Q&A: David Barnes

Fame surely has not gone to singer-songwriter Dave Barnes’ head. Even after all 93 of the three dollar tickets offered sold out after only two days in the box office, “chill” seems to be an accurate description of Barnes’ musical style along with his personality. Wearing a dark cotton T-shirt, blue jeans and a smile that stretched for miles, he could just be another cute, southern gentleman. But how many gentlemen have six albums full of rock-R&B songs, a number one single playing on contemporary Christian stations across the nation, and a song covered by one of country music’s biggest stars? Barnes—with hair gelled Justin Beiber style and casually perched on a stool–told the Huntingtonian how stardom really feels.

ANNA FARMER
You definitely have a southern accent, I read that you’re from Nashville but I didn’t think I would hear the twang in your voice.

DAVID BARNES
No way! I don’t think I have an accent.

ANNA FARMER
I guess us Midwesterners can just pick up on things like that. Is this your first visit to Indiana?

DAVID BARNES
Oh no, I actually started playing shows in Fort Wayne, Indiana when I first got started in the music business about ten years ago. Since then, I’ve been here a lot. First time at HU though!

ANNA FARMER
And we are so excited about that! How did you get started in the music industry?

DAVID BARNES
It came down to a combination of all the right kinds of people. I started playing with a friend of mine, Matt Wertz, and he introduced me to more people and so on.
ANNA Farmer

So it all comes down to networking in the end after all. When people ask me what your music is like, I always compare you to John Mayer. [laughs] Is that a correct comparison?

DAVID BARNES
[Laugh] Yeah, I don’t mind being compared to John, we met about five years ago and he has been a kind mentor and supporter since then. I guess I differ from John though because I do a lot of country co-writes and I really enjoy it when I get to sing back up for a band. It’s so fun singing harmonies when you don’t have to carry the whole weight of the song.

ANNA FARMER
Speaking of country, I heard Billy Currington’s cover of your single, “Until You,” playing on the country station the other day. First of all, I like your version better, and second, how does that feel to have a number one country artist cover one of your songs?

DAVID BARNES
I love it! When I was in school, the reason I even started playing guitar was so that I could write songs for other people to sing and I am a huge fan of country so it was pretty cool when Billy called me.

ANNA FARMER
So, you didn’t start playing guitar until college? When did you realize you could sing?

DAVID BARNES
After my second record came out. [Laughs] No, I was a drummer my whole life, I was in the high school band,and I just wanted to learn a new instrument so I picked up a guitar.

ANNA FARMER
You make it sound so easy. It’s a little like the Justin Beiber story [Laughs] he was a drummer before his singing career boomed. What do you think of him?

DAVID BARNES
It’s funny that you say that because a lot of people say I resemble him because of my hairstyle. I have not met him, but I would love the chance to. I think he seems like a really down to earth kid. I like that he’s the real deal, not manufactured, he plays different instruments and I would definitely like to play with him sometime.

ANNA FARMER
He has tons of female fans, as you probably know, but he’s not married so he can handle it. How does your wife feel about all of your female fans?

DAVID BARNES
Oh, we’ve been married for about five years so she’s seen it all. She just thinks it’s hysterical. She’s known me for a long time, before I started in the music industry, so she laughs.

ANNA FARMER
You have a lot of love songs, are those all written for your wife, or any past girlfriends?

DAVID BARNES
Everything since I’ve been married has been written about my wife, so yeah, pretty much everything I’ve written was for her. Her name is Annie and I have a song written for the piano that is about her, named “Annie.”

ANNA FARME
Awe, that is very sweet and must explain why so many of your songs are positive—you have a healthy relationship!

DAVID BARNES
Yeah, I’m a pretty happy guy, so I don’t write a lot of sad songs about break ups and negative things. I have a few of them, but not many.

ANNA FARMER
Do you try to write more contemporary Christian songs or do you lean towards the secular side?

DAVID BARNES
I try to make both sides equal. I’m an equal opportunity musician I guess you could say.