Meet Symone French

Today we’d like to introduce you to Symone French.

So, before we jump into specific questions about your music, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, my parents were always playing classic records. From James Taylor to Teena Marie, it was a wide range and I believe that contributed to my current diverse sound. Even though singing and performing was a huge passion of mine, I battled terrible stage fright for years. It wasn’t until I met a group of local musicians, The Deluxe Trio, that I overcame that fear. They would play on Wednesday nights at the pizza place I worked at and they’d force me to sing a song with them. I was terrified, but it truly helped me gain the confidence I needed to take the next step in my career.

I joined my first band in 2014. I’d just come back from a failed audition for The Voice and I was determined to jump-start my career. I met the guys at work and they approached me about joining their band. After a few rehearsals, we hit it off and officially became Infant Richard and the Delta Stones. During our three years together, we recorded two EPs, opened for touring acts such as Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, and built a dedicated fan base across the southeast. I made my songwriting debut on our 2017 project, “When the Smoke Clears”. That was a highlight for me. Songwriting is extremely important to me and those songs still hold a special place in my heart. Following the release of the EP, I left the band and took some time to regroup.

After a period of searching and performing with different groups… I referred to it as “musically dating”… Symone French & the Trouille Troupe (pronounced Troo-Yay) was formed at the end of 2018. Since we’ve been together, we’ve had some wonderful opportunities and it’s been very cool making music with the guys. We’re continuing to write and cultivate our sound so we can give the people the project they deserve.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey has definitely had its fair share of struggles. Most recently, Covid has been the biggest roadblock for the entire music community. We’ve had to completely reshape the way we experience live music.

In 2018, I was in a car accident and my tongue was almost severed. I didn’t know if I’d be able to talk, much less sing. It was scary to think that I might never be able to sing again. I am extremely blessed and thankful to the medical team that repaired my tongue and allowed me to continue my dream.

Injury aside, learning to deal with rejection has been key in my development. I’ve done the talent competition scene and naturally, it stings when you don’t make it as far as you’d hoped. After my last audition with The Voice, I found myself questioning if I even wanted to continue playing music. I try not to let those feelings sit for too long. Being told “no” is apart of the game. And that’s okay.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
For me, songwriting is therapy. Our “When the Smoke Clears” EP was so special to me because it was extremely personal. This next body of work is cool, because I pushed myself a bit further and taught myself how to play guitar—so a lot of the melodies and chord progressions are my ideas. As far as genre goes, it’s always been difficult to pinpoint just one. Growing up, I had so many different influences and they’ve all played a huge part in the way I approach music. At the core, the music’s got to have some soul. If I can’t connect to it, I can’t rock with it…and I think the listeners feel the same way.

What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was extremely outgoing. I was involved in the local theater group and school productions as well. I won my first talent show in the 4th grade. My childhood best friend and I sang “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child (Hi, Beyonce) in these very 90s matching outfits from JCPenny’s. We attended a private, Christian school so I was surprised they let us sing that song AND that we won. Around middle school, I shifted gears a bit and began playing sports. I ended up playing basketball and volleyball throughout middle and high school. After realizing that I peaked in height at a whopping 5’4, I hung up my hoop dreams and returned to my first love: music.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.symonefrench.com
• Email: symonefrench@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sonicreign
• Facebook: facebook.com/symonegfrench
• Other: facebook.com/symonefrenchtroupe

Image Credit:
Larrah Melissa Photography
Griffin Bailey Photography

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