Houston native Katlynn Simone made her mark on some of BET’s best shows, The Game and The Quad, before landing her sought after role on Empire. Starring as Treasure on the Fox favorite, Simone serenades fans with her soulful voice.
You’ve shaken things up quite a bit as Treasure on Empire, being that she is seen as the hope that will save the Empire. What is it like being Treasure?
Oh, my goodness, what is it like being Treasure? Well, it is pretty fun actually. This is the first role that has given me the opportunity to integrate acting and singing. That is a big deal for me because I truly love both. I have also been able to prepare full performances and work with amazing producers in the studio. It has definitely been food for my soul, and I love it!
Can you relate to her on a personal level?
In many ways, yes, I can. Treasure comes from humble beginnings and she is trying to make a name for herself at Empire. I come from a middle-class family and while I have been blessed to have the support of my family as I try to achieve my dreams, I know about humble beginnings. My parents and I made many sacrifices to get me to this point. I was raised to never forget that and to thank God daily and be gracious. Just as Treasure is trying to make her mark with Empire, I myself am working hard to be an asset to the show for as long as they will have me. This is a very special show with an extremely talented cast and crew, and I don’t take that lightly at all. Now with that being said, I don’t always agree with Treasure’s approach. I think we can all agree she can be a little bit sneaky sometimes.
Surely it’s a privilege to work alongside Taraji and Terrence, but it seems you’ve also made a remarkable bond with Serayah and Rhyon. What have you learned while working with your Empire?
Oh my, Taraji and Terrence are just iconic with always the right chemistry with everyone they share a scene with. It’s never too much or too little. I think working with them teaches me more about being really present in a scene. More than how lines are delivered or any other technical approach. When I work with them, I am forced to just be engaged and be present in the moment. To be completely honest I have been learning from them before I even stepped foot on the Empire set. Their work is vast, and I have watched their movies with my family and been inspired by them for many years. Working with Serayah and Rhyon is just bliss! I love those girls because they have been so supportive and embracing. Going back and forth with Tiana is so fun, but Serayah really keeps me on my toes. She is fierce, and she is an awesome performer. Both Serayah and Rhyon have a confidence about them that is infectious. That’s the kind of company that keeps you motivated and striving. They are some dope sisters!
Your IG followers get to hear you serenade them often and dropped some music of your own. It’s clear your first love is singing. Where do you see yourself going in your singing career?
It’s funny you ask that because I have recently been asking myself the same soul-searching question. I have experimented with many different sounds to try to identify what is the most honest interpretation of myself. I think I am very close! I have several songs completed and in progress and I plan on releasing a project soon.
Who is your biggest influencer when it comes to music?
Well, it is never one influencer for me. My list has evolved over time, many times and will probably change again as my life experiences allow me to learn more about myself and about music in general. However, for today, I have found myself naturally drawn to the music of Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, and D’Angelo. This is my short list of course.
You recently graduated from UCLA, while working so hard in the industry!
Congratulations! How did you manage to find the balance between school and your dreams? What would you advise a college student who is wishing for your success?
Well, I must be honest. It gets very hard to juggle college and this industry and do them both WELL! I love acting and singing and I contemplated several times putting school on hold, but education is monumental to my family. It is something that can never be taken away from you and my parents always encouraged me to make it a priority. I am so grateful for that now. My advice to anyone in college that wants to work in the entertainment industry is to finish school if at all possible or at least keep doing it part-time slowly until you get it done. That’s what I had to do.
Here at Urban, we live by the motto that we live urban culture. What are some ways you live urban culture?
I feel like I try hard to expose myself to as many people, cultures, and ideas as I can. I want a true appreciation for things that are not necessarily familiar to me. That is how you grow as a person. That is how you create meaningful connections with others. That is how you generate thought provoking questions that may even challenge your own original ideology. I live urban culture by accepting that I have so much more to see and understand and so many different people that I can learn from. I live urban culture by being open minded and embracing change. I live urban culture by honoring the history and influences I grew up knowing while respecting and embracing the unique qualities of others and their history. You mix all those experiences together and watch in awe of what you come up with!
Sciler Williams
