LUCIDMEDIA

Jill Barber: On Tour and Loving It

Written by Lisa M. Knapp Friday, 28 August 2009 09:16

Award-winning singer and songwriter Jill Barber is on the road again, a hopeless romantic singing her little heart out. I asked the five star question to Barber, “are you excited to be on tour again?” and her response was exactly what I expected it, “Indeed, I'm always excited to be on tour. In this business it's good to be busy,” said Barber with confidence and excitement.

Barber picks up her guitar and gives her romantic touch to music where the golden age left off. In 2007, Barber earned what was her forth win as Best Female Local Solo Artist in The Coast’s annual “Best of Music Reader’s Poll” and in the same poll she won her first win as Best Canadian Female Solo Artist. Barber’s success does not stop there, she’s living it up on the road and earning herself more and more fans along the way. When travelling, not all artists enjoy their time. Some become stressed, but not Barber, she is inspired by the people, seeing the country, and playing music every day while spending time with her fabulous band.

“There are pressures of being on the road to be sure and the days are long and tedious at times,” Barber said. It’s true that many artists that I have talked to feel the pressure of keeping uplifted but often can’t figure out how, Barber seems to have it surrounded though.

“Performing music on stage to an appreciative audience is one of the most uplifting experiences a person can have, so it's all worthwhile,” says Barber. “I like that every day is different, and I like how my band feels like a family. [But] I don't like being away from the one I love for long stretches,” she adds.

While the focus of Barber’s tour right now is Canada, she says that she’s really looking forward to taking things even further abroad. “I'm really looking forward to go back to tour in Australia,” she says. “I spent five weeks there this past December/January and made some great friends, and lots of new fans, so I can't wait to get back this October.”

I asked Barber about her new album, and whether she plays any new songs that she’s been working on or whether she sticks with a strict line-up? She honestly replied, “Occasionally I try out new material on the audience, but these days I have been keeping pretty private about what I've been working on, and focussing on playing songs off the record.”

Barber travels with a band that consists of some fabulous musicians including Les Cooper on guitar, Robbie Grunwald on piano, Paul Mathew on upright bass, Adam Warner on drums and the multi-tasker Drew Jureca on violin, clarinet, saxophone, accordion, and more. And to add to the large crew, they usually have a road manager who takes care of all the non-musical stuff. She says that while she tends to feel quite satisfied, though a bit sad, near the end of a tour, she’s nevertheless glad when it nears. It’s important to take breaks from tour so as not to burn out.

Her new album, Chances, is a highly recommended album for the romantic at heart. Barber masters the old radio sound that you get from the early days of radio and touches the hearts of fans and lovers of gentle romantic music alike. You can check out Barber on her website at www.jillbarber.com where you can hear the full album and read all about her, as well keep updated with the singer/song-writer on her twitter account at www.twitter.com/jillbarber.