Innovative marketing has by far become a powerful beast. The best marketing is what doesn’t appear to be marketing at all. In order to promote its ‘Sunset Sessions’, Heineken came up with the idea that in order to even be able to go the party, one must be seen at a ‘Heineken Warm-Up Session’ whilst drinking a Heineken. Surly, how well one is endowed contributes to one’s chances to be invited, but fact is, a lot of Heineken will be sold, both at the ‘Warm-Up Sessions’ and at the ‘Sunset Sessions’. Why drown oneself in Heineken? Well, you may have your reasons, but a good reason to add to your list is because headlining the Sunset Sessions is none other than Latrice Barnett, touring once again with her co-production partner Jay-J.
It’s only been 7 years since Barnett first began singing professionally, but she has already surmounted a resume fit for a lifetime of work. Hailing from San Francisco, CA, she has written and sung on numerous house anthems with Jay-J, releasing them on the eponymous house labels, such as Moulton Studios and Naked Music. She fronts a soul and funk band by the name of Five Point Plan, having opened for a broad range of artists such as BB King and Sade, while also having toured with Counting Crows and Live. This year saw her joining the band Galactic for their 2004 tour, wherein she added her unique vocal sound to the group. Barnett has numerous releases with various producers, such as Brent Laurence and High Spies and has seen her work appear on countless mix albums, some of the more well-known being ‘San Francisco Sessions Vol.4’ – mixed by Kaskade on Om Records and ‘In the House’ – mixed by Jay-J and Miguel Migs on Defected Records. Barnett’s greatest success came at the release of ‘Keep On Rising’ last year, produced together with Jay-J.
With the Heineken Sunset Sessions tour of Australia just around the corner, ITM’s Marquee Moon tried popping some questions at Latrice Barnett and found that her return volleys proved her to be as funny as they come. Read on to find out why she’s experimenting with Japanese classical music, how she passed her French studies and why she is going to kick your ass!
ITM – Thank you very much for taking the time to answer a few questions for ‘In the Mix’. You’re going to be touring Australia in just a few weeks as part of the ‘Heineken Sunset Sessions’ with Jay-J. Are you looking forward to coming over to some warm weather for a change?
Barnett – Definitely – at the moment I’m bundled up in 3 layers and a scarf – in California!!! I am looking forward to being one of the few Californians with a real tan when I return.
ITM – Is part of the contract that you have to have a Heineken in your hand on stage?
Barnett – Wow, I hadn’t heard about that stipulation. That may put a crimp in my complicated dance routines.
ITM – How did your collaborations with Jay-J first come together?
Barnett – Jay-J and I met a few years back when he put out the word in town (San Francisco) that he was looking for a vocalist to record a couple tracks. A couple of musicians that he worked with recommended me. When we started working together, we had so much fun and shared such a love for the music that we haven’t stopped yet.
ITM – The American songstress in France. That could be the premise for a sultry movie. What originally led you to France? What happened in France that ignited your career in music?
Barnett – Ha, France… I was there as the epitomal student abroad in college. However instead of focusing on my studies, I joined a band – which proved a much more intensive and hands-on way to become proficient in the French language. I only passed my classes because I put all my professors on the list for my shows.
ITM – In a past interview you’ve been quoted to say: “As a songwriter, I cannot limit myself to any one genre. I just write from the heart, and if my heart feels soulful, or pop, or country-western, or jazz, it is my duty to express it as honestly as I can.” Do you think that by saying this, you have abandoned style genres altogether in your song writing, the musical output thereby adhering strictly to what is ‘from the heart’?
Barnett – Hmm, sort of. I haven’t abandoned genres, I just don’t confine myself to any. I try to do what is best for the song that’s trying to be born, and put as many influences and yummy-feeling vibes in whatever I create so that folks will instantly have an emotional response. ...if that makes any sense.
ITM – You’ve sung in the band Five Point Plan since it was formed. How is it going from singing in front of a band to singing in front of a DJ?
Barnett – Well, it’s different in a lot of ways. With a DJ, the parts are already set on the TV track, so there isn’t so much room for error on the part of the music. However, I sometimes miss the camaraderie and spontaneity of multiple energies on the stage.
They’re both awesome experiences though.
ITM – In terms of song writing and production, what is it like going from writing with Five Point Plan, where there are a number of opinions and influences from 5 people , to sitting in the studio with Jay-J, or Brent Laurence and it’s just one on one?
Barnett – Pretty much the same: what I want goes and that’s that, no matter if it’s 1 on 1 or 5 on 1. ...no, really… usually in songwriting, it’s only 2 or 3 people contributing at a time. I’ve never really successfully co-written with 5 people; too many chefs in the kitchen. Generally there are 1 to 3 people who are really invested in writing a particular song, so there aren’t too many opinions that I have to bulldoze over – I mean compromise with.
ITM – How has your work with the band Galactic affected you?
Barnett – Umm, I think it has made me a more versatile artist. Prior to galactic I sort of shied away from performing any rock-based music, because someone years ago told me that I just don’t have a “rock voice.” But learning to overcome that has allowed me to realize that a tool can have many uses and still work.
ITM – Having worked with both live instrumentation and electronic composition, do you find yourself thinking in one stream or the other? Or have the two merged for you in your song writing?
Barnett – I honestly think that in modern-day songwriting, unless you are sitting down with a pencil, a baby grand, and a stack of staff paper, you are probably composing electronically somehow. I travel a lot and by default most of my compositions occur on the computer. Whether or not they are played by a live band or a DJ is determined at a later date, but mostly everything can be electronic now.
ITM – What are some of the key messages you wish to convey through your songs?
Barnett – Love. Of life, of people, of every moment. And a sense of humor about things when they get too serious. I have this twisted humor that emerges in times of stress or strife, I’m sure I got it from my mother, and I think that has helped me immensely and given me a unique perspective on some things.
ITM – You’ve lived in San Francisco for some time now. What kind of influence has living there on your music? (The influence city itself, rather than the fact that some of the heavy-weight deep house labels are based there.)
Barnett – The city is definitely my muse. I can walk outside and see people of every different nationality, hear types of music from all over the world, and have conversations with friends or strangers with totally amazing and unexpected points of view. I try to incorporate that in my music, sometimes exploring a Latin feel or a Brazilian feel, or even incorporating elements of Japanese classical music. Whatever I feel inspired by is often shaped by what I come across in daily life.
ITM – Everyone describes your vocal style as being very RnB and Soul oriented, which is obvious, but I seem to hear quite a bit of Gospel influence. Do you have any background in Gospel?
Barnett – Wow, thanks. I don’t have as much gospel training as I’d like… the last time I sang in a gospel choir, I was about 9 years old. But my dad was the choir director at our old church, and we all sang in the choir by default. I guess those years of singing “This
Little Light of Mine” really paid off.
ITM – Is being an artist a burden or a blessing?
Barnett – A blessing by far, at least for me. I’m very happy and fortunate to be able to do what I love most in the world for a living. That should be everyone’s goal, figuring out those 2 or 3 things that really curl your toes and then doing it, not worrying about whether you become rich or not. You’ve only got one life, no? Why waste it doing something you don’t enjoy?
ITM – Any advice to hopeful songwriters and singers?
Barnett – Yeah: I break the kneecaps of my competitors. Hahaha. Bad joke. Honestly… write what you want to hear, not what you think people want to hear. That will give you your true voice. And there’s always an audience for that.
ITM – Any resolutions for 2005?
Barnett – Resolutions: write more music, play more shows, kick more ass. And wear crazier eye make-up.
Be sure to catch Barnett performing with Jay-J at the Heineken Sunset Sessions events:
Sun 28 Nov – Riva, St Kilda – Melbourne
Mon 29 Nov – Cottesloe Beach Hotel, Cottesloe – Perth
Sat 4 Dec – Sol Bar, Ramada Pier – Adelaide
Sun 5 Dec – Bungalow 8, King St Wharf – Sydney
Mon 6 Dec – Fridays, Eagle St Pier – Brisbane
