Julia Barry

Welcome to episode 59. This episode is a bit different than past ones, for a couple reasons. First of all we recorded this using only Skype audio. Secondly, the artists that we talked with are not from Maine, but coming though on a tour they booked themselves. Which gave us a great perspective in to topics that we’ve been discussing over the last several months.

Julia Barry, along with her bass player John Lenis will be headlining a performance at Blue, with touring compatriot, Nehemiah Luckett. We started off discussing the work that goes in to booking tours and advancing each of the shows. We also jumped down the rabbit hole of life/music/work balance. But we also spent a great deal of time discussing Julia and John’s instrumentation, (voice, piano, bass) and the way compositions come together, both during the writing process and in a live performance.

This performance will be on May 5 at Blue on Congress St in Portland.

Julia will also be talking and playing live with Ross Gauvin on WMPG, May 5 from 3:30pm – 4:15pm. - The Freezing Process Podcast

Julia Barry and her bandmates John Lenis and Nehemiah Luckett talk with the folks at The Freezing Process Podcast in anticipation of their Spring 2012 Tour. - The Freezing Process Podcast

This week Justin and John talk with Julia Barry about her music, and why she is shopping for an astronaut suit! - theordinaryguynetwork.com

There are few things reviewers tend to use more than comparisons. Perhaps it’s a way to make music look more competitive…or to make a tangible connection to the reader as to what avenue the artist being reviewed is taking…or just a way to throw around names for kicks and giggles. Heck, sometimes even the musicians themselves end up using comparisons, in order to draw people with similar tastes to their craft. Whatever the reason, it’s hard for a musician to escape comparisons (whatever they may be) in today’s music world, and for female singer/songwriters, it’s often been vogue for one singular name to pop up over and over again…that of Joni Mitchell. If a woman plays piano and/or guitar, sings, and writes something anywhere near introspective, she must be the second coming of Joni Mitchell. Sometimes, these comparisons are slightly misplaced…the artist in question may be outstanding, but they may have little to do with the legendary Canadian singer/songwriter. The essence of Joni is sometimes hard to place, and all too often it ends up misplaced when used in reference to contemporary female artists.
Which makes it all the more interesting that the first name that came to mind when I sat down and listened to Julia Barry’s new album “Once, Or Twice” was…Joni Mitchell. Sonically, the two women aren’t quite the same…Julia brings a much more jazz-fueled, at times blues-tinged aesthetic to her music, while the jazz influences in Mitchell’s music have mostly remained either incredibly subtle or readily apparent. But there’s something about Julia Barry’s music that finds a kindred spirit in what Joni Mitchell has become so well-known and beloved for. “Once, Or Twice” is a lush, rich record full of beautiful, haunting music, sung by a voice that’s all at once pure, flexible, and expressive. What’s more, Julia Barry has a unique gift for songwriting and storytelling. Her songs paint a picture…often mysterious, sometimes unclear, almost always open to interpretation by the listener…but vivid and gorgeous all the same. She draws the listener in with warm, deeply personal songcraft, but at the same time stays enigmatic, revealing something new upon each listen.
The record starts off with “But Sweet,” a softly playful tune (with some terrific guitar work) that begins with the boldly adventurous line, “She was a sexy thing, and he liked that she secretly wore zebra underpants.” This is the kind of smoky, sultry number that could easily go wrong…but Julia keeps it grounded with an assured, lovely delivery, and an intriguing tonal shift in the latter part of the song. “Yet I Do” and “For Example” are both absolutely gorgeous ballads that practically radiate depth and beauty. (Barry’s crystal-clear upper register is used to devastating effect in the latter’s chorus.) “What Else” drives and flows with a unique urgency, and “Both Sides of the Moon” uses a quick, majestic piano intro to segue into a beautifully dark, textured swing.
Things keep getting better and better as the record goes on. “Everything Is Perfect,” where Julia is accompanied by only a guitar, is, well, pretty close to perfect. Arguably the best cut on the record, “Tell Me” is a subtly haunting bossa nova full of beautifully expressed heartfelt and loneliness. It practically begs for repeat listening. “Reverse” is also one of the album’s standouts, with some interesting slight rhythmic shifts, great lyrics, and a deeply melodic sensibility. “What If Love,” backed by luscious strings and piano, almost plays like a tone poem (think Joni Mitchell with “Paprika Plains”). “Canyon” is excellently soft and meandering, much like the barren desert landscapes it draws its imagery from. Finally, the album closer, “Homeward,” is strikingly written in a minor key, but makes a haunting balance between the light and the dark.
All in all, this is an outstanding album, full of life, spirit, and deep emotion. It’s beautifully sung, beautifully written, and beautifully performed, and isn’t just good for frequent listening…it deserves nothing less. Decades ago, Joni Mitchell made waves across the landscape of music with her haunting songcraft, and became an icon of the singer/songwriter genre. If there is any good in the world, Julia Barry will find the same success. With “Once, Or Twice,” she has certainly earned it.
- Harmony Avenue

Julia Barry is a jazz, blues songwriter and pianist based in New York. Julia had found her love for music at an early age, and it shows. Her sound is soulful, jazzy and deep. Her biography refers her to Nora Jones and Joni Mitchell, which most would tend to agree with. Julia plays with heavy hands because she understand the heavy heart for music. The songs are played with a smoothness and softness of touch. This is to say that Julia can leave a large impact with the most frontal of technique, which is key to the genre that she plays. Make sure that you check out the link below for tour dates, and take note of her new album entitled Once or Twice.

Songs I like are "What Else," and "But Sweet." Check them out at her website: http://www.juliabarry.com/ - The Independent Music Scene

If you haven’t heard Julia Barry live you are missing out. She has an exceptional voice and her skills on the keyboard impressed everyone, especially Casey from The Ambassadors. - RethinkPopMusic

You know, the thought never even occurred to me that artists would want to send me their stuff when I started writing this thing. Twice now this has happened, coincidentally both times it has been our friends to the south. New York City is where Julia Barry calls home, and the smooth sounds of her jazz should be heard from coast to coast.

I'm fairly new to jazz, only really started to listen to it in the past year. It's an album like this that is getting me totally hooked. Once, or Twice is Barrys' 2nd album, and is a beautiful listen. It's a little slower than the jazz I started listening to, but it's the strength of Julia's voice that really pulls you through each song. I remember growing up thinking how lame it was that my mother would just lie on the couch and listen to music. There were a few years of denial, but now I do the exact same thing. This record is the perfect vibe for that. Whether it be staying in from the rain, or basking in the sun and relaxing on the patio.

One of my favourite qualities of jazz is it seems to invoke creativity and thought. It has an inspiring quality, and this disc is no different track 1-11. Barry does a great job of story-telling, accompanied often by brilliant piano and an array of other instruments. I felt like just listening has brought my creativity to the surface, even this review has been very easy to write!

If you are a fan of jazz, I am confident you will really enjoy this album. If you are interested in jazz, then I strongly suggest listening to Once, or Twice as Julia does not short the listener on this one at all. A gift from the "City That Never Sleeps" to Island SoapBox, and now in spirit of green living, a re-gift to all you lovely people.

Listen to music here: here.
Buy the album here.
Tweet Julia here. - Island Soap Box Blog

Check out listenupcast.com for Arthur Bouie's podcast interview with Julia Barry. - Listenupcast.com

Meet Singer-Songwriter Julia Barry, Creator of the Advocacy Program “In Her Image”
Written by admin2 on January 7th, 2009
Filed under: Irked Audio, Irked Videos, Themes, The Skinny on Fat

Julia Barry is the creator, musician, and director of the experimental advocacy program, “In Her Image: Producing Womanhood in America.” She works with high schools, colleges, organizations, community centers, and conferences to promote widespread, public media literacy. A “REALLY Hot” awardee in the 2006 REAL Hot 100 list, Barry has been a featured guest at events such as the National Organization for Women’s Love Your Body Day, the Girl Scout National Leadership Institute, and the Alliance for a Media Literate America’s National Media Education Conference. She was also the 2003 recipient of the Andrea Klein Willison Prize for Poetry/Women’s Advocacy.

If you like Tori Amos, if you like Sarah McLachlan, if you like Joni Mitchell or Enya or Beth Gibbons or Diana Krall…then you will LOVE Julia Barry.

Her lyrics are substantive. She sings from her soul. She can make a piano shiver-and-then-wail. Her vocals have been described as “simultaneously melancholy and sweet.” Sometimes she’s provocative. Always she’s on key.

Her 2002 debut album, Arrivals, is a “storehouse of good songs,” as they say. It’s a magnificent work of art and a glorious work of heart. In addition to her hectic schedule performing live, Julia has also returned to the studio to begin recording her next CD.

FACT: If Julia Barry’s not on your radar yet, she will be soon.

Listen to the track Song For Us Trying, off Arrivals:





Click here to buy Arrivals

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Julia on the shape of American life: We are constantly bombarded with images and messages representing and shaping American life. What are their roots and meanings? How do they affect society’s views of gender? How do they influence life perceptions and experiences?

Julia on complex stories: While BabyGap pushes sexiness early with leopard-print shoes for infants, the Department of Health promotes abstinence as a cure for teenage pregnancy; while music videos propose the ultimate fantasy of submissive women, more than 100,000 rapes are reported to the FBI each year, most of which are under-treated by emergency rooms; while most Americans attribute their diets and exercise routines to health objectives against a growing obesity panic, how-to-lap-dance exercise videos, pro-anorexia websites, and the popularity of cheap fast food tell us more complex stories.

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Listen to the track It’s Not Her Abuse, off Arrivals:

Click here to buy Arrivals

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Julia on Julia: Let me back up and introduce myself. My name is Julia Barry; I am a media literacy educator. While this view of society may seem like an endless negative cycle, I believe that we can gain rights and individual happiness with knowledge, purpose, and a sense of togetherness, engaging in programs that promote peace, understanding, and equality between human beings. In this spirit of communication and individual responsibility, I created a public awareness program entitled “In Her Image: Producing Womanhood in America” for use by people like you. While I am only one person and cannot possibly provide magic-bullet solutions to America’s most complicated social issues, I do believe in the power of interdisciplinary learning and discussion to make change, and am sharing “In Her Image” with as many people as I can, because together we can make change.

“In Her Image: Producing Womanhood in America” is an experiential program and curriculum that addresses the influence of media imagery in American society through a female perspective. Available as a live performance or film accompanied by supplemental materials for discussion and action, “In Her Image” is a 34-minute audio-visual documentation of advertisements, photographs, illustrations, and pertinent text taken from public sources such as the internet, textbooks, magazines, health brochures, and billboards. These images are arranged in order of the human lifespan and examine gender norms and the issues they affect—sex/sexuality, teenage pregnancy, pornography, reproductive rights, marriage, family, career, body image/eating disorders, nutrition and diet, drugs and alcohol, violence/abuse and harassment, discrimination, and aging—by tracing back to the sources that influence them. In rearranging the obvious, “In Her Image” refreshes the investigation of gender dynamics in the United States today.

Watch the trailer for In Her Image (film footage by Jay Sterrenberg, music and lyrics by Julia Barry):


For more information, please visit http://inherimage.juliabarry.com or feel free to contact Julia directly at InHerImage@juliabarry.com.

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Here’s a recent video of Julia performing her not-yet-officially-released song For Example at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (with bassist John Lenis):

A CHANCE TO SEE JULIA PERFORM IN NEW YORK CITY!

Saturday, January 10th @ 9:00pm

Pianos Upstairs Lounge

158 Ludlow Street—Map

New York, NY (the Village)

Tel: 212.505.3733

Pianos website

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To buy the album Arrivals click here.

To visit Julia Barry’s official website click here.

To visit the In Her Image website click here.

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If you’d like to book Julia to play a show, it’s best to email her directly. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Julia does her own booking. And she can bake a mean key lime pie too, sometimes even simultaneously.

Please write to Booking@juliabarry.com to set up a gig.

- Irked Magazine

Have you seen a virtuoso piano player recently? How about a virtuoso pianist with the voice of an angel and the passion and fury of 10 mountain lions? Okay, maybe not that extreme, but Julia Barry is about as close as they come.

Barry started writing music when she was only two years old, penning hits like Frog and Butterfly. Simple little ditties that captured the heart and spirit of the soul. Now, she's in her mid-twenties and writes songs appropriate to those caught in that space between the bubble of university life and stable adulthood, exuding raw, authentic emotion in her music. Barry’s use of syncopated rhythms and time signature shifts make for a unique symphony of sound and talent.

As a performing musician, Barry recently toured of some of the best singer-songwriter haunts NYC has to offer, including The Bitter End, Pianos, Crash Mansion and Rockwood Music Hall. If you haven’t already caught one of Barry's performances, do yourself a favor and attend her next show at Sullivan Hall on March 17th or check her tour calendar for future dates.

Barry also puts her musical talents toward women’s activism and scored music to a program of powerful and evocative images of women in media, entitled 'In Her Image'. Barry speaks to the consequences of Western media and culture, and educates people in the hope that these trends and conditioning constructs may one day crumble.

Help support Barry’s intrinsic talent by contributing to her recent Kickstarter campaign. She's super close to her goal, so by spreading the love, you can help her reach it! All donations will go toward the production of her new album. Kickstarter helps up and coming musicians, artists, filmmakers, journalists and designers raise funds for their projects. We recently covered the Kickstarter campaign for one of our favorite Atlanta bands, Trances Arc, and they’ve already reached their goal - with 11 days to spare! MDT Hint: Check Barry’s campaign and kick in your two cents or 20 bucks to her new album project! Here at MDT, we support local artists and, now, you can too! - MyDailyTracks