Artist description You want to get Chris Simpson talking about a subject he truly loves? Ask him about Kierkegaard. You want Chris Simpson to go silent? Ask him to talk about himself. I met Chris in the fall of 1993. Hair down almost past his waist, I often saw him roaming the halls of our dorm at college plucking away at his shiny black guitar. Humming at times, singing at others. Always in thought. Always. I got a taste of Chris's music around late 93 early 94 when a friend on our dorm room floor was playing a tape and asked me who I thought it was . . . In these early days of yore, Chris Simpson's music had a more progressive feel; long complicated compositions peppered with an occasional voice singing. In 1999, Chris began writing in a different style. The newer style began a more radio friendly turn. Songs were shorter, though the content remained as potent. In 2002, Chris's music remains a marvel to me. Sometimes, I ask myself why? Why is it so attractive? I think because it pierces near the middle for me. Chris shares that his songs often come out of darkness. In fact, his first album entitled Hello Cruel World shares this in written thoughts in the liner notes. He shares that often that is where songs pour from . . . darkness: ". . . Darkness is a place for song. Songs give voice to darkness and fumble around to find something beyond it or beneath it. Absence, lack, loss, night, darkness . . . these are the places of sojourn, of pilgrimage. Indeed, it is only in the deserts and wildernesses of absence that faith and hope have meaning. I believe that the wasteland of the heart is where God is found . . . or perhaps this, our darkness, is where God find us . . ." A well to be tapped . . . Since this album debuted in 1999, others have emerged with titles like This Tyranny, Havens, Engines of Heaven, and the newest of these pieces, Flatlander. Each album composed, recorded, and mastered at his two bedroom home in Illinois, one would think that this wasn't possible in such small space. Wrong. Simpson delivers with punch on all albums to date with lyrical samples as follows: "Four stone weights, they carry me down to rivers bed. Two for my fate and two for my dreams of wakefulness" (from Falling Leaves) . . . "Lights go down on all our broken hearts and we stare into the hole within us all and for one serene desire the curtains part and we see that all the while the hole stares into us" (from Tyranny) . . . The music in these pieces does not leave one questioning Simpson's sincerity, talent, or thrust. This is serious business. And it is indeed, moving. (Rod Lane, 2/11/02)

Music Style varies widely . . . a fine blend of folk, progressive rock, funk, metal, techno, jazz, and elevator music . . .

Musical Influences David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Self, Peter Gabriel, Nine Inch Nails, Prince, Philip Glass

Group Members one man band . . . I'm Geddy Lee with a drum kit on my back.

Instruments acoustic, electric and bass guitar, drum samples, synth, and voice

Albums hello cruel world (1999), this tyranny (2000), havens (2000), the engines of heaven (2001), flatlander (2002)

Location Lincoln, IL - USA

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