Born in Coimbra, Portugal, in 1970, JP Simões began his journey as a professional musician in vibrant 1990s Lisbon, first as a part-time guitarist with the cult-favorite Pop Dell'Arte in 1993. By the latter half of the decade, he had gone on to explore other paths—including stints as a journalist and various odd jobs—before channeling his ambition into the creation of a breakthrough project.

That project was Belle Chase Hotel, the eclectic pop-rock ensemble he co-founded in 1995 as primary vocalist and lyricist. Though the large collective released just two albums, their cinematic sound and poetic depth earned them a devoted following, turning key members like Simões into household names in the world of Portuguese music.

The 2000s saw Simões solidify his solo voice with introspective releases like 1970 (2006), a tender nod to his roots, and Boato (2009), weaving lyrics from haunting to jovial over spare acoustics. He also deepened collaborations, notably with fellow Belle Chase alum Sérgio Costa, on both a collaborative album (Exílio - Quinteto Tati) and the theatrical opera Ópera do Falhado, in addition to publishing several literary works.

Through the 2010s, Simões sustained a steady solo output under his own name before unveiling his alter ego Bloom in 2017. This reinvention yielded Tremble Like a Flower that year and Drafty Moon in 2021. In late 2025, he delivered his third record under the Bloom pseudonym, Do Not Disturb.

In early 2024, Simões paid a memorable tribute to the seminal late Portuguese songwriter José Mário Branco, with whom he had become close friends, with a recorded collection of covers.

Llama Records proudly presents An Introduction to JP Simões, our vinyl-exclusive compilation arriving internationally in December 2025. Containing two LPs of highlights and accompanied by a booklet of the artist's candid reflections, this set honors his three-decade odyssey while inviting newcomers to his timeless world of words and melody.