We had the good fortune of connecting with Simone Barlow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Simone, why did you pursue a creative career?
I feel like I was always misunderstood ever since I was a child. So art for me was an outlet. I was able to express myself freely. Nobody had to understand my art & what I was trying to convey. As long as it made sense to me I was fine with that. When I saw my love for art grew tremendously it became much more than just a side hustle or a hobby. It was more about leaving a legacy behind.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a reflection of me, my likes, my life, what I’m passionate about & even my pain. What sets me apart from the others is that I am never afraid to be my authentic self. I can be as raw as I want & still get my point /message across. whether it’s through my poems or express it in my artwork. My subject matter is very extensive & versatile. From world news, black culture, mental health or my personal experiences. One thing I am VERY proud of is my memoir “333257: A Memoir” I released last year around this time in April . It’s something I not only wrote for my inner child & healing, but I did it for everyone else who is in the process of healing their inner child currently. I don’t want to be one of those artists who say, “well everything just happened”. when it comes to how I got started. But in reality, it actually just happened. The only thing different I would be I stayed in my imagination & stuck with my passion. I never gave up on myself or my dream & consulted with God a lot. The journey is never easy, there are still challenges I still face as a creative &author such as writing block & lack of inspiration & writers block. Constant prayer & writing in my journal has helped me through many of those challenges. Lessons I’ve learned along the way were to keep my dream & imagination alive, stay authentic & true no matter who likes it, have more patience & when in doubt rely on my imagination & keep those what seemed to be my worst ideas in that time in my back pocket.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
– Lava Cantina – Whiskey Hatchet
– The Palms
– Galleria Dallas

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been blessed to have a tribe of solid people that have kept me grounded throughout my journey. So to everyone that has contributed anything possible in my life I APPRECIATE YOU! Special shoutout to my parents, my best friend Ty, EJ, my quiet riot Louie, George ,Trenton, Dinero, Trigga, Roy, Dyamond, my Godmother Tammie & my Mama Ty! I love y’all so much!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/la.mina__?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Other: “333257: A Memoir “ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X51XL8N

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