New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Today, Barrie - the acclaimed musical project helmed by Barrie
Lindsay - shares the video for "Frankie," a new single that confronts the American archetype of the relentless worker as posited by Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman." While the song's lyrics examine our relationship with labor, its sonics are sublime.
The opening pulse suggests
New Order as Barrie sings: "Born with emotion / Pushed into motion / Wichita Lineman / Our most favorite tragedy." Her voice echoes and subtle synth layers reveal themselves before a momentous breakbeat introduces the chorus, where Barrie laments the fruitless cycle of exploitation amid a backdrop of discontinued
New Deal projects.
Says Barrie: "Glen Campbell had just died and the radio was playing "Wichita Lineman." It felt relevant to the social justice movements at the moment, to the push for democratic socialism, or at least a rejection of capitalism and where it's gotten us. The Wichita Lineman has a shitty oppressive job that isolates and overworks him, as many Americans do, and instead of feeling outraged on his behalf, we honor and lionize his commitment to labor. The song is a great litmus test. People either find the character really heroic and noble, or find the whole situation sad and fucked."
The "Frankie" video challenges this alienation through the cathartic spontaneity of dance. Though Barrie and her wife Gabby had no prior dance experience, choreographer Matilda Sakomoto (Wet,
Daisy The Great) and director Adinah Dancyger (Okay Kaya, Lauv) are able juxtapose the song's narrative of exploited labor with a celebration of human motion and connection.
Says Barrie on the video: "I knew from the start that I wanted the "Frankie" video to be a dance video. I imagined an intensive, rhythmic, aerobic video; halfway between a Tae Bo workout video and pop choreography. I have no dance experience whatsoever, and wanted to work really hard and put that effort-fulness front and center in the video. Gabby has similar experience with dancing, so it was very cool and organic to learn together."
Continues director Adinah Dancyger: "Frankie" was an opportunity to explore the emotional landscape we carry as people: the trials and errors, frustration, awkwardness, confidence, confusion, connection, joy, and so on and so forth. Working with choreographer Matilda Sakomoto, we found a balance of what felt natural and where exploring new terrains brought about catharsis and spontaneity. It's a celebration of moving through the motions, through motion."
"Frankie" follows "Dig," Barrie's first music since her debut album, 2019's Happy To Be Here. Stereogum says "Dig" "blurs the line between indie rock and pop in somewhat mystic fashion...Like, this is definitely a pop song, but it also feels very post-Animal Collective? Maybe a bit like peak Dirty Projectors? The melody is gripping regardless."
Barrie is currently gearing up for 2022 live dates in Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles. See dates below and get tickets here: https://www.barrie.earth
'Dig / Frankie' 7" is out Dec 3 via Winspear: https://smarturl.it/dig-frankie
Tour Dates
01/18/22 - Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire
01/20/22 - London, UK @ The Lexington
02/03/22 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right w/ S. Raekwon
02/05/22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge w/ Nina Keith
Tickets: https://barrie.earth
Past Praise For Barrie
"A decadent blend of synth and jangle-pop guitar." — The New York Times
"A dose of pure, aural nostalgia... conjures memories of summer beach-bound joyrides." — GQ
"Combining influences of Sade and Enya into dreamy, indie pop, Barrie is making a rift in a genre that desperately craves innovation." — Nylon
"A personal vision that's long been simmering within its creator." — Stereogum
"A cinematic soundscape that would seem right at home in a glittering John Hughes montage. Downright dreamy...shows promising cohesion and polish." — NPR Music
"Your new favorite dream-pop band." — FADER
"An expertly lush and candy-hued landscape of dream pop." — VICE Noisey
"Wistful, swaying dream-pop gem that twinkles like hazy city lights on a late-night cruise down Mulholland Drive." — Gorilla vs. Bear
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