Marcia Barnes

The debut album of a rising Belfountain singer is now ready for release.

Marcia Barnes, 20, finished recording My Latin Roots after less than five months. The album she produced features 14 of her songs composed in English, Spanish and French.

"I wanted to explore my Latin background," she said. "I wrote all summer with a Latin focus."

She explained she's a natural jazz musician, but decided to challenge herself to the secrets of Latin music.

The project came together with the help of a great team of international musicians, including Colombian musician and co-producer Luis Ariel Rey. He played percussion, Tom Wolf was on drums, Joe Orlando performed bass, Kent (Max) MacMillan was on guitar and Luis Deniz played saxophone. Danielle Dixon, 9, provided chorus vocals on the song "Open Window." Barnes provided vocals, all keyboards and digital sounds.

The album was engineered by Brian Hewson and recorded at Escarpment Sound Studio in Acton. It was mixed by Hewson and Rey, and mastered by Andrew St. George. Photography for the CD
was done by Sara Emmerson, art direction and design was done by Marcia's mother, Susana Barnes, and graphics were provided by Chad Seip Design & Out of Control Entertainment Graphics Team.

The album will be available for purchase at the Web site: marciabarnes.com.

Barnes went back to pursue her music career after making the difficult decision to leave Jackson State University in Alabama, a place she considered home for the past two years. She did it with overwhelming support from her faculty and peers - some of her biggest fans. She was a dedicated member of the college tennis team and achieved recognition on the President's Honor List in both her freshman and sophomore years.

Her musical talent was noticeable early on when at age 13, only a few months after beginning classical piano and vocal lessons, she wrote her first song, "Later Years." Since then she's recorded

many original songs - mostly jazz-inspired - and has been a star attraction at many shows and competitions. This past spring she won first place at the JSU Star, Jackson State University's annual talent show.

Most recently, Barnes performed all of the songs from her debut album to a packed crowd during Pub Night at the Belfountain Inn.

She will also be holding a CD Release Party at the Royal Ambassador Banquet & Conference Centre in Caledon East tomorrow (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, reply to outofcontrolmedia@ gmail.com. The evening will include fine dining, dancing and entertainment for all ages.

- November 2006
- ALAN LICZYK - Caledon Citizen

Although jazz is her first love in music, local singer/songwriter Marcia
Barnes explores her Latin heritage in her debut album, My Latin Roots.
The 20-year-old classically-trained musician spent the last six months
writing, composing and recording the 14 songs that make up her first album.

"It's all original material, the lyrics and the music," says Barnes, who
just recently left her post-secondary studies in Alabama to pursue her music career.

With hints of reggae, dance and jazz, Barnes' first CD appeals to a wide audience. It also gave her the opportunity to test her creative talents at something new and different.

"I wanted to explore my Latin roots, but I also wanted to do something a
little more mainstream," she says.
It took roughly six months to put the album together, and it will be
released officially on Nov. 30 through her own independent record label, Out of Control Entertainment.

"This was a huge learning experience for me," says Barnes.
She's pleased with the culmination of the album -- and all that she's
learned about her heritage. However, travelling to France, Spain, Italy and Brazil have also had an influence on her writing, she says. She can even compose in four different languages.

Though she describes herself as a "natural jazz musician," she says this album was a great experience.

"But," she says, "I don't want people to think I'm just a Latin artist."

She is already working on material for her second album, where she will
revisit her love of jazz. This CD, she says, should be out early next year.

Barnes has been singing and writing since age 12, and her mother Susana says she has a huge following locally.

"She has so many fans and they are all waiting to get this CD," says her mom. "They've been so supportive of Marcia."

Barnes' sound -- whether singing jazz or Latin -- has been compared to the likes of Billie Holiday, Nora Jones and Sade.

Barnes will hold a CD release party on Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal
Ambassador in Caledon. RSVP to outofcontrolmedia@gmail.com.

For info about Barnes, or to buy her album, visit www.marciabarnes.com
starting next week.

- November 2006 - ASHLEY GOODFELLOW - THE ORANGEVILLE BANNER

You may remember reading about Marcia Barnes in the pages of The Advocate back in the day when she was winning numerous music awards while attending Erin District High School. Marcia graduated 3 years ago and went off to attend Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Marcia is back and is determined “to go big or go home”.

I was among the lucky participants at a recent celebration for Marcia at the Belfountain Inn. Michael (the husband) leaned over to me during one of Marcia’s sets to ask, “How does someone develop so much talent by the age of 20?” Indeed, it is a good question.

On Thursday, November 30th, Marcia will be performing at a launch party for her first CD which came out only one day before our recent chat. I have the honour of going down in history as her first customer. I’m certain this young woman has international music appeal. Marcia has got what I call the whole package. She’s loaded with talent, has a beautiful voice with looks to match and most importantly is a very pleasant person both on and off stage.

For her first album Marcia decided to explore “My Latin Roots” and so named the CD. She has written the music to all songs and most of the lyrics. Her mother Susana has co-written lyrics with her daughter on 7 numbers. There is a closeness to be admired between this mother and daughter. Marcia sings her mother’s praises in one of the cuts called “My Mother”.

Marcia thinks it took a long time to get the project off the ground. I can only give my head a shake when I hear her tell me she wrote all 14 songs you’ll hear on her CD over this past summer. That kind of output makes my head spin.

For your opportunity to be able to say you were there when this rising star’s first album was released you must act swiftly. Here are the details: Marcia Barne’s release party is this Thursday (Nov. 30th) at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal Ambassador, 15430 Innis Lake Rd. in Caledon. Dinner tickets are a very reasonable $15 per person but you must reserve by emailing outofcontrolmedia@gmail.com. For directions to the venue go to www.royalambassador.ca or call 905-584-6868. The evening is suitable for all ages and indeed two young ladies who sang and danced at the Belfountain Inn will also be in attendance on this evening.

Danielle Dixon was only 9 when she accompanied Marcia on the “Open Window” cut of her CD. She’s now 10 and will be appearing in person along with Marcia to perform this special number. This will be her 2nd public appearance. I’m expecting also to see Avery Keith, age 9, perform again in a spontaneous dance. She was a hit at Marcia’s recent party.

As well as dinner and Marcia’s performance there will be dancing. A bargain at twice the price, I’d say, to see this Canadian talent launch her career. Hope to see you there! If you cannot attend you will want to visit www.marciabarnes.com which is launching as you read this. “My Latin Roots” is available for sale there.

- Nov. 2006
- Marlene Russell - The Advocate

"Marcia Barnes is a captivating and talented performer. Once you have a taste of her sultry and spicy songs, you will want an extra serving. She is a musician to watch out for!" - Larry Kurtz - Artistic Director of Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival and Member of "Favourite Blue

'“Real Love” is a soulful, pop/R&B midtempo song, which combines the elegant, sensual mood of Sade with a more aggressive vocal style a la Alicia Keys. Barnes wrote this song by herself, and she impressively recorded all the tracks and sang the vocals in her home studio, using her 8-track digital recorder. She mixed the song at Escarpment Sound Studio near Toronto. This fairly simple recording of “Real Love” demonstrates that it doesn’t take an elaborate studio production to showcase an artist – this demo very effectively showcases Barnes’ vocal and songwriting ability."

For the full article, please visit: http://www.singeruniverse.com/competitionwinner41-123.htm

- February 2008

- Dale Kawashima - SingerUniverse

Marcia Barnes and her "hunky" band took the crowd by storm Friday, June 1 at The Caledon Inn for the fifth annual Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival.

A full house of fans who attended had the privilege, for the first time, to dance the night away with the Belfountain singer and her live band: saxophone Luis Deniz from Cuba, percussion Luis Rey from Colombia, drums Tom Wolf from Canada and bass Joe Orlando from Italy. Missing this night was guitar player Steve Manning. The only complaints during this fabulous evening were heard when the music stopped. Fans wanted to keep on dancing.

Of course, this night of great joy was thanks to Larry Kurtz, artistic director of the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival, who had the courtesy to invite Barnes to participate in this year's big event. The night before, she also performed as a trio at the Best Western Hotel, Orangeville, for the Opening Night Gala.

Afterwards, Kurtz wrote: "Marcia Barnes is a captivating and talented performer. Once you have a taste of her sultry and spicy songs, you will want an extra serving. She is a musician to watch out for!"

During the festival, Barnes had the honour of meeting Bill King, a renowned pianist, composer, publisher, and driving force behind the Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto. After listening to her debut album, My Latin Roots, King complimented her in an e-mail by saying, "You are one talented woman." King has offered to help Barnes find the right situation to make a breakthrough as soon as she finishes recording her upcoming Latin/jazz album, This Is My Soul Talking.

In response to the incredible support from Barnes's fans at the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival - many of whom travelled great distances to see her - and to all her other fans, Out Of Control Entertainment is hosting a Live Dance Party at The Royal Ambassador Banquet and Conference Centre in Caledon East this Friday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, please call The Royal Ambassador directly at 905-584-6868.

Courtesy of Out of Control Entertainment - OOCE - Caledon Citizen

"Marcia is a young lady from the area with a genuine and haunting voice. She has great energy on and off the stage"
- Nov. 2007 - LISA WATSON - IN THE HILLS