Maripool

Maripool is the moniker of Lisbon born, London based, songwriter Natacha Simões. A self-described “one girl band” who works largely solo, writing and playing on her guitar-driven, bedroom-pop arrangements.

Upon moving to London at 18, Simões got a job at Whole Foods and bought a guitar with her first paycheck. Having never played music before she then spent most evenings teaching herself how to play the music of her heroes from the midwest emo scene.

Aged 21 she was ready to join a band, within which she started to feel confident playing guitar and writing songs. When that band split up Simões decided bands weren't for her so, in a very practical way, she got a drum kit from a friend, set it up in her room and started to learn it as well as bass. Slowly from there songs came to life and, not wanting to release under her own name, she needed a moniker. Inspired by the scene in The Simpsons when Milhouse starts to write on Bart’s cast, Simões adapted the gag to include the beginning of her middle name and Maripool was born.

Honing her craft in isolation, Simões would eventually fall upon what would become the world of Maripool - a captivating mix of melancholy that swirls between the delightful wonders of articulated shoegaze, and a witching hour state of deep-blue dreaming.