Candian singer-songwriter Monique Barry delivers a stunning sonic journey with the dual release of two new singles - Gone and Eagles.
Layers of haunting electronic and orchestral instrumentation weave together to form tales of loss, clarity and freedom. Accompanied by a hypnotic, surrealist video, Monique reflects on changing perspectives and the emotional journeys we undertake.
I had a chat to Monique about the story behind writing each song, her wide range of musical inspiration and the ever-evolving stages of her project…
Words by Annie Rew Shaw
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Annie) Hey Monique! Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers?
Monique) I’m an artist from Toronto, Ontario working on my latest project - HAAK - releasing it single by single in the order the songs will appear on the finished product. When completed, this will be my fifth album to date.
I started working on this project in 2015; writing the songs and performing them live in whatever shape they took at the time. The songs continue to find their form until they are captured in their final recording. The live show continues to take shape as new songs are added, older ones mature and the recorded ones find strength and start to age.
The project is a study from innocence to wisdom. In effect, the songs reflect a single emotion. Not only is the music reflecting an evolution but the whole process of the project creates the concept by giving each song the time it deserves. It seems we have lost respect for time and have little patience. It’s the very reason I decided to do the project this way.
I love your new singles - Gone and Eagles. What made you decide to release the songs as a pair?
The song Eagles was first written in the very locale that we shot the video. I knew when I wrote Eagles that it would be the redemptive ending of a song. Since I’ve been writing and performing the album, songs have been coming and going, ever evolving. I was sure that the opening song would show itself. Once I started writing Gone, I knew that it would be Eagles’ partner. Gone was in Bb major and Eagles was in C major, so the trick was to be able to keep them both in their original keys and make sure the transition was very clean and natural.
What’s the story behind the songs?
Each song on the album represents a basic human emotion/desire. Open Road - leaving home, Freedom - first taste of freedom, High as A Kite - lust likely disguised as love, New Eyes - first sense of independence, Dance - escapism, Gone - first devastation, Eagles - redemption, ready to begin again.
Gone + Eagles takes us past the midpoint of the album. It represents the first time a person is gutted. It’s such a devastation when it first happens, and I’m convinced everyone remembers their first real disappointment mentally and physically. Some people will live there for a long time and even start to enjoy that feeling. Gone is a representation of that experience, hopefully in a beautiful way.
When I wrote Eagles, I pictured myself lying on the ground looking up at the sky and watching an eagle soaring above me. The very act of realising you’ve hit rock bottom juxtaposed with the freedom of ‘the flying, all seeing eagle’ felt like the perfect way to reflect on moving forward.
Your music is really dreamy. Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in the smallest things. I love texture. There is texture in everything. Even the ugliest things can be beautiful if viewed properly. So that would be the visual inspiration.
Musically, I’ve been fortunate enough to be introduced to many different styles that provide inspiration for the dreamy quality I love - from classical, jazz, progressive rock, ambient music and all the sub genres that go with. I love walls of sound, ambience, electronica and soundscaping.
I feel the songs should reflect the society I live in. It can be very noisy naturally and unnaturally and I want that represented. I try to tap into as well as challenge one’s natural psyche. I don’t leave tons of room for silence. That may be something I visit on the next album (likely kidding but you never know).
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I can’t give you a venue but I can say that I really want to tour this project in Europe. I think it would be well received and welcomed.
What are you listening to at the moment?
There is a lot of listening and it's ever changing so I’ll give you a vague outline.
Producers - Michael Philip Wojewoda, Brian Eno
Classical staples - Grieg - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Philip Glass - Etudes, Chopin, Brahms, Schumann
Popular & Indie - Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Majek Fashek, Terry Allen, Anne Sofie von Otter, Scott Walker, Olafur Arnalds, Forest Robots, Brock Simpson, Caribou, DeafheavenA Particular Favourite - Augie March