A Chat with Barry Muir (23.04.24)
Music has been a part of Barry Muir’s life for as long as he can remember. Before the age of ten he was strumming along on the guitar, and at age 12 he joined his first band, at age 20 he began playing in the Vancouver music scene which led to studio work, more live gigs, single and album releases….well, as you can see Muir was destined to be a musician. We speak with singer-songwriter Barry Muir about his new album Bakersfield, song ideas, collaborations and much more.
OSR: Your new album, Bakersfield, has a very clean, unified sound. Do you write your songs with that sound in mind, or does the sound develop during recording?
Muir: I’ve certainly gone through a few phases. My sound has certainly evolved from the earlier records I made where I was the only musician and the only person involved in the whole recording process to the last 4 albums where I’ve used the same great musicians who are all very experienced, well-rounded players. A big change for me was having Britt Savage do all the background vocals. She’s become an integral part of the sound and there’s no going back to just me.
OSR: As a producer, how do you find and maintain a consistent sound across the length of an album?
Muir: It really comes down to using the same musicians that you’ve built a relationship with over time. I’ve recorded over 50 songs now with these same guys and I think we all kinda know what to expect and what works best for each of the songs. There’s no mystery as to what we are, at the same time there’s no genre we fit into perfectly. We just play the songs.
OSR: The opening track, ‘Show Me the Way,’ feels like the main sail of the album. A lot of the songs feature characters who, in one way or another, seem to be trying to find their way. Do you write songs toward a central theme that you have in mind, or does that come about a different way?
Muir: It’s amazing to me how each song starts with a few chords, a few words and eventually ends up being a complete story with a beginning, middle and end. Whenever I’ve started a song, it starts with a few syllables that form a melody that eventually become a few words. From just that, you start building a story. It could be about anything; you just never know, but quite likely something you’re experiencing yourself at that point in time.
OSR: In connection to the title track, we couldn’t help but think of the opioid epidemic and the spike in substance and alcohol abuse during the pandemic. Do current events influence your songs?
Muir: Yes, current events certainly can play a big part in what the three of us feel. I think as a songwriter, you need to look around for things that inspire you to write about. I use my cell phone a lot to sing lines and little melodies even if I’m just walking down the street. You never know what’s going to spark something to sing about.
OSR: You’ve been working with your two songwriting partners for several years. What are some of the pros and cons of collaborating with songwriters for a long time?
Muir: There are certainly no cons. Joanne and Lucy make it so easy to complete a song. We’ve all got our strengths that we bring and together we’ve written over 100 songs and have never not been able to complete a song during a write. It’s really quite magical!
OSR: When and why did you start writing songs with an eye toward a solo career?
Muir: I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember. I come from the camp of musicians that weren’t satisfied just playing cover tunes. I’ve always liked the idea 4 or 5 guys can get in a room and come up with their own songs. A solo career was a natural move for me to make especially at this point in my life. Once you’re a musician you don’t stop being a musician.
OSR: Can you give us an idea of how your songwriting collaboration works? For example, do you typically bring a basic idea, and then the other two flesh it out? Is there one person who typically writes the lyrics?
Muir: We have a Zoom write every second Thursday evening. A few hours before our write, I’ll pick up my guitar and strum a few chords. There’s always something there, even if it’s an incredibly simple melody. I’ll jot down a few words, maybe a few lines, sometimes a bit more. Then I play it for the girls and with three minds working to find a direction it just comes out line by line. It’s really a great feeling when we’ve got a brand-new song. Then I record a simple acoustic demo of it and send it to the girls. If it makes the final cut, we record it with the guys.
OSR: A lot of musicians have had to make the transition from record company artists to indie artists. What was that transition like for you? If you had the chance to work on the record company’s dime again, would you?
Muir: Would I? That’s a good question but I’m sure I wouldn’t turn down an offer. That being said, I’ve made no effort to look for a record deal. I’m happy being an independent artist at this point in my life. I do love being in control of all aspects of my art. I’m having fun, being creative and expressing myself.
OSR: Finally, what can we expect from Barry Muir in the future?
Muir: I’ve got some songs right now I really enjoy with just an acoustic guitar and me singing. The next Barry Muir album will likely be exactly that. I made an album in 2016 that’s called, This Guitar and I that I really love. It’s on all the music platforms. So yeah, another one of those is in the works.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Muir: Certainly, Thanks for reading this far into this interview and I really hope you get a chance to listen to Bakersfield in its entirety. Stay safe.
Many thanks to Barry Muir for speaking with us. Find out more about Barry Muir on his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
