Carlos Ramos shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Carlos , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
This is such a deep question for me.
As a young child back in Costa Rica (where I’m from), I was a bit introverted and struggle with my self esteem. It was indeed, through music, that I discovered a way to express myself and a language to externalize my emotions and my thoughts.
Initially all by myself in my bedroom and eventually, little by little, onto a stage.
I think I was afraid of speaking out loud, to say what I wanted/needed to say. To be expressive.
And now as an adult and as an artist, I realize it’s so important to find our own voice (artistically and as a human)
I am a true believer that we all have something valuable to say, we all matter in this world!
So what am I called for? My calling is to, constantly, find my own voice as I go in this life journey, as a father, a musician, a husband, an immigrant, a human being.
To remind all those around me, my audience and listeners through my music, how important their voice is for this world.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Carlos Ramos. I am a musician native of San José, Costa Rica and based in Fort Worth, TX
I’m the founder and frontman of Pa’lante, a reggae-infused project where I blend Latin rhythms, jazz, and R&B.
What makes Pa’lante unique? How we serve as a cultural bridge, we bring together influences from Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America to create something that resonates across borders. This plurality of cultures coming together is exactly a reflection of the true sentiment of Pa’lante, that diversity is beautiful!
I feel very passionate about this considering the current state of the world.
I am focused on writing songs that celebrate unity, resilience, and reflection, while carrying a groove that invites everyone to connect and dance.
Right now, I’m focused on sharing and promoting my latest single called “Ego” and bringing Pa’lante’s message and energy to audiences in the U.S. and Latin America.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose and must now be released is perfectionism.
Early in my journey, perfectionism pushed me to not trust what I was creating and writing.
I feel lots of musicians can relate with this, developing ideas and not knowing when to stop or at the same time “marrying” an idea and not knowing when to let go.
Setting those high standards can be a dead end I feel and it become some sort of a cage you’re trapped in. Keeping me from releasing songs or fully enjoying the creative process because I was chasing an impossible ideal.
Now, I’m learning to let go of that need for everything to be flawless.
Music is about honesty, connection, and energy, and those things live in the imperfect, human moments we all have. That’s what I want to share with the world through Pa’lante.
My focus is on creating honestly, connecting with people who resonate with that authenticity.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was a kid, I struggled a lot with my behavior and had problems in school.
I remember being sent to the principal’s office in third grade, and my mom eventually took me to see a psychologist to understand what was going on with me. During that assessment, the psychologist told her that my brain was wired in a way that music could help me process the emotions I was having.
That moment definitely changed everything.in my life.
What helped me when I was sad or scared as a child was discovering music as an outlet, a way to turn all that energy and emotion into something creative and meaningful. Looking back, it feels like that was the seed of everything I’m doing right now!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I preserve at all costs is staying true in my origin and immigrant identity.
Although I grew up in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, I lived for a few years on the Caribbean side, in a small town called Puerto Viejo where a lot of its heritage is Jamaican and Panamanian. Living there had a huge impact on me: the rhythms, the people, and the way music was part of daily life shaped how I hear and create today.
As an immigrant, I’ve carried those roots with me, and they’ve become the foundation of my creative process.
With Pa’lante, I want to honor that by blending reggae, Latin, and jazz, keeping alive the sounds and essence of where I come from. No matter where I go, my cultural identity is something I protect fiercely, it’s what gives my music its soul and authenticity.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could—and I do. Music has taught me that the reward is in the process, not in the praise. For me, giving my best, whether writing a song or performing, is about love, honesty, and integrity.
That’s exactly what my latest single “Ego” is about: letting go of pretensions and expectations, flowing, and learning to unlearn.
Even without recognition, I would still give it everything I got, because music is who I am, it’s the way I honor my roots, express myself, and leave something authentic in the world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palantereggae
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-ramos-0b5420308
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/5xzDD9IFnyKFEmhjS4Zm1w?si=_qTnlUw9TnWDwyH0W-69xA
Image Credits
Samantha Pille
José Guerrero-Galván
