After introducing themselves with a string of impactful offerings these last few months, Nashville-based outfit Barrett are now looking to cement their vibrant legacy to date with their stunning debut EP 'Quit Dreaming'.
Channelling a heady dose of riveting alt-rock aesthetics throughout their newest collection, 'Quit Dreaming' makes for a dazzling introduction to their sound so far. With its bold and euphoric hooks, soaring atmosphere, and impactful vocals layered throughout, they are quickly establishing themselves as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
ADDI: The first instrument I ever played was the piano. I remember that I loved the idea that I could create a combination of notes that no one had ever played before.
ALEX: I fell in love with guitar and drums in equal measure at around age seven.
DECLAN: The first instrument I fell in love with was a Candy Apple Red Ibanez JS24p. When I first started getting serious with guitar, Van Halen and shredders such as Joe Satriani dominated my headphones in late middle school. My local Sam Ash carried Joe’s signature guitars and I instantly fell in love with them.
MATT: Guitar. I had played violin and piano before that but it wasn’t until I started guitar when I was 8 that I fell in love with music.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
ADDI: I used to carry around a walkman everywhere as a 5-9 year old. My most frequent CD’s included the Beatles 1 Album, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and of course Disney Channel Hits of 2007.
ALEX: My dad was into classic rock, as it seems dads tend to be, so I liked that by default, and then I got into metal and hardcore in middle school and high school, and then I mellowed out into emo, alternative, and pop.
DECLAN: 90s rock/grunge was the reason I picked up guitar in the first place. Being 13 years old at the time, Nirvana and Green Day were obviously the catalysts. Other artists such as Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, and Alice In Chains were huge influences on my musicianship as well.
MATT: A lot of 2000s pop/punk rock like “Paramore”, “Fall Out Boy”, “Simple Plan”, “My Chemical Romance”, “Sum 41”, and “The All-American Rejects”.
What was the first album you remember owning?
ADDI: The very first album I remember buying with my own money was “Torches” by Foster the People. It remains one of my favorite albums of all time.
ALEX: Deep purple greatest hits I think.
DECLAN: The first CD I bought was Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix.
MATT: The first album I bought was Connect by “Sick Puppies” when I was 13.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
ADDI: Every time I listen to “Older Than I Am” by Lennon Stella I wonder how exactly she was able to articulate a feeling I relate to so much, and I wish that I had written it!
ALEX: Tiny Raindrop by Balance and Composure
DECLAN: Perth - Bon Iver
MATT: “Cocoon” by “Catfish and the Bottlemen”
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
ADDI: If I’m trying to come up with lyrics, I’ll play that section of the melody over and over and over until the words reveal themselves. But if I need to come up with a new melody or chord pattern, I tend to use more of a trial and error based strategy and test out new combinations until things feel harmonious with the story the song needs to tell.
ALEX: These days it’s getting together with Addi, Declan, and Matt and having some drinks and just having fun while we kick around ideas until something clicks!
DECLAN: Making music for me usually starts on an acoustic guitar or starting something from scratch in Logic if I’m feeling brave.
MATT: I just sit down at the guitar or piano and ad lib chords and melodies until I come up with something that doesn’t suck.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
ADDI: Right now, I’ve had a lot of Remi Wolf, Chappell Roan and Holly Humberstone on repeat the past few months.
ALEX: The story so far, adventures, bad suns, teenage wrist, the neighborhood, The Weeknd.
DECLAN: My favorite artists that I have been listening to at the moment are Prince, Sweet Pill, Mac Miller, and Catfish & The Bottlemen.
MATT: Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of “Knox”, “Sam MacPherson”, “gavn!”, “KiNG MALA”, and “OSTON”.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
ADDI: boygenius. *crosses fingers*.
ALEX: Gotta be Paramore I think.
DECLAN: I would love for us to open up for Sweet Pill. I feel like they are creating such an innovative rock sound that I am obsessed with.
MATT: “My Chemical Romance” 100%.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
ADDI: My favorite thing about being a musician is the first few steps of the creative process. I love being in a room writing and coming up with all the initial parts and harmonies of a song much more than I like promoting music or releasing it. There’s something about the energy in a room where everyone is working to create something that has never been made in its exact form, and could only have been made on that day by those people that I find addicting.
ALEX: As a producer, the most rewarding part of my work is the moments of inspiration I share with the artist - when we stumble across a harmony part that takes the track to a whole new place, when we get the perfect tone, when the mix just sounds so satisfying, those kinds of moments!
DECLAN: Music is healing. Performing is such a fulfilling experience and creating music is very cathartic.
MATT: The feeling of finishing a song and knowing that I just created something that wouldn’t have existed if not for me is the best feeling in the world.
And what is the most frustrating part?
ADDI: I hate when I have an idea in my head, and I’m trying to fully flesh it out or convey it to someone else, but I can’t articulate it in the real world. I think that is when I tend to get pretty frustrated with myself, and I worry that I won’t be able to do an idea/concept any justice.
ALEX: I think the most frustrating part is knowing you have a song and a recording that feels really special, and believing that lots of people would love it, but not knowing how you’re going to break through the noise to connect with an audience and hopefully get a return on investment for the artist.
DECLAN: Comparing the success of your art and musicianship to others. It’s hard not to compare yourself in this age of social media. It can be a wonderful tool for learning from others but can easily become harmful.
MATT: Being poor.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
ADDI: My songwriting professor (Jodi Marr) would always tell us to, “Say the damn thing!” Meaning that when it comes to writing lyrics, don’t force the audience to guess your meaning and fill it all the blanks, just say the thing you want to say loud and clear. I always think of her when I get stuck on a song.
ALEX: The best piece of advice I’ve gotten I didn’t get directly, but from a book - Stephen Pressfield’s “The War of Art.” I’ll paraphrase it: just show up to work every day, make it your job, show up every day even when you don’t feel like it, don’t wait for inspiration, but rather create/protect the space and time for it.
DECLAN: The world has plenty of good musicians, the world needs more good people - Victor Wooten.
MATT: Every time you fail that’s just a datapoint to help you with your next project.
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Barrett's debut EP 'Quit Dreaming' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.