"Time" by Monique Barry

Monique Barry

... writes and performs without imitation, striking musical and emotional notes from the past, present, and future while staying defiantly in the now–which makes her essentially unsolvable, and all the better for it. 

Classically trained in voice and piano, and keenly interested in the power of pop songwriting, Monique has forged a style that marries the everyday to the otherworldly, resulting in musical dreamscapes teeming with innovations, oddities, emotional echoes, and the many stops and starts along the human journey. 

Her aesthetic range is captured on a quartet of CD’s: the supernaturally minimalist campus favorite moody (1998); Tripping (2003), which brings together an ambitious mix of folk, lounge, rock, classical, ambient soundscaping, and techno pop; the haunting Carbon (2009), which saw Monique hitting new levels of musical expression; and Wake (2013), a bewitchingly vivid musical mosaic. Monique is presently working on her 5th album, HAAK being released single by single in order of album appearance.

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Time

Kanada hat so einiges zu bieten, unter anderem auch hervorragende Künstler. In diesem Fall ist es eine Künstlerin namens Monique Barry, Singer-Songwriter, Producer und Music Educator from Toronto. Derzeit arbeitet sie an ihrem fünften Album und veröffentlicht einen Song nach dem anderen, wobei "Time" bereits der achte Track daraus ist. 

"...the piece is a response to the perils of dealing with COVID...", beschreibt Monique den Song. Die Erkundung von Verlust und Verbindung in einer klanglichen Umgebung die ihresgleichen sucht. Zart und zerbrechlich die geschaffene Atmosphäre, quasi die Interpretation der Stimmung während der Pandemie. Die einzige Konstante in diesem Ozean der Emotionen war und ist die Zeit. 

Ein Song der es in seiner akustischen Form schafft, individuell Erlebtes klanglich auszudrücken, sich lyrisch entfaltet und in seiner Gesamtheit über die Zeit gereift und vollendet wurde. Monique Barry and her creation of emotional perfection in form of a song called "Time".

Q&A

Monique Barrry is ...?

I'm a singer-songwriter, producer, music educator from Toronto, ON, Canada, who's working on her latest album, releasing it single by single in the order the songs will appear on the finished product.

The album is a journey from innocence to wisdom with all the joys and pitfalls along the way. I write ambient-ethereal music that isn't genre specific. I like things to have a meditative, minimalist feel.

Who inspired you to make music in general?

I grew up in a very musical family. Singing around the piano was a form of family entertainment from childhood. I was exposed to many different types of music growing up and knew at a very young age that music would be my main focus as an adult.

What's the story behind your song "Time", respectively what was your inspiration?

I've been writing this album over a number of years, releasing it single by single, with each song being an expression of the theme of the album (innocence to wisdom) and being influenced by the specific time written. 

'Time' was written during COVID so is a direct reflection of the perils that prevailed. It's a structured soundscape of the cycle of thoughts and emotions experienced during the pandemic. I didn't want it to be a song out for a quick return but rather wanted it to evolve in its own time.

You are working on your 5th Album, if you are taking a look back to your album 'moody' from 1998, what are the most significant differences between then and now in your opinion?

Well I think I've become a better musician; certainly a more educated musician. I'm much more comfortable with making music that is original and not terribly commercial. 

I'm not a person who listens to any one type of music and am influenced by so many different writers and genres that it doesn't really occur to me to stick to any one style of writing; I go with the style that best expresses how I'm feeling. 

It seems we live in a time when everything is so fast and furious. I like creating music that allows the listener time and space; an environment to dream, process, resolve.

When do you say/decide that a song is ready for the release?

Well each song on this album has been a little journey. Once I've finished with all the tracking and editing on my end, I send it out to be mixed and co-produced by Michael Wojewoda. I then wait for the first mix and we fine-tune from there. He has a magic all his own that seems to send each song to a new place. It usually doesn't take too long to massage the song to its happy place. Then we set it free. 

It's been quite a beautiful experience working with Michael and with the other musicians on this project, namely Alisdair Jones (bass), Kevin Lacroix (guitar), Emma Campbell (vocals) and Micheal Wojewoda (drums).

At this moment what would be your "All time Top 3 Songs"?

Ok - this is an 'at this moment' answer.
The Derangement - Augie March
Dasein - Husten, Sophie Hunger
Present Tense - Radiohead

What is your most useful talent besides music?

Likely being a mother, then a teacher. I'm also a pretty good swimmer!

Do you remember your first ever self-written song?

Pass the Buck from my album 'moody'.

What’s next for you?

Finish this album and then get started on the next one.

Photo credits: Dan Bowman