Barbara and the abstract slinky nature, between psych rock and surf punk of "so this is living?"

"What I'm used to / Slipping away, falls off the page / Once I used to / Live in your brain / didn't know pain..."

The abstract slinky nature, between psych rock and surf punk of "so this is living?" by Denver based indie psych rock trio Barbara, and the title track from their sophomore album, is so sideways dreamy as to feel sort of genre agnostic. I could easily make a case for this feeling closer to Radiohead than Zella Day and, really, the comparison game is silly really. I am just feeling that "so this is living?" bridges so many sonic temperatures dipping it's toes into jazz, post punk, psychedelic garage rock, surreal pop, etc, etc. This feels so acidically dreamy that it should have been included as soundtrack fodder for Severance, maybe even many times over. Really dig the day dreaminess, the spiralling down nature, the sound of the vocals kill too. 

LINER NOTES (bracketed):

[Inspired initially by "Doodle Bob" from "Spongebob Squarepants," "so this is living?" explores what it would feel like to suddenly come alive after living on a page. This nostalgic sounding track with a super hypnotic bass-line is hopeful in nature with the line "since I'm alive, might as well try".]

The seeds of this song make me smile. You wouldn't believe how many songs have been inspired by the "Spongebob" universe. 

MORE LINER NOTES:

[Barbara’s sound is a truly one of a kind mix of members Camilla Vaitaitis (gtr/vox), Bridget Hartman (bass), and Anna Panella (drums). After meeting in music school studying composition, jazz & commercial music, and classical trombone (respectively), the three moved in together and started experimenting with different sounds and instruments. The three mothers together birthed one holy child: Barbara. The band’s sound has been described as “Kurt Cobain but pretty,” “music to feel things to,” and “sonically unusual” which the band personally finds to be fucking hilarious. Basically the trio is committed to figuring it out as they go— and it’s working. Emotive lyricism gives way to heavy distortion and a healthy serving of terminal climaxes in their sophomore album set to release in early 2025.]

-Robb Donker Curtius    

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6hhmxPotJ2kCsQjUGPtH14

https://www.instagram.com/go_barbara_go/#

https://www.facebook.com/yourgreatauntbarbara

https://gobarbarago.bandcamp.com/album/so-this-is-living


Barbara is a band. The Denver trio enjoys making sounds about feelings that come from things like turning seven at a roller rink, watching Freaks & Geeks, and accidentally taking too many drugs. From shoegaze to gritty psychedelia, Barbara remains wobbly and dreamy at their core. After getting their feet wet with their first album Escape Artist, Barbara has been touring, playing festivals, and recording their sophomore album with Connor Birch of Flaural and James Barone of Beach House.


With a vicious knack for the DIY approach, the band has completed two self-booked tours and performed at Treefort, Sled Island, and Denver’s own Underground Music Showcase; as well as been on bills with DRAMA, Boogarins, and A Giant Dog. There’s a certain chemistry surrounding the trio, and they’re carving a place for the psych rock scene in the Front Range.




Barbara, Denver Colorado, psychedelic, indie rock, jazz dipped, fusion rock, hybrid rock, surfy, post punk, DIY rock, sophomore album "So This Is Living", title track  "so this is living?",