In this interview spotlight, we chat with Ally of Barbe Rousse about influences, challenges, the latest project and more.
Full Q&A along with links and streams below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I’m from Edinburgh, Scotland currently living in lovely Leith. Everybody who creates music has their own style. No matter how hard they try to replicate someone else’s sound it’ll always sound like themselves so lets call it ‘Barbe Rousse style’. But more generally I guess the music is psychedelic, dreamy and jangly. It can be rather progressive in places as well.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course? How is your new release different than previous ones?
As an extremely hyperactive kid I would love to run around and dance to whatever music was playing, it elated me. I got obsessed with many things but then tossed them aside after a period of time. However, with music I have never lost interest. It still keeps me interested and curious and I guess that’s what motivates me – to keep discovering and uncovering.
I released an album’s worth of material a few years ago but have since taken it down and started fresh with a new moniker, ‘Barbe Rousse’, as I got much better as a song-writer and producer. The biggest difference other than better production is probably the flow of the songs. I made it my priority to have the album make sense as a whole – no song seems out of place.
Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
As I said I wanted to accomplish a cohesive album but I guess I also wanted to create something that I could listen to in the years to come and not cringe… So we’ll have to wait and see.
Do you face challenges as an indie musician in a digital age?
Our advantages are also our disadvantages. It’s so easy to get your music out for consumption but it’s extremely hard to get people to listen. And if they do listen it’s only for the first 10 seconds thanks to the immediacy and instant gratification everyone craves. But if you manage to establish a fan-base or a following you can interact with your fans so easily which I believe is extremely important.
How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?
It has helped me a great deal. It has allowed me to be a control freak as well as write and record everything myself in my bedroom. Without it I would really struggle as I’d have to pay for studio time and get actual musicians to play…
Where can we connect with you online and discover more music? Anything else before we sign off?
You can get me on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp and Soundcloud as well as all the streaming services.
Thanks for reading and enjoy music, enjoy each other and have a great day. God bless.
