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In the diverse world of pop music, there are singers, songwriters, producers – and the rare multi-talents who combine all three roles into one, like Cimo Fränkel. With a decade of experience in the music business, he’s already written a score of hits, including the multi-Platinum ‘Sex’ by Cheat Codes & Kris Kross Amsterdam, Yellow Claw’s iconic smash single ‘Shotgun’, Lucas & Steve’s “Where Have You Gone” and R3HAB & A Touch of Class’s hit ‘All Around The World (LaLaLa)’. Yet Cimo has also featured on records with internationally acclaimed artists including Armin van Buuren, Daddy’s Groove, ARTY and TW3LVE to name a few.
Growing up in Amsterdam, Cimo’s father was a funk musician and raised him on a diet of impromptu studio visits and the DIY ethos of funk culture. Father Gerard also appears with a cameo-duet on the album’s opener – “Drifting” – which in essence becomes the symbolic passing of the torch. At the tender age of 15, Cimo started experimenting with music production, soon getting involved with like-minded characters from the local scene working intensively with other young and eager Dutch musicians.
After winning multiple local songwriter awards, Cimo started collaborating with a slew of artists from around the world. In 2016, Los Angeles rapidly becoming a familiar place to him, Cimo connected with Cheat Codes and Kris Kross Amsterdam and co-produced and co-wrote the global smash hit ‘Sex’, gathering over 1 billion streams. Meanwhile in 2017, he toured the world’s biggest arenas as a featured artist in Armin van Buuren’s Embrace tour, in venues such as The Forum in Los Angeles, The Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Palacio de Deportes in Mexico City and Pavilhão de Exposições in Sao Paulo.
As of 2020, Cimo began releasing his original material as an artist – all of which are written, produced, and performed by himself. In April, he released his anticipated debut album independently, with support from BBC, Sirius XM, Billboard, Dancing Astronaut, Complex and more. His album is a culmination of music that truly exemplifies who the established songwriter he is as a solo pop artist, and showcases his range from ear-candy pop to honest, raw tracks. Cimo’s global appeal and cross-genre productions have had media and tastemakers comparing his artistry to the likes of The Weeknd with influences drawing from pop greats including Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis. In 2021, he kept releasing solo material with the singles ‘Dancing On My Own’ and ‘Any Longer’. Meanwhile he started of 2022 with a sensational cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic ‘Go Your Own Way’, a remake of his beloved single ‘Where Do You Hide Your Love’ with US singer Skofee and the deluxe version of his debut album “Cimo Fränkel (Deluxe)”. His latest releases include the heartfelt records ‘Closed The Door’ and ‘Magical’.