31 March 2025
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with Glasgow artist Johnny Barr to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
My name is Johnny Barr, and I’m from Glasgow. This is my return to writing and performing original music after nearly a 10 year hiatus.
During this hiatus, I have studied 2 degrees in music and have become a qualified music therapist. My main focus and drive for doing music has always been to help others. I have enjoyed being an events organiser, teacher, community musician and music therapist over this time. But recently, after studying my masters in music therapy, I have learned more about myself and where I would like to be in life. As a result, I have reignited a passion for writing music all about the experiences I have had and any challenges I have faced.
This is what has driven me to return to the music scene and I intend to work hard in delivering this message for myself and others.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
I have a varied list of inspirations, but mainly I am inspired by Gerry Rafferty and John Martyn with their acoustic sounds and abilities – I like to make my music acoustic guitar led, but then enjoy creating arrangements that link in with my heavier taste in music.
Bands like Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Linkin Park, Slipknot and System of a Down are some that come to mind. Here’s a list of my favourite albums; ones that have inspired me one way or another at different points in my music career since I first played music.
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick
Guns N’ Roses- Appetite for Destruction
Gerry Rafferty – Night Owl
John Martyn – So Far So Good
Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
Slipknot – Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
Queens of the Stone Age – …Like Clockwork
Michael Jackson – Thriller
How would you describe your sound?
Acoustic led rock.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
‘Break the Fall’ is the main single of my new EP and also features my very good friend, and renowned blues cellist, Calum Ingram. This song was the starting point for me to return to original music as a solo artist. I was asked to be a part of the Scottish Acoustic Guitar Project and was given a week to write a song with a shared guitar amongst the group. The song was written about my insecurities around writing music again and my desire to try and make a change and break the habit of procrastinating around something I would regret not doing again. I was also training to become a music therapist at the time and took part in compulsory personal therapy sessions (a course requirement). But through learning about myself, I started to realise that there was a lot I didn’t truly understand about who I am and why I am the person I am. Becoming a music therapist has been a challenging yet eye opening experience that has allowed me to face my own inner demons and work towards improving and growing as a person. The song delves into some of my own internal conflicts and the songwriting has helped me process these difficult realisations to help me move forward.
What’s your local music scene like?
I would say that the music scene in Glasgow has finally returned to health, now that we’re a little bit post-Covid. We have brilliant venues like the Barrowlands, The Hydro and the O2… as well as a thriving grassroots scene with iconic venues like King Tuts and Nice N Sleazy.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
My next adventure will be joining Kyle Falconer (The View) and Justin Hawkins (The Darkness) at the La Sierra Casa songwriting retreat in Alicante, Spain in April. I will have the unbelievable experience of songwriting with my idols alongside other selected songwriters. We will be writing music together for a full week and this will most likely be the catalyst for my next EP already!
Other than that, my intention is to plan a mainly Scottish tour with some English dates and focus on promoting my current EP ‘Break the Fall’. The hard work has been done and now it is time to celebrate and enjoy the music I have written on stage before I re-enter the studio for the next round.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Obviously, big ones would be heroes like Foo Fighters and Fleetwood Mac… but I have been fortunate to share billings with some great acts, like Hozier and James Bay.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I recently did a comeback show in August 2023 which was a sell out – and after that I was one of the headliners for the Paisley food and drink festival in 2024. These shows were special because I proved to myself that I was able to pack out a 200 capacity venue and a 400 capacity live music tent – and at these shows, people travelled from all over Scotland to see me. They had seen me play in pubs over the years and took time to come and support me at my show. Also, I experienced a moment where the crowd were singing my songs back to me. This moment was the first time that happened and was therefore really powerful and motivating for me to continue my return into the Scottish original music scene.
Do you have any upcoming live dates and performances?
My next booked performance will be an acoustic show supporting Rigid Soul at Room 2 Glasgow on Friday 30th May. You can find out more here.
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
Since taking my musical hiatus, I have become determined to use my experiences outside of music to write songs I hope will inspire and help people. I have a busy 2025 planned, and I hope people will come with me on this journey!
You can find out more about Johnny via Apple Music, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify or YouTube.
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