FAQ

How might I contact you?

◉ If you would like to get in touch and know more about @carlossimpson, you can (Send a message to catch up) and write a follow-up message by emailing: rgb@live.co.uk or designstudio@carlossimpson.com

Is your site secure?

◉ Yes, the carlosimpson.com website is secure. If you’d like to check the site’s security, go to the top left of the web address, and you will see the security symbol padlock which means that the site is Secure and not Dangerous.

Where does your inspiration come from?

◉ Well, in my music my inspiration occurs mostly spontaneously, without intention or preparation in advance. I love to improvise music with the intention of exploring and challenging my brain and emotion to better understand myself and my surroundings. I’m a strong believer that the process of making music spontaneously, without prior rehearsal not just helps you to think fast but mostly is fun. Sometimes I apply the same process in my paintings, drawings, and sculptures. In case a ‘brief or task’ is involved things may get a bit more complicated because you need to satisfy a client.

What’s your background?

◉ I studied at the University of the West of England – UWE Bristol where I graduated as a Graphic Designer

How has your practice changed over time?

◉ I used to expect transformation even before starting any type of project. I used to tell myself: Don’t give up… you can do it, but in fact what I have learned is that when you start something and you keep working on that as a result you will find yourself in an evolutive process which in turn will lead you to a conclusion, or the predicted one.

So, when I started my career, everything was much less digital and slow. Applications such as Adobe Cloud, the internet, Google, and Zoom, changed everything I believe for the better.
What I really miss in these few examples of changed practice are the face-to-face meetings and the coffee‐time discussion with a more organic connection but again, too slow and costly.

What artist or band do you most identify with?

◉ I would say, Alan Fletcher, Bob Marley, Jim Morrison, Jean Michel Basquiat

What work do you most enjoy doing?

◉ Everything I do, I do with love and dedication otherwise I won’t do it. If you really want to succeed in what you do, do it with passion and dedication otherwise you are wasting your time.

What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

◉ The two pets I had as my best friends ever: My dog Laica and my donkey Patilhas.

What themes do you pursue?

◉ Carlos Simpson explores the complex relationships between art, beauty, religion, science, life, and death, gender dynamics, questions society constructs, and gender empowerment.

What’s your scariest experience?

◉ When I voluntarily cut my dreadlocks to go to a job interview.

What’s your favorite artist?

◉ I have none.

Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.

◉ When I volunteer for the Met Police in London.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

◉ I felt so embarrassed and upset when someone is unfairly judging me based on biases, or stereotypes, or when someone assumes that all people within x background or skin color, think, and behave the same way.

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

◉ I worked in fashion for many years, in e-commerce, Graphic Designer, …

Why art?

◉ Because Art helps me process my emotions and understand my surroundings. I felt so embarrassed and upset when someone is unfairly judging me based on biases, or stereotypes, or when someone assumes that all people within x background or skin color, think, and behave the same way. Since the beginning of time, Art has always been an important part of human society, and being part of one generation I want to document it.

What is an artistic outlook on life?

◉ Everything I do is my reason for living and I must feel fulfilled when I do it, from art, any professional commitment, or when I engage with others. Being honest with myself and always respecting others may be secret.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

◉ Being a Mentor.

What food, drink, or song inspires you?

◉ I love nuts, the “Emotional Hangover” song inspires me a lot.

Is artistic life lonely?

◉ The artistic life is only lonely if you feel lonely.

What do you do to counteract it?

◉ Keeping busy is my way of seeing it. There is an old saw somewhere: “Stopped mind, bad thinking.”

What do you dislike about the art world?

◉ (No comment)

What do you dislike about your work?

◉ There’s nothing I dislike about the job. The most important thing is to focus on positive aspects primarily the following: being conscious, accepting, and understanding that the negative experience made you stronger.

What do you like about your work?

◉ The persistence and the energy.

Should art be funded?

◉ Interesting and puzzling question.

What role does arts funding have?

◉ As an artist I don’t remember having had any support with my art to keep going since the very beginning, which is sad. Technically and correctly speaking, funding artists with less financial conditions allows them to participate and gives them the opportunity and the voice to express themselves and potentially not just to be part of but most of all to help and impact communities.

What makes you angry?

◉ To know that I will not live forever.

What superpower would you have and why?

◉ Being aware and balanced level of empathy because it helps me to be a good model within the community.

Name something you love, and why.

◉ I love Determination and commitment in everything I do because time is gold, and my time is a very precious thing that I hate to waste for whatever reason.

Name something you don’t love, and why.

◉ I don’t love ready meals because I don’t see the point of self-destruction.

What is your dream project?

◉ I would love to work on something such as Community Rituals because these are powerful in helping to create a sense of belonging. They bring members together to share experiences, build relationships, and stronger communities. It’s interesting and we should always invest time and effort in everything that helps to create a sense of shared identity among members and foster connection. I may need to invest some of my time to investigate or examine this to a greater degree.

Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.

◉ This is a good question that requires a lot of experience to be replied to.

Favorite or most inspirational place (in London)?

◉ I love to walk along the Thames river in London because I get the magic sense of place. From Whitechapel all way down to Tower Bridge, Tate Modern, Big Ben, cross the river, and then all way back to Shadwell. It’s a fantastic walk where people and the place become just one.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

◉ Balance is the secret to everything.

Professionally, what’s your goal?

◉ My dream? Inspire others just like others inspired and some still inspire me.

What do you like most about playing music?

◉ The freedom and the opportunity of opening the gates of another dimension while playing.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?

◉ Yes, I do have hobbies because I love to challenge myself to find some time to do something I really enjoy doing not only because it’s a healthy outlet and to break the routine but mostly because of the amount of positive energy and challenges it produces.

 

Did you ever feel like want to give up?

◉ No… absolutely not. Of course, it is not easy, in fact, nothing in this life is easy especially if you are born and raised in a context in which the concept of opportunity is scarce or completely null. I never let myself be convinced by this way or philosophy of seeing things. I don’t believe in luck if by chance it exists in my view, luck is equivalent to 1% as part of the process, and the remaining 99% consists of constant struggle, effort, practice, and struggle. Life is just like that and giving up is not part of my language or the way I am programmed both as an individual and professional.

How do you deal with negative comments?

◉ Negative comments are a positive way to grow and evolve both in a personal and professional context. In fact, any comment makes us reflect not only on situations or the way we represent or present situations but also on our social performance. A negative comment is preferable to be ignored completely, considering we all tend to prefer and respond better to positive comments and feedback. I have seen a lot of people perform worse after receiving negative feedback and sometimes get traumatized depending on the context.

What are the Carlos Simpson® trademark and brand guidelines?

◉ “These Trademark and Brand Guidelines (“Guidelines”) aim to help clarify the proper usage of Carlos Simpson brand assets and set out how you can help us protect them.”