Desiree — A Reinterpretation of Nina Simone

An intimate portrait of Desiree as she works through a contemporary reinterpretation of Nina Simone's legacy — on stage, in the studio, and in the long pauses between.

This project began as a series of portraits and grew into a short film about what it means to inherit a legacy that is both a gift and a weight. Desiree's interpretation of Nina Simone is not a cover — it is a reading.

We built the visual language around the rehearsal room: the natural light of mid-afternoon, the architecture of a piano lid, the quiet of a vocalist choosing to sing again. Performance footage was shot on two cameras, handheld, without cueing.

Released as part of ZeZe Global's independent documentary slate, with a companion printed zine of the rehearsal portraits.