Barns Courtney performs songs from his new album '404' in The Current studio
by Mary Lucia
September 03, 2019
Barns Courtney returns to our studio after three years busily touring, songwriting and recording. Courtney and his band — lead guitarist/keyboardist Agam Timor, bassist Sam Mendel and drummer Selim Munir — are kicking off their tour Tuesday night at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, but not before stopping into the studio for a session hosted by Mary Lucia.
Recording the songs for the album took Courtney to the bedroom studio in the childhood home of his longtime writing partner. "I retracted into the womb and was in this place that I hadn't been since I was 17," Courtney explains, "and I really subscribe to that Bowie philosophy that where you are [geographically] has a huge impact on the music that you write. And so this record really has huge elements of nostalgia and the tribulations of growing up, and how you lose yourself as you age, you kind of distance from your authentic self and you become this series of charm-bracelet characteristics that you pick up along the way."
The resulting album is titled 404. "Like the 404 error when a computer's searching for a website that's not there anymore," Courtney explains. "I like the metaphor of searching for memories and emotions that no longer exist when you get down to it."
Listening to these gripping, visceral songs shows Barns Courtney was certainly able to tap into some deep emotions. Use the audio player above to hear the complete interview and studio session with Barns Courtney.
More Video
Songs Performed
"London Girls"
"You and I"
"1999"
All songs are from Barns Courtney's album 404, releasing Sept. 6, 2019, on Capitol Records.
Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Nate Ryan
Web feature by Luke Taylor
External Link
Barns Courtney - official site
