Interviews (242)

Boston Calling Preview: Simon Robert French (Saturday)

As Boston Calling continues to devote more space on it’s lineup to New England-based acts we look to shine a spotlight on some of those artists, the first one we look at is Simon Robert French. A Massachusetts native, French began playing piano at just five years old and in the ensuing years would teach himself to play guitar, flute, and clarinet as well.

Congratulations on being part of Boston Calling! What does this achievement mean to you?

It’s honestly surreal to get this opportunity. If you asked me a year ago if I thought I’d be on the lineup for Boston Calling 2025, I would have laughed and said that wouldn’t happen. Now I’m on the lineup, and it’s the coolest thing to ever happen to me. I’m so excited for it.

Can you give us a sneak peek into your set? What can fans expect from your performance?

It’ll be awesome, I’ll tell you that much. We’re putting together a full band for the first time ever for these songs, and I’m really excited for it to come together.

What goes into preparing for your set? Have you had much experience playing with a full band?

Boston Calling will be my first ever gig with a full band. I’m really excited for it, we’ve got a few people locked in for the band already including my producer Alex and my friend Inian Moon, who did some background vocals for ‘robert’s place’ and is a wonderfully talented musician.

What does playing a festival of this caliber in Boston, in your home state, mean to you?

I’m really glad that my first ever festival is in my home state of Massachusetts. I’m also thrilled that it’s Boston Calling. I’ve always wanted to go to the festival, but I’ve always been busy or unable to get tickets. I’m looking forward to going to the festival as well as performing at it.

What’s the story behind your song “Robert’s Place”? How did the song come to be, and why do you think it resonates so deeply with people?

‘Robert’s Place’ actually started as a one-line idea for a completely different song. Back in March 2023, I started a series where I wrote and posted a song every day, jotting down one-liner ideas in case I needed inspiration later. One idea was, “Well, I’m going down to [town name],” which was initially meant to be about visiting a town where some of my extended family lived. It sat in my notes app untouched for a while. On November 21st, a little before midnight, I hadn’t written a song for the day yet. With the holiday season kicking off, I was thinking about my father, who passed away when I was young. I stumbled across that note, and the line “Well, I’m going down to Robert’s place, it’s just a block away” came to mind. From there, the song almost wrote itself. I think it resonates deeply because grief is a universal experience—we’ve all lost someone. The song is about mourning a loved one and visiting a place they cherished, taking time to remember them fondly. Many people have shared how the song helped them grieve or reconnect with their loved ones, which shows how easily we connect to something that reflects a shared human experience.

Boston Calling, a viral hit, a debut album—what’s next for Simon Robert French after all of this?

I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been sure of what’s to come, I just pour my energy into whatever song or project we’re working on and hope for the best. Nothing is guaranteed in the industry, and I feel incredibly lucky for all the opportunities I’ve gotten thus far. Additionally, all the people around me are very kind and supportive. I don’t feel like I deserve all of their kindness, but I am so grateful to experience it and to have such wonderful people in my corner.