Every week, the Milwaukee Music Premiere sponsored by Density Studios connects the city’s artists with our listening audience. If you’re an artist with a track you’d like us to debut exclusively on Radio Milwaukee, head over to our Music Submission page to learn how.
It’s the early days of the new year, which means everyone’s resolutions are still fresh and turning over a new leaf is top of mind. Milwaukee-based singer/songwriter Hanns Simone got a jump on all of us by laying the groundwork for renewal months ago. Today, she’s sharing the new sound she’ll carry into 2026.
Having started as a performer in Nashville, Simone’s music often reflected what you’d expect to hear out of that scene. But on albums like 2022’s Spaceship, the influence of a more R&B-type sound was easy to spot. The Milwaukee Music Premiere of “Red Lips” hits that even more squarely and represents the first public example of Simone’s official shift toward R&B and soul.
“I feel this is authentic to who I am and my experiences in life,” she shared with us. “I’m hoping this opens my artistry up to another side of Milwaukee I haven’t had the chance to introduce myself to yet.”
A crucial meeting for this track was with Milwaukee producer and engineer Keylime, whose credits include Radio Milwaukee favorites like Gego y Nony, FTBK and Micah Emrich (Emrich played his own role in “Red Lips,” providing a key bit of feedback that found its way into the finished product). Together, Simone and Keylime waste little time establishing her R&B redirection, with the first moments of the song establishing a sultry groove that stands in contrast to the message in the lyrics:
I keep my hair tied back
Wear the same old clothes
Look what you turned me into
Don’t recognize this woman no more
No more of me is left to love you
It turns out Simone wasn’t the only one done wrong, either. As the track continues, led by a bass line that feels like the sonic version of an aimless walk through the streets, another relationship enters the picture — and exits almost as quickly:
He would’ve given the world
But them hooks ran deep
I won’t hurt him the way you hurt me
Denying yourself a potential new love out of spite for the old one is next level. As Simone explained it, “This person is so much better for you, but it doesn’t matter how good they are because your past relationship still has its claws in you. You make the decision to walk away from a great person to save them the hurt you felt, but you make sure to let your previous partner know that if you can’t move on, neither can they.”
You can listen to this twisted tale via the player at the top of the page and on 88Nine throughout today (7:30 and 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.). “Red Lips” gets its official release Jan. 14 as the first of several singles Simone will share leading up to a big month of May, when she puts out a new EP and celebrates with a release show at Anodyne on May 22.
