We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Garry Simms-rowe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Garry below.

Alright, Garry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Both me and my music have been constantly misunderstood and mischaracterized. People have always kind of brushed me off as some sort of overweight pointless comical waste of space. I admit I am comical at times and overweight, I have a lot of dad jokes i use on people, but also I am more than what you see. We’ve all heard the phrase dont judge a book by it’s cover and we’ve all done our fair share of that, and I have as well. But if one actually takes the time to know me and appreciate me, they’d understand my passion and my love for music. They’d understand each one of my songs is a story sung and played with the same level of sincerity. Whether it’s a love song, a worship song or a fun ditty, or even a song about pain it’s done from an honest heart that’s full of genuine love and passion. I’ve been through a lot of hardship in my life because of misjudgment, mistreatment and even abuse from others, but I still have love. The biggest thing I’ve learned from all of this is that it doesn’t matter what people say or do to you, it’s how you respond and how you let their treatment affect you. I used to be a very angry depressed person because of those things but now I take no pity and I continue to be my happy self, even when others don’t appreciate my energy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m originally from Haverhill Massachusetts, but have lived in Pasadena since 2017. I got into singing and playing the keyboards at age 3. I’d visit my great grandmother with my great aunt or my mom and I would play the organ or the piano while the grown ups were talking. During class and recess I’d entertain people by singing and playing the keys, and outside of school I’d spend countless hours until X o’clock in the morning playing and singing. Journey and The Beach Boys have always been my biggest influences in songwriting, but Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and Jordan Rudess have been the biggest influences in keyboard playing, and I would sit in my room for hours trying to mimic their keyboard solos while everyone else was playing sports, partying, etc. I’ve combined lots of different genres into one genre that I call Feel Good Fusion, because it’s music that makes you feel good, with all different styles combined into one. I’m very proud of my exceptionally hard work ethic, incredible passion and my courage and faith to take risks. If I could give advice to people, simply don’t give up. Keep striving and enduring and your day will come, if I can do it than so can you.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I couldn’t really share any one story because there are so many tales of my life that fit this description. I think there are two really big ones though. The first was when I made the move from my small town in Massachusetts to the west coast. Everyone kept laughing at me doubting me and saying I would never make it, I’d wind up coming back within a month, there’s nothing for you, etc. But through my determination, faith and courage, I did it anyway and I’m still here seven years later. The other big one is facing constant rejection, constantly being told all my negatives and why I shouldn’t do what I do. I have had a lot of wonderful experiences, I’ve been playing for way too long, played too many shows, had too much fun and even with the terrible low points in my life, where I did think I was worthless and I was a loser, I still keep going. I always finish what I start, and if I truly believe in something I stick to it. I do the same with my friends and family, if i truly believe in or love someone, I stick by them through everything, even when they hurt me and mistreat me. It’s all in the heart.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Well I for one thing genuinely enjoy, and get such an extraordinary high playing for people, and I see the joy, the happiness on people’s faces when I start playing and singing and that in itself is a great reward. But I think the most rewarding thing about being an artist is you get to do what you love all the time and you get to set the boundaries on creativity. For me there are no boundaries on creativity. I have things I want to do that I haven’t done yet and hopefully I will soon, but I’m glad of what I’ve been able to accomplish.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @crazyunclegarry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrett.simmsrowe/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwmNxlyn3NPtr8zK5dTPj6A
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3JtOPobFkjYaBSasHWBiWY?si=Qrp9ww2qQL6y_ytw68crPw

Image Credits

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