Rock Monsters Romania

DWMT La Conac, the only arts and music festival in southern Romania, organized by Diud in collaboration with Point, returns in September for its second edition with a line-up full of well-known artists, but also names for the future.

One of the new names is Simona Delegeanu, who is set to captivate the crowd with her performance during her festival debut.

Simona Delegeanu is a singer, composer, and instrumentalist who blends various styles like pop, rock, folk, and indie into a memorable performance. She is known for her live appearances as well as collaborations with other well-known artists.

We spoke with her before her performance at DWMT La Conac, hoping to learn more about her and the set she is preparing for the festival.

You’ve been chosen to play at DWMT la Conac 2024. How does it feel to be part of such an interesting event for the music scene? 

Honestly, the proposal itself to play at DWMT felt like a long and warm hug to me.  Apart from being the first ever festival I take part in as an independent artist, this is a huge opportunity to showcase my music, the results of my work from the past years and of course, my potential. 

Although this is your first time participating in this festival, have you been involved in other similar events or projects? How do you think DWMT compares to other festivals you’ve attended?

Actually last year I played at DWMT la Conac being part of Valeria Stoica’s project and it was a very nice experience. Honestly, I went home hoping there will be a next one. 

For those who might not be familiar with you, could you tell us about your journey as an artist and the recent projects you’ve been involved in?

I like to call it a very long and challenging journey. Music has always been my biggest and strongest passion but for a long time it felt like it would never turn into something more than a “what if”. It’s been a long process but I feel that  starting this year things started taking shape because I could finally create space and be fully invested in this.  The current project that I’m working on is a One-woman show based on live-looping: old traditional Romanian music, vocals, guitar, kaval, synth. I have had many gigs in Bucharest, but two of my favorites will forever be my first concert at Uzina Coffee and Concert pe Garaj at Bazar de Cotroceni last year.

You’ve mentioned in the past that you’re working on new music. Can you give us some details about your upcoming releases and what we can expect from you in the near future?

Hopefully by the end of this year I will have my first single in English released, a song that I myself produced and last but not least, an EP that contains a live session of all the old Romanian songs that I’m very attached to, such as: Of, Leliță Mărioară, Trei focuri arde pe lume, Șaraiman, Dragoste buruiană rea, Până când nu te iubeam and few more.

The DWMT festival will take place in September. How are you preparing your setlist for this event, and what message do you want to convey to your audience on this occasion?

I’ve been preparing for MY FIRST EVER FESTIVAL for a while now, I even bought a new looper that I can’t wait to use live for the first time. There will be dancing, there will be goosebumps, there will be tears and laughter. 

Text by Radu Mihai
Interview by Ionela Pleșan