After kicking off his solo ambitions with his stunning debut single 'Monday's Rain' last year, former The Moon Kids frontman David Barr is now back on the grind once again to deliver his vibrant new single 'Moon Under Water'.
Capturing more of that rich and illuminating indie-rock aesthetic he is quickly earning a reputation for, 'Moon Under Water' makes for a beautiful warm and inviting listen. With his heartfelt vocal performance layered across a dynamic production from start to finish, he is certainly one to keep a firm eye on for the months ahead as well.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Acoustic guitar. That was the first instrument I learned how to play at the age of around 15 and I instantly began writing songs.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
When I was young it was the indie-sleaze scene but I was really obsessed with the 90’s era. Gomez, The Bluetones, Super Furry Animals, The Charlatans all that kind of thing. We used to steal my mates big brothers CD’s. I used to listen to Jeff Buckley, The Beatles and The La’s on repeat. But honestly I just loved guitar music… Bowie, The Sex Pistols etc etc.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business. I had no idea who he was at the time or who The Stone Roses were. I saw footage of him doing My Star on Top of the Pops I was mesmerised and equally confused… so bought the album in Asda when I was super young.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Timeless Melody by The La’s. It does’t matter how many times you hear that song it never gets any less captivating.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not really. I guess the most common thing I do is just pick up the guitar play a random chord progression and sing then see what happens. I went through a period where I used to create a drum loop and start the song with a bass line. Build it from the bottom up. But I haven’t been doing that as much recently. I’ve kind of gone back to basics. If a song sounds good acoustically then it’s always going to connect.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
A ton of artists so it's hard to say. Dead Pony and FEET are a couple of new bands I like. But I mostly listen to songs not specific artists. I’ve been in the States for a few months and have done a lot of travelling in the past few years. There’s a certain batch of songs that come on all the time whether I’m in a bar, shop or diner somewhere. It’s actually like comedy how they follow me around. So I have a playlist of recurring songs that include…
Steely Dan - Dirty Work
The Beach Boys - Californian Girls
Tom Petty - Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Tame Impala - A Glass Half Full of Wine
Talking Heads - This Must be the Place
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
The Rolling Stones… purely because what sounds cooler than saying “I’ve opened for The Rolling Stones”.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The writing and recording process for me is the best part by far. I get so immersed in it. It’s always rewarding to get music out into the world and for it to receive positive feedback. But honestly creating the music and the journey to get there is the ultimate reward. It is a gift to be able to make music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Promoting the music and selling yourself especially now that you have to be a content creator. It’s still something I’m trying to embrace.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
This probably sounds generic but honestly it's as basic as… “keep a positive attitude” because it’s a difficult industry for artists so you have to have a thick skin. There’s always going to be haters, naysayers and a lot of ups and downs. So you have to just focus on all of the reasons why you do it in the first place and really appreciate the moments when things are going well and the stars align.
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David Barr's new single 'Moon Under Water' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.