Spencer Barnett is a 24-year-old San Fran native, his retro-psychedelic indie sound is presented in a way that doesn’t take away from his youthful age and merges the two making his sound and music accessible to all generations and ages of music listeners. A musical virtuoso picking up the guitar and piano at 8 years old, he is able to captivate an audience with his talents and hypnotic voice. Having already released 3 projects in his novice career, the singer/songwriter prepares for his newest release ‘Jigsaw’. The latest project from Spencer drops today and prior to its release ASBO asked the 24-year-old a few questions to get to know the talented musician a bit better.
In your own words, how would you describe Spencer Barnett?
I’m always trying to better understand the people that I’m confused by. And sometimes that’s even myself. I think that this project is both an exercise in reflection but also hopefully a kickstarter for others to do the same.
Who are the artists or people you take the most inspiration from?
While making this project I listened to a ton of Lomelda, Big Thief, Phoenix, Aphex Twin and Pink Floyd. They all really push the needle – some in small ways through texture or lyrics, and some with big swings, redefining or inventing new genres entirely. Jigsaw definitely pulls from all these artists and in making the record I tried to ask myself the same “what if’s” that I imagine they did while making their records.
Only 24 now and with your first song on streaming platform being released 5 years ago, when did you decide that music was the path you wanted to follow?
When I was 13, I had the opportunity to go to the studio and record with Third Eye Blind. Stephan Jenkins from the band really took me under his wing and has been a huge force and influence in my music and my life. But playing with them and then hearing it back through the monitors was a feeling like no other. I became obsessed with recording, writing, producing, and making records.
Born in San Francisco, what effect did the city have on you?
SF has a sort of unique music scene. There are so many greats that have come out of the Bay, but it’s simultaneously not a hub for the industry. And this was awesome growing up because I was able to focus purely on my craft rather than worrying about how it would be received.
There is a maturity in your music beyond your years, do you agree with this statement and if yes where does it come from?
Haha. Well, to be honest, I might not be the most mature person on a day-to-day basis. But I am very focused when I’m in the studio and it’s a time for me to think. And so I think that if people feel a level of maturity it’s likely a result of the process more than the player.
What is the reasoning behind the ep title ‘Jigsaw’?
Jigsaw started as a bunch of little ideas – jams, voice memos, stories – before coming together as songs and ultimately a record. I think the story for this record is one that is best understood when thinking about it a whole rather than each song in sequence and so I kind of liked the image of this puzzle. Each of the songs is like a piece – all scrambled together – and it’s up to the listener to build something out of it.
‘Jigsaw’ is out today and after speaking to Spencer his answers only made us even more eager to hear what he had to offer on the project. While we listen to his songs entailing loss, love and everything in between, you should as well with ‘Jigsaw’ being available everywhere you listen to music.
