Simon Hanes is a California born, Brooklyn-based composer, performer and arranger. His work revolves around bridging his main influences; soundtrack music from 1960s/70s Italian films, contemporary classical music, and non-idiomatic improvisation.
Hanes composes for, conducts, and performs extensively with his Italian soundtrack-pop large ensemble Tredici Bacci, which has collaborated with such musicians as Elysian Fields, Ryan Power, Ruth Garbus, JG Thirlwell, Charlie Looker, Ed Askew, Vincenzo Vasi, and underground music legend Gary Wilson. Other projects include extreme noise-thrash trio Trigger, which has performed extensively in the US and Europe as part of composer John Zorn’s bagatelles project; GNR8RZ, a noise/improv quartet with Anthony Coleman, Grant Calvin Weston and Aliya Ultan; and the infamous Brooklyn quartet Shimmer with Anina Ivry-Block, Nina Ryser, and Paco Cathcart. His debut solo album is set to be released in 2023.
As an arranger, orchestrator and music director, Hanes has worked extensively with Eartheater, Keyon Harrold, and with frequent collaborator JG Thirlwell on his Foetus Ensemble project, in which Hanes also plays electric bass, electric guitar, and sings. In addition, he has worked as an orchestrator and conductor for the legendary producer Hal Wilner on his 2020 album Angelheaded Hipster: A Tribute To Marc Bolan. Working with singers Marc Almond and Emily Haines. Hanes has also conducted the Sun Ra Arkestra as part of Harper Simon’s 2022 album “Meditations On Crime.” He has also provided string arrangements for Quilt, Lina Tullgren, Ryan Power, Eartheater, Sessa, Roy Blair, Gruppa Soyuz, and John Andrews. His film composition work includes Graham Mason’s detective-comedy film Inspector Ike (2020), Peacock Network’s Carmen Christopher’s Street Special (2021), and Matt Barat’s pseduo-comedy documentary Cash Cow (2022) which had its premiere at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival.
Hanes was musician in residence at Pioneer Works in April 2018, and has held Stone residencies in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
Simon Hanes 