Interview with:Guy Barnes [guybarnes]
MUSIC
 | What do you do? What is your musical specialty? I am a singer/songwriter and producer
I specialise in adult contemporary pop/rock and acoustic music |
| Do you work alone or in a group? If in a group, who are the others you work with? I work alone and in a group, when I am in a group the other guys are
Al Hutton who is my co-writer and guitarist and he`s also a cool engineer
Brad Rice who plays bass
Gavin Smith who plays drums |
| Is there a web address where one can listen, see, or read some of your work? yes
goto www.guybarnes.synthasite.com
I also have a youtube channel at www.youtube.com/guybarnes |
| Please list discography in which you have participated. This is way too long to list so instead i will supply a link of highlights
http://guybarnes.synthasite.com/guys-producitions-and-studio-collaborations.php |
| How did you begin making music? Who introduced you? I have been making music since i was 10, noone introduced me but I was influenced into picking up a guitar by my Uncle |
| What was your musical education? I am completely self taught as a musician, but as a producer and engineer I was given a great education by a man called John Oram who is a very famous audio engineer and sound designer who built me a studio and slowly taught me all about music production. |
| When did you realise that making music could be a way of life for you? I cant remember a time when it hasnt been....I think if its in your blood then thats just the way its going to be. |
| What is your creative process? It depends what I`m inspired by first, I will never enter the studio to record anything if i dont think the song stands up on its own first, so i always consider songwriting the most important part of my life.
I can work from a title, but its usually a top line i`ve thought of that inspires a title, and that usually comes from how i`m feeling at that time.
Once i have the song I take it to Gav, Brad and Al, we rarley demo anything anymore, after years of knwoing what my formula is, I always go for a true production.
For the sake of recording as i am producing as well as playing i fond life easier to stick down an acoistic guitar and guide vocal to a click and that gives Gavin the guide he needs to get his drum tracks down,once we have a solid backbone I build the track up from there. |
| When do you have your most lucid moments, in the morning or night? Neither...I cant stand mornings ad nights are usually just bouts of insomnia, its always midday to 7pm I`m most lucid |
| Have you ever awoken with a melody created from your dreams? All the time....I can wake with a whole song written and just ready to roll |
| How do you know when a song is finished or needs no more changes? as a producer you have to learn when to stand back from your own songs and know when to stop! I made the mistake for years of over producing...adding track after track of guitars when one or two would have sufficed..but at the same time...its great to have input from the guys about the mixes....I`ve never had to add, but I usually findf after going back to a mix fresh, i can make it much more dynamic by reducing the amount in it. |
| How did you discover your creative territory? How would you describe it? I have no idea...I`ve been at it for so long now |
| What part of your job is your least favourite? The mixing process....I always have the paranoid fixation that I`m not going to be able to do a good enough job of it, |
| How often do you practice? I dont, every days is a work day..so i am singing or playing all week long |
| How do you feel right before going out on stage? I`ve never beena nervous trpe, i`m usually reading or something, so relaxed really |
| Which musicians or groups have been inspiring to your career? Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were always my idols as songwriters and musicians since 1985, but I studied Burt Bacharach and Dianne Warren and tried to emulate all those songwriters great skill of writing memorable toplines and hooky chorus`s, as a singer i always wanted to have david coverdales range, on a good day I can be close, but he`s a god! |
| List three songs that are key to your life. Imagine by John Lennon
Last man standing by Bon Jovi
Bridge over troubled water by Simon and garfunkle |
| What should be done to stop piracy? just string the bastards up by the balls....and then rob them back....sorry but i dont believe in diplomacy.. |
| What type of music do you detest? Gangster rap..... |
| What time did you get up this morning? I havnt been to bed yet... |
| How do you sell yourself? What has been your experience with record companies and representatives? in my experience no matter how high up the food chain you get in this industry you can still find complete cluster fucks running branches of labels or management companies that make you wonder how on earth they still get paid!
Selling yourself has become easier because of the net but there is still no substitute for face to face, |
| What other things have you done to make a living? I`ve been a bouncer for strip clubs, a fitness instructor, lumped metal around in factorys and washed dishes |
| Have you ever played on the street or in the subway? How much did you collect each day? yes...I omce made £200.00 busking in Brighton!! |
| Who would you play with, without a doubt? Bon Jovi...... |
| What advice would you give to someone starting out in the business? do your homework and dont consider yourself just a musician...learn the business, there way too many sharks out there to spend your time being naive..and learn your craft properly...the music industry is aways gonna be about the song, so learn to write well. |
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425 visits Whohub
Guy Barnes
Worthing, West sussex
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