MUSIC

Rudyard's presents David Barnes * Andrew Ripp.

David Barnes (pictured, Nashville, TN) - As singer/songwriter Dave Barnes tells it, he had a Harry Potter moment while in college. Like the poor, misunderstood boy living under the stairs with his Uncle and Aunt, Barnes also belonged to a magical tribe, but up to that point hadn’t realized it. “I was thinking I was weird, or something was wrong with me. But when I found the magazine Performing Songwriter, I thought, ‘you mean there’s a g…roup of people …who relate to this? Who have a hard time talking when there is a melody in their head or will run off and call their voicemail so they can remember how this one lyric goes?’”

That’s right, Dave, you’re a wizard. Well, a songwriting wizard, anyway. So get out of that cramped room and get to Hogwarts—er, Nashville.

A few years later, Barnes graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Recording Industry Management—“I’m one of the few musicians in the world actually using my major,” he laughs—and became a performing songwriter himself, relocating to Nashville to see what might happen.

At first very little was happening, with Barnes cutting his teeth in a 50-capacity room—and drawing just seven people at one point. But just a few years later, after crisscrossing the country and selling vanloads of two independent albums—Brother, Bring The Sun and Chasing Mississippi, the artist had landed songs on television and in films, and was well known to thousands who’d discovered his soulful, supple way with a melody, wrapping itself around a lyric that sneakily burrows under the skin. Those fans include Vince Gill and Amy Grant (who made guest appearances on Chasing Mississippi) and John Mayer, who said on his blog: “Go where this guy is taking you. My man’s aim is true!”

Where is Barnes taking listeners? Judging by a spin of his latest, Me and You and the World, just about anywhere. The Steely Dan jazz-pop of “Someday.” The Blind Boys of Alabama-style gospel of “Carry Me Through.” The lighters-in-the-air sing-along chorus of “When A Heart Breaks.” The crowd favorite and first single, “Until You.” Or, perhaps, the delicate, cello-laced ballad of “On A Night Like This.” It’s all here.

“I always want my songs to be served individually,” Barnes says. “As we approach production, what I’m always the most conscious of is, ‘is this song sounding like it needs to sound?’ I do want the record to sound good, but I’m a lot more concerned with an individual song. That’s all that anybody’s listening to at one point anyway.”

Strangely enough, Barnes never made a conscious decision to arrive where he is today. As he puts it, one thing just led to another, without much of a master plan. “I am thankful that many young singer/songwriters ask me, ‘dude, how did you do it? Give me the roadmap.’ But the truth is,’ I don’t know.’ I can’t tell you that I’ve ever planned anything. And I like that, because it must mean I am meant to do this. Right?”

Andrew Ripp (Los Angeles, CA) - To call Andrew Ripp a singer/songwriter is to leave something deep out of the equation. It’s true. He sings. And when he sings, something catches in your chest and you wonder why your heart is reacting to what is coming in your ears. It’s true. He’s a songwriter. He intricately weaves words into stories that have somehow aged and ripened and are sweet to ingest.

But there is more. Maybe it has to do with the rock-infused tones that are ever present. Maybe it is more soulful than pop, or maybe it is more pop than soul? Or is it rock with some soul and a hint of pop with the songwriting of a well-lived life? Whatever you call it, Andrew has it.

Ripp’s debut album Fifty Miles to Chicago, which he co-wrote and co-produced, released in 2008 to many-a-round of applause. Compared to the likes of Ray Lamontagne, Maroon 5, and Jason Mraz, Andrew toured the country, performing songs from this album, and won fans quickly with his pure tones, strong lyrics, and that other thing that we have yet to define but definitely contributes to his awesome.

With the release of his sophomore album She Remains the Same, Andrew is seeing the world in a new way. Nashville, Tennessee is his current address, and with a maturing faith, this album speaks to the new place where he is- both physically and spiritually. It’s about truth. It’s about faith. It’s about life and living it well. Produced by Dave Barnes, this record peels back another layer of Andrew’s talent while giving the audience a unique sound experience. Meant to be an album full of life, you can’t listen and not be warmed by the sounds. Listeners of this album will immediately want more. And luckily, according to Andrew, this story is still unfolding. Which can only mean (fingers crossed) that he will continue to write, sing, and create sounds that change the atmosphere.

According to his fans? That is music to their ears.