Biography

Growing up in South Carolina, Mae Simpson remembers her mother wearing out the records of Tina Turner and Patsy Cline. You can hear their echo in the music of the Minneapolis-based artist. Turner can be felt in Simpson’s fiery soulful voice, stage energy, and rock and soul feel on songs like Tryna be Right and Why. The timeless lyricism of Cline finds its home in nostalgic ballads like Cap Guns  and Monsters.

Mae Simpson is known for their high energy and stage presence that speaks for itself. Tight horn and Rhythm section set the tone, immediately pulling fans to  engage. 

The band includes Jorgen Wadkins on guitar,  David Kellerman on bass, drummer and background vocalist Aaron Silverstein, and trumpeter Paul Pederson. In 2023 they released Chandelier & Bloom, Simpson’s debut full-length Album.  

"Recording Mae Simpson required a trick on their part,” said Tom Garneau, recording engineer on the album. “The band needed to carefully and faithfully distill the energy and passion of their live show into the vessel— and snap the lid shut. Catching lightning in a bottle is not just a clever phrase. They did it. They are a force and they brought it all to bear. It was truly my honor to help with this magic.” 

Garneau, a longtime staff engineer at Paisley Park Studios, has gold and platinum records with Prince, MC Hammer, REM, the Moody Blues, and the Time. The album was produced by New Orleans native Brian Powers.

Simpson has opened for acts including Dermot Kennedy, Grace Potter, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Robert Clay, Ike Reilly, Langhorn Slim, RubbleBucket, and Pert Near Sandstone. She has performed multiple times on the iconic First Avenue main room, The Fillmore in Minneapolis, the Basilica Block Party, Live On King Street in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Blue Ox Music Festival. In 2024 the song Cap Guns was chosen as a finalist in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition. That 2023 single was inducted into Minnesota Public Radio 89.3 The Current’s Chart Show Hall of Fame after spending 10 weeks on the Chart, as well as “Cap Guns” being a finalist on the International Songwriting Competition 2024.

Press

"Mae’s powerful voice has remnants of Janis Joplin and Ella Fitzgerald, tied together with a rasp of Joan Jett. Brought together by an extremely talented and passionate band, Mae Simpson Music is a ticking time bomb for breaking into the national array of local artists to make it “big.” – Richard Dollarhide (Music in Minnesota)

“It’s impossible to stand still during a Mae Simpson Music set. Simpson’s raspy, dynamic voice is larger than life — but not as large as her uncontainable energy that radiates from the stage.” – Colleen Cowie (Minneapolis Public Radio)

“Mae Simpson‘s horn-laden soundcheck lures us to the Backwoods Stage for one of the most energetic and memorable performances of the weekend. The Twin Cities-based band led by astounding vocalist and namesake Mae Simpson bucks Blue Ox’s bluegrass-leaning tendencies with a lively blend of rock and roll, blues, folk that throws the couple hundred night owls looking on with us into an after hours frenzy.” – Josh Hoppert (Milwaukee Record)