Over the last few years, Cody’s songwriting has transformed from teen pop to a cool, beachy-soulful sound, reflective of the Venice Beach vibe from which his latest music project began. Enter: drummer Adrian Cota and bassist Shareef Addo. The three musicians joined forces to create Cody Simpson and The Tide.
The trio visited our San Diego office for a special showcase last week, performing acoustic versions of songs from their newly-released debut EP, Wave One. Opening with the band’s single, “Waiting For The Tide,” Cody converted our boardroom into a laid-back, seaside escape. They also played the punchy guitar-riffed “Sun Go Down” and 60’s-influenced (complete with whistling) “Ramona.”
That night, I had the opportunity to see the band in full force at The Irenic. It was their 3rd show ever! Cody, Adrian, and Shareef displayed incredible musicianship, from drum and guitar solos, to sleek bass runs. With just guitar, bass, and drums, their set sounded full and polished. It was a nice reprieve from the over-produced wall of sound that’s so common in live performances today. On top of their original songs, the guys knocked out impressive covers including Sublime and The Police, a nod to some of their musical inspirations.
Keep your ears out for these guys. Wave One tracks are coming to Mood programs soon.
– Submitted by Carly Grimm, Music Design