A Chat with biz barclay (28.03.25)
The breathtaking new single ‘Carried Away’ which has a haunting blend of dazzling indie-pop and profoundly moving storytelling, marks the return of indie-pop singer and songwriter biz barclay. The song, demonstrates Barclay’s signature ability to write lyrics that delve deeply into the subject matter, infusing each note with a sense of cinematic atmosphere and emotional depth. We chat with biz barclay about her new single and more below.
OSR: ‘Carried Away’ seems like a deeply personal song. Can you tell us about the writing process? Did the song come together quickly or was it a slow-building idea for you?
Barclay: I wrote the bulk of ‘Carried Away’ last January because I was utterly baffled by a pseudo-breakup text I received using the phrase. (There’s actually an acoustic version floating around on YouTube somewhere that I sort of rage-posted immediately after I finished writing it). All the ideas and lyrics were there but it was structured really differently, much slower with an emphasis on the “I was born to understand” refrain. The biggest challenge of the song was always how do you explain that you’re heartbroken but not at all surprised? By the time I took it to the studio a few months later, I had a better grip on the situation, and figured that the only revenge better than a gut-wrenching ballad is an absolute banger, so that’s what we tried to do.
OSR: This song explores themes of memory, time, and being “caught between moments”. How did you bring those abstract ideas to life musically and lyrically?
Barclay: Musically, it was important to me that the track itself, the instrumentation and production, were really high energy and fun. I wanted to sort of recreate the experience of having a really great night out with someone being retroactively tainted by these dark words on top of them. I really love to play with contrast in my music and my producer Joe Sage did a great job balancing everything musically.
OSR: You’ve been compared to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Caroline Polachek. How do you feel about those comparisons, and how do they influence your own sound and creative direction?
Barclay: I’m always stoked to be compared to other talented artists, especially artists like that! Stranger in the Alps and the self-titled boygenius EP have had a huge impact on my life and growth both as a person and an artist. I’ll never forget the first time I heard ‘funeral’ or ’Stay Down’ – I was absolutely stunned. Phoebe’s work is a masterclass in lyricism, and Caroline Polachek’s music is so interesting and exciting that being in the same sentence as those women is an honour.
OSR: Your voice carries a lot of emotion in this song, especially in the delicate phrasing of the lyrics. How important is vocal delivery to you, and how do you approach expressing vulnerability through your voice?
Barclay: I’m actually an extremely self-conscious singer, and I find the process of recording vocals in a studio to be so extremely vulnerable to begin with that it’s not hard to call on that raw, naked feeling vocally. So… anxiety is the key? I guess? That and writing honest lyrics. It’s hard to fake it if you really are “bearing your soul” so to speak.
OSR: In your music, there’s always a sense of cinematic atmosphere. Do you draw inspiration from film or visual art when crafting your songs, or is that quality more intuitive for you?
Barclay: I would definitely say it’s more intuitive than intentional, though I am very hyper-aware of it. I like to use descriptive phrases lyrically, but I also think every song exists in its own sort of world. I remember talking about ‘Carried Away ‘taking place on some cold, desolate beach up north somewhere, and I like phrases like “crawling through a swamp” in the studio. If I don’t feel like I can see the world the song lives in, then it’s probably not quite done yet.
OSR: The production of ‘Carried Away’ has a dreamy, almost haunting quality. How much input do you have in the production process, and what was your vision for the sound of the track?
Barclay: I’m very involved in the production process for my music, which is why it’s really important for me to find the right people to work with. Joe and I spent a lot of time talking about the vision for the song, my past work, what styles interested me and what direction I was looking to go in musically. He came up with that amazing melody that you hear at the beginning and end of the song and we sort of built from there, always trying to keep that dark and spooky centre of the very fun synth-pop storm.
OSR: Your songs often evoke a sense of quiet contemplation. What’s the role of silence or space in your music? Do you consciously leave room for the listener to interpret or feel emotions?
Barclay: I love silence, especially in music. Because I write so introspectively and with a lot of flowery language I’m always trying to recreate those feelings for the listener using music. Whether that means long pauses, screams, syncopation or countermelodies. I actually just had a producer suggest maybe slowing something down to let the lyrics breathe and I was like “there is no breathing here – this a marathon and a sprint.”
OSR: Your artistry has clearly evolved over time. Looking back on your earlier work, how do you feel you’ve grown as both a songwriter and an artist?
Barclay: I’m definitely way more open to new ideas and genres than I was when I started. My first EP Gomorrah was a very specific project. I had a lot of rules about what kinds of sounds there should or shouldn’t be. I had a very specific story to tell in a very specific way, but it was definitely limiting. (I was extremely against the use of a high hat for some reason?) Now I’m way more open to new ideas and experimentation. I also have a lot more experience in the studio so I’m more confident and have a better grasp on the language so I can communicate my ideas better (I hope!)
OSR: You’ve expressed interest in blending different genres and sounds. How do you decide what musical elements to incorporate into your tracks, and do you see yourself experimenting with any new genres in the future?
Barclay: I’m having a lot of fun in the synth-pop sector right now, I love 80’s pop in general so I’m pulling a lot of those for references, and I try to contrast that with something more recent in a slightly different genre. What if Sabrina Carpenter made a Bruce Springsteen song? What if ‘Here I Go Again’ was made in 2014? That sort of thing. I’m hoping to keep experimenting with different flavours of pop and hopefully carve out a unique new sound that feels like me.
OSR: What is the most rewarding part of being an independent artist, and how does it feel knowing your music has found a connection with so many listeners? What’s next for you creatively?
Barclay: Honestly, just knowing that I did this by myself is the most rewarding part. At this point I have no representation or funding or anything like that at all, I’m just paying for all of this with my 9-5 and it feels really good to know that even without all the industry bells and whistles I can still make something that people care about and connect to. ‘Carried Away’ was the biggest chance I’ve taken so far, the biggest gamble, and the fact that it’s resonating with people I’ve never even met makes it all so so worth it.
Many thanks to biz barclay for speaking with us. Find more about biz barclay on her Instagram and Spotify.
