On the album Source of the Severn, an accomplished guitarist from Wales conveys the beauty of the British countryside with his jazz quartet and visual artist Erin Hughes.
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Today, the Spotlight shines On Will Barnes, leader of the Will Barnes Quartet, who joins me to talk about his life in music and, specifically, his ongoing collaboration with landscape artist Erin Hughes.
Their first album together, Source of the Severn, is a 21st-century take on classic bebop-era sounds. Erin’s nine original works of art respond to Will and the Quartet’s music, using her own hand-marbled papers as a palette to create collages that evoke the Mid-Wales landscape in which the participants all dwell.
The Will Barnes Quartet, featuring Erin Hughes, will tour throughout the year. At each performance, Erin will provide a special live visual show, leading to unique interactions between her, the band, and the audience.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the album Source of the Severn by the Will Barnes Quartet)
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0:00 - Introduction
3:19 - The roots of Will and Erin's collaboration
6:05 - Erin's live visual performance and its impact on the band
11:44 - Will's musical influences, including Oscar Peterson and Pat Metheny
15:47 - Will's love for heavy metal and reggae music
20:51 - Will's musical education and early experiences
24:45 - Will's custom-made guitar by luthier Rob Williams
27:33 - Creating a music and art scene in rural mid-Wales
30:20 - The future of Will and Erin's collaboration
32:18 - The ideal venue for the Will Barnes Quartet featuring Erin Hughes
35:31 - Trust and symbiosis within the collaboration
37:09 - Upcoming projects and touring plans
39:15 - Conclusion and acknowledgments
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Visit Will Barnes and the Will Barnes Quartet at https://www.willbarnesmusic.co.uk
Visit Erin Hughes and check out her artwork at https://www.erinlaurahughes.com
Purchase Source of the Severn by the Will Barnes Quartet on Bandcamp → https://willbarnesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/source-of-the-severn
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/source-of-the-severn-will-barnes-quartet/akwz7jsya17ya
or listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://songwhip.com/willbarnesquartet/source-of-the-severn
Follow Will Barnes on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/willbarnesmusic
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/willbarnesguitar
and YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4MJsV11MVSEqvjOnm-lI7Q
Follow artist Erin Hughes on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/erin.l.hughes
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