Simi Sernaker

Simi Sernaker, born Simantha Sernaker in 1979 and also known as Simi Stone, is an artist and the former frontwoman of the rock band Suffrajett. As Simi Stone, she is a singer, songwriter and musician. Stone was a member of The New Pornographers as vocalist/violinist, and she has provided backing vocals for Natalie Merchant and David Byrne.

Early life Simi Sernaker was born and raised in Woodstock, New York, by her New York-raised Jewish mother Dorothy Sernaker and her Jamaican-born writer father Ernest Bledsoe. Bledsoe's mother had traveled on the blues circuit playing piano in the south. Dorothy Sernaker was a teacher and a disciple of Satchidananda Saraswati.

Music career Suffrajett Sernaker formed the band Suffrajett with sideman Jason Chasko, and she was lead singer. They performed in numerous NYC venues including Bowery Ballroom, CBGBs, and Irving Plaza, and played several Summer Stage events with Joan Jett, The Roots, Erykah Badu, and others. Byrne said, "I heard a great, expressive voice. I sought her out, which led to us working together twice: at a celebration with the Brooklyn Steppers and Marching Band at Carnegie Hall and on my American Utopia tour during 2018, all of which was very well received. She has a great stage presence and energy." As Simi Stone, she has also toured, performed and recorded with Neko Case, Conor Oberst, Gipsy Kings, Amy Helm and Dan Zanes. Sernaker left the group in 2021.

Art Sernaker has exhibited her drawings and paintings at gallery shows in the Hudson Valley.