Today we’d like to introduce you to Seán Barna.

Hi Seán, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been a drummer since 9 years old, semi-professional by 14 years old, and professional by 22 years old, when I served as the drummer and percussionist for that national Broadway tour of The Producers: a Mel Brooks Musical. I did not write songs or sing until I was about 25 or 26 years old. In 2014 I released my first EP of music, entitled Cutter Street, followed by my first LP, Pictures of an Exhibitionist, in 2017.

Everything sort of changed the next year when I recorded and released my next EP, Cissy. My friend Adam Duritz of Counting Crows heard the early versions and asked to sing on one of the songs, “Routines.” His participation brought along another level of publicity–one of the great songwriters of his generation using every interview he did that year to talk about the work I was doing. He remains one of my very best friends (for his birthday, I just recently released a sick cover of his hit, “Mr. Jones”), and he even brought me on tour to serve as direct support for Counting Crows for 22 dates of their 2021 summer tour.

In 2022, I signed to the label Kill Rock Stars and released my first record with them, An Evening at Macri Park, in 2023.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Jesus Christ, no. Being a musician at the level I’ve chosen to do it–in writing, recording, and performance–has cost me everything, especially financial security. And, of course, the failures take an immense toll on your mental health, and the successes are always short-lived.

I drove to Nashville last September to finish a recording project, knowing I had only money to get there and no money at all after that. I lived in a tent at a campground or in my car for all of September 2023 and half of October, until the wonderful people at the bar Black Rabbit in downtown Nashville offered me a lead bartender position and I was able to slowly dig myself out.

These days, we are forced to be “content creators” first and songwriters second. Booking a good tour is nearly impossible, making money on tour or recordings even more so. And, of course, attention spans are shorter than ever. If you are a booking agent, PLEASE get in touch.

No, the road has not been smooth.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a writer, singer, songwriter, drummer, and percussionist.

My songs are lyrically dense and generally animated by the queer experience — my experience and the experience of the beautiful people I have met along the way — as I have traveled and lived in, to name a few, Los Angeles, New York City, Berlin, rural Colorado, and Washington, D.C., where I first moved in 2010 to attend the Master of Public Policy program at Georgetown University (graduated in 2012 with the degree).

My most recent record, An Evening at Macri Park, is a character study on a queer/drag bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It explores the idea that queer spaces, only legal since the 70s, are generally safe spaces, but you still bring your demons inside.

My unreleased next record is inspired by my time living in rural Colorado and is grown from the sounds of acoustic string band music.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Get out in the world. Talk to people. Put yourself in uncomfortable/new situations as much as possible. Find the people that do what you want to be doing and go to the places they are. And always, always, always–be kind. It’s the only superpower we all have, if we want it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seanbarna.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/seanbarna
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/seanbarna
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/seanbarna
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/seanbarna
• SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/seanbarna

Image Credits
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