2022 was an exciting year for Barry with the release of his album Gentle. His audience grew considerably from previous years thanks to the many generous music reviews and the international radio play for the four feature singles released with accompanying videos. Barry is now ready to build on that success with his newest album, In The Meantime slated for release March 23rd.
In The Meantime is Barry’s tenth solo effort in as many years. As last year’s release, Gentle, made its way around the globe to at least 94 different countries and on to 300 playlists on Spotify alone, Barry was already busy writing and recording. Like Gentle, most of the songs on In The Meantime were recorded in Nashville, TN as well as in Toronto, ON. The album is produced by
Barry Muir, Chip Hardy and Rod Lewis. “It features the exact line up of musicians
as Gentle and The Wild and Beautiful including Britt Savage on background vocals who, at this point, I can’t imagine recording without,” shares Barry.
The first single from the upcoming album is Home In A New York Minute. “It’s an old saying believed to have originated in Texas comparing the laid back pace of a Texas lifestyle to the opposite in New York.”, he explains. “It fits the song’s storyline perfectly when the singer finds himself in Texas only to realize he’s left everything behind in Buffalo and can’t get home quick enough.”
Barry got his musical start playing the bar scene in Western Canada. At barely 20, he moved to Vancouver where he soon found his way into the original music scene playing bass guitar on several recording projects. He eventually joined the Payola$, led by Bob Rock-producer of Bon Jovi, Metallica, Motley Cru to name a few. That year, the Payola$ went on to have a tremendous single
with “Eyes Of A Stranger” and win two Juno awards. Barry was nominated for bass player of the year for the 1983 Juno all star band alongside Geddy Lee and Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve who not long ago where his musical idols. During Barry’s tenure with the band they toured with The Go Go’s, Rush, Cheap Trick and head lined their own shows in 130 US and Canadian cities.
In Bob Rock’s early days as a producer, he would use Barry to play bass. One of those recording artists Bob worked with was Barney Bentall. Barry immediately bonded with Barney and his band.
They became the Legendary Hearts and the demos they recorded led to a multi album deal with Epic/Columbia. Their debut, self-titled album garnered a hit single with “Something To Live For” that, to this day, is a staple on classic rock stations. You can’t talk about Barry Muir’s musical journey without mentioning the years he spent playing in the critically acclaimed band, “The Blue Shadows”. Macleans magazine rated them as one of the top 20 bands in the world.
“Looking back at my life, some of my fondest memories are the musical moments; the gigs where everyone including the crowd is in sync, the late night/all night recording sessions, the traveling from coast to coast and of course the many great musicians I’ve played with over the years.” he reminisces. “I’m grateful for the many bands I’ve played in, particularly the ones that have always strived to reach new heights; The Payola$, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, The Blue Shadows. But like most bands, there’s that gig you know is probably the last. It’s usually a bitter-
sweet moment and usually an ending to a brotherly camaraderie formed over years.”
There are those that reach a point when they say to themselves, “perhaps it’s time to get a real job”. That point came for Barry years back, but he never gave up the bug. “Now I feel I’ve come full circle and I’m lucky to be able to get back to the music I love whole-heartedly without the hardships.”
Stream below;
