Bo Barnard – Not Around (2020)
Moral conflict has been neatly wrapped around some funky upbeat tones by Bo Barnard in his single ‘Not Around’. A story packed with morally conflicted characters, infidelity and rifts in friendships, it is covered in bass-driven and upbeat music that makes you want to dance. Inspired by drama at secondary school, the single has been floating around for years before finally being produced.
While the story is inspired by real-life, the music draws on the blues and jazz Barnard’s parents listened to. This is combined with some rock, pop and RnB to create the groovy sounds that bounce you to the story of the lyrics. Filling you with the anxiety of the characters and a beat that won’t stop, Barnard has created an instantly likeable track that you will want to hear again and again.
‘Not Around’ hits you with some deep funky beats from the first second. You really can’t help but move to the beats as they grip your brain and shake it up. The layers of the melody all add to the groovy flow from the almost hazy low tones to the jangling guitar and shuffling jazzy beats. There are some dips in the music before it picks up again for a funky party. There is a light tone of disco resting in the beats that adds to the dancing vibe of the melody.
Barnard’s voice is a smooth slide against the funky beats. It slices across the top of the music with a wonderful depth and softness that you have to sink into. The timbre of his voice makes it easy to get into the tale of the lyrics which are wonderful in their storytelling structure. While the music fills you with an upbeat vibe, the lyrics and vocals have a darker emotional edge with anxiety and fear of discovery. The conflict of the single is artfully approached with a subtlety that allows it to sink into your chest making your stomach drop as if you are in the heart of the conflict.
Bo Barnard counters anxiety, fear and moral conflict with an upbeat and funky melody that you can’t help but move to in ‘Not Around’. From the first moment, the music has you moving to it while the vocals slide across the top. The lyrics have an amazing storytelling edge that fills you with the emotions of the tale.
Find out more about Bo Barnard on his Instagram and Spotify.
