Barrie Releases “Jenny,” Love At First Sight Crystallized In Sound

Today, songwriter and producer Barrie Lindsay releases “Jenny,” a song that recounts the early days of falling for her now-wife, Gabby. Inspired in part by James Taylor and Blake Mills, “Jenny” paints a tender portrait of young love with glowing harmonies and sun-dappled aural synths. Skipping between memories of falling in love on tour and the universal feeling of finding home in another person, “Jenny” gives listeners a glimpse into Barrie’s intimate world with ease. 

Says Barrie of the song: “I was looking to James Taylor for the guitar and The Band for the organ to try to capture an Americana feel for Jenny. These artists are able to simultaneously encapsulate a swagger and an earnestness that gives their music a grown-up, classic feel. I wanted Jenny to be like an American Songbook song; any level of musician could play it and it would feel good to play either alone with one’s guitar, around a campfire with some friends, or at a big concert with everyone singing along.”

“I wrote it while reflecting on a memory from tour, when I met my wife. We had a day off in Austin, and a group of us went swimming in a creek. I was picturing that day, before I was aware of any connection between us, and imagining how it would have played out if I had been. I wasn’t devoted right away, I wasn’t sure.”

Listen to “Jenny” here.

Today’s delicately earnest single reflects Barrie’s growing willingness to let listeners into her inner life on her self-produced new record Barbara, out March 25th on Winspear. Shedding hazy dream pop aesthetics in favor of lyrical honesty and a more idiosyncratic approach, the album finds Barrie "actively reinventing her indie pop sound to encompass larger, more nuanced ideas" (Consequence). 

While largely concerned with her budding relationship, Barbara also served as a means for Barrie to process the passing of her father. Writing in her hometown Barrie set these vulnerable recollections to a beautifully rendered concoction of art-pop, crisp indie rock, and wondrous folk that has already garnered praise from NPR Music, Stereogum, Nylon and many more.

Read more about Barbara over at PAPER here.

Lead single “Quarry” — “an ’80s-leaning power ballad, defined by synths both dreamy and molasses-thick, accented with guitars that pierce through the mirage” (Stereogum) — is coupled with a music video by Robert Kolodny that culminates with shaved heads, neon lights, and a celebration of queer love. Watch here:http://youtu.be/SVRVbbo_Opo

Barrie is currently gearing up for 2022 headline shows in NYC, LA, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco, plus Midwest dates with Sunflower Bean, SXSW, and a run of UK record store shows around album release. Full dates below. 

Listen/Pre-order: https://smarturl.it/barrie-barbara

Photos, lyrics, and more available here.

Tracklist

1. Jersey

2. Frankie

3. Jenny

4. Concrete

5. Dig

6. Bully

7. Harp 2 Interlude 

8. Harp 2

9. Quarry

10. Basketball

11. Bloodline

Early Praise For Barbara

“A massive statement piece from the wildly talented Barrie.”

— Consequence

“Barrie's sweet-sounding voice swims in a pool of dreamy pop.”

— Nylon 

“Delicate, but ready to party.”

— WBUR

“Like a dreamier spin on Fleetwood Mac… Blurs the line between indie rock and pop in a somewhat mystic fashion.”

— Stereogum

“Hypnotic.”

— Billboard

Tour Dates

03/04/22 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *

03/05/22 – Millersville, PA @ Phantom Power *

03/06/22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe *

03/08/22 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar *

03/10/22 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop *

03/11/22 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *

03/12/22 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *

03/14/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/15/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/16/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/17/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/18/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/19/22 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

03/24/22 – Portsmouth, UK @ Pie & Vinyl

03/25/22 – Brighton, UK @ Resident

03/26/22 – London, UK @ Banquet

03/28/22 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade Nottingham

03/29/22 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Bristol

03/30/22 – Leeds, UK @ Jumbo Records

03/31/22 – London, UK @ Rough Trade East

04/28/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right

04/30/22 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

05/02/22 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza

05/04/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge

05/05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall

05/18/22 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas

 * w/ Sunflower Bean

Tickets: https://www.barrie.earth/tour

Follow Barrie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barrieshhh

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@barrieshhh

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/barrieshhh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrieshhh