Matthew Barber has been stripped down as of late.
This summer, the Toronto-based folk/rock singer and songwriter released his sixth album, a self-titled work that he composed, played all the instruments and engineered himself in his basement studio.
His most recent music videos, too, have a homemade charm, some of them projects conceived and filmed by his girlfriend.
And then there are his shows: for his concert in Port Moody this Saturday, Barber plans to keep it simple with an acoustic performance and his sister, Jill, at his side.
Barber prefers the uncomplicated.
Of his self-produced album that was released in June, the 34-year-old musician said, "I like to be in control of things. I recognize that's not always the best way to go and there's value in having other people's objective input... but I like the big picture in making a record. I thought it would be fun to try it out myself."
It's not the first time he's gone at it alone.
While studying at Queen's University, he released in 1999 his debut album, A Thousand Smiles An Hour, independently.
Same thing for his breakthrough album, Means and Ends, three years later.
And, in 2008, Barber self-produced Ghost Notes, his fourth album, which was nominated in 2009 for a Juno award (the 10-track CD included duets with his sister and Sarah Harmer).
Barber admits the bare essentials are more common for him now. He has tuned many things out and become a self-described "homebody."
In earlier years, "I voraciously devoured music," he said. "I went out to shows all the time and I heard so much stuff.... and I love music still but I don't find myself actually listening to it anymore.
"It's been hard to maintain being the same level of a fan as I used to be. I lament that a little bit," he said. "I would like to get that spark of discovering new music back. Maybe it's just something I've been going through in the past two or three years."
As for his lovely songs, Barber can't pin down how he creates them.
He keeps an open mind for inspiration to strike when he "noodles" around on the guitar or piano, trying to find workable chord progressions and patterns.
Sometimes, if he's lucky, he can write a song quickly; others take months, mostly to refine the words. "The hardest part for me is the lyrics and figuring out what the song is going to be about," he said.
Barber, who has a master's degree in philosophy from McMaster University, said the best advice he can give to young songwriters is to be authentic "and have your music come from an honest place."
And, when writer's block hits, not to force the process.
"If I have a prolonged period, I don't feel great about that but I don't let myself get down," he said, adding, "Sometimes you have to work on other aspects of your craft and maybe just sing other people's songs for a while and figure out how they did it so easily."
Matthew Barber will lead a songwriting workshop on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. John's St.). Tickets are $25/$20. To see his festival gala show with Jill Barber at the Inlet Theatre that night, call 604-931-2008 for tickets at $35/$30.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
CHEZ JILL
A jazz artist inspired by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf, Jill Barber has four albums to her credit, the latest being Mischievous Moon.
In 2008, she was nominated for two Juno awards in the Best New Artist and Best Roots/Traditional solo album categories.
In 2007, she won East Coast Music Awards for Best Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. She also sings in French.
THE LINEUP
The 14th annual Port Moody Festival of the Arts starts tomorrow (Thursday) and runs until Oct. 2. Check out the events and activities, many of which are free to the public:
Sept. 22: Surrealist Night, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Sept. 23: Expressions of Iran, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Sept. 24: Art 4 Youth Day, 1 p.m., Rocky Point Sk8 Park
Sept. 24: Matthew Barber songwriting workshop, 4 p.m., Port Moody Arts Centre
Sept. 24: Jill and Matthew Barber, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Sept. 25: Art 4 U Day, 11 a.m., Port Moody Arts Centre
Sept. 25: Scavenger Heart, 7:30 p.m., Port Moody Arts Centre
Sept. 29: LOL Comedy Night, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Sept. 30: J. Peachy, 11 a.m., Inlet Theatre
Sept. 30: Mike McCardell, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Oct. 1: J. Peachy artist workshop, 1 p.m. Galleria
Oct. 1: Said the Whale with Bodhi Jones, 7 p.m., Inlet Theatre
Oct. 2: Ioco Ghost Town Day, 11:30 a.m., Ioco lawn bowling green
Oct. 2: Writing Play Shop, 5 p.m., Caffe Divano
For tickets, call the PoMo Arts Centre at 604-931-2008 or visit www.pomoartsfestival.ca/tickets.
