Simon Love

Born Simon Stone, the Welsh singer-songwriter Simon Love first rose to notice as frontman of the Loves, an indie pop outfit steeped in 1960s influences that issued four albums plus assorted singles and EPs from its 2000 formation until its 2011 breakup. His dry humor and deft, tuneful arrangements became hallmarks of the project. Once the Loves dissolved he joined Knickers on guitar, an association that yielded a 2012 7" EP for Elefant Records. He also placed occasional covers—including numbers by Daniel Johnston and They Might Be Giants—on various compilations before turning to original solo work. The resulting debut, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, appeared on Fortuna Pop in 2015 as a caustic, profanity-laced set of intricately scored pop songs that examined the bitter undercurrents of romance, friendships, and personal ties. A concise 2016 EP, Tennis Fan, preceded his next full-length, Sincerely, S. Love X, which Tapete Records released in Germany in 2018. He maintained the same thematic focus on 2022’s Love, Sex & Death Etc., another acerbic collection of songs about affection, animosity, and relationships.