YOUNG AND ARTIST: Christopher Simpson and the New Era

You can enjoy his talent in his concerts, in nominations to the Lucas Music Award, and in his greatest success: his own band La Elevacion.

Even though his education foresaw a great future for him in the concert music, the truth is that Christopher Simpson, 22, is gaining fame in every stage he has performed. He has chosen to flirt with pop rock music and position himself among the top performers of that musical genre in Cuba.

Graduated from the Amadeo Roldan Music Conservatory in violin studies and student at the Superior Institute of Art, this new artist also commits to piano, guitar, and has made some musical arrangements.

Do you believe your expertise in concert music may help you when it comes to pop rock music?

Classical music is a very good starting point if you take it as reference to perform other genres. But you cannot see it as the only thing that exists as you can transform such language in a more contemporary and popular music.

The success lies on mixing the rhythms and finding a referent. When you achieve it, the result is incredible original and complete.

Do you feel pop rock is at a disadvantage regarding other urban-like genres?

I am not ready to compete with urban music, yet. The urban genre has now a widespread effect that cannot be stopped by anyone or anything. Only pretty established groups, or others from the urban music can compete right now. Nonetheless, I would like to show an alternative and different proposal. I am not interested in urban music. However, you can compete with the urban genre with a well-accomplished pop rock.

Do you listen to Latin American pop rock or do you prefer Anglo-Saxon singers?

I have different likes. I love country music. I like British bands such as Oasis, Muse, or singers like Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, and Bruno Mars. Within the Latin American music, I like Jorge Drexler, Carlos Varela, Santiago Feliu, Pablo Lopez, and Pablo Alboran.

Is it hard to find a balance between the interests of a band made of young artists like you?

It is complicated. We are nine and we work for other bands as we need to make money too. In my case, I am proposing a project that is not generating money, yet. I am very grateful because they have been always by my side.

This is a quite stressing job. I have no producer and I must do it by myself. I also have to monitor every content, the organization of every event, the musical instruments, transportation…No one should be leading a musical band if he or she is not ready to take such responsibility.

Do you feel young musicians have the support of state-owned institutions so they can undertake or develop their artistic careers in Cuba?

I have felt the support of the institutions to start my career. But I encourage all the institutions to back all artists graduated from academies in Cuba. It is true that you cannot bias art students. But we receive a thorough training and we should get more resources.

For instance, that could be the only way to compete with a strong industry such as that of the urban genre. We must have the resources to achieve high quality audiovisual as good as they have.

Do you believe social networks can boost your work as artists?

Yes, definitively. I like social networks a lot and I use them as much as I can. My group and I have Facebook accounts. I am working on my own website: www.christophersimpsonmusic.com.

I am also working hard to place my album Absolucion in iTunes Store and Spotify. I also have Instagram, but is obsolete.

So you want to move on with the new era…

Of course! Everything I do, I do it in that regard. This is my time!

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Diaz / CubaSi Translation Staff