“He’s got this David Bowie quality to him that I quite love. Maybe leaning towards the ‘Hunky Dory”‘ side at times… he’s got that glam in him too.”
“...a queer “Piano Man” approach, only Barna’s music is more stylistically diverse. “Benjamin Whishaw Smiled” is rife with adventurous spirit and imagination”
“(CISSY) is one of the best records of the last five years... It paints a world about living in New York at that time that is so fleshed out and powerful. It has a real sense of the time and the place and the people.”
”CONSEQUENCE: “10 Albums Counting Crows' Adam Duritz Thinks Every Music Fan Should Own”
American Songwriter: "Seán Barna Channels Margaret Thatcher on New Single 'Eastern Junk Dancing'”
LogoTV: "SINGER-SONGWRITER SEAN BARNA BREAKS THROUGH WITH NEW ALBUM"
Billboard Pride: "Seán Barna’s ‘God Save the Scene’ Is a Gorgeous Plea for Our Future: Premiere"
In May 2023, SEÁN BARNA released a rock LP, An Evening at Macri Park, on the iconic indie label, Kill Rock Stars, to widespread critical acclaim from outlets such as NPR, Pitchfork, FLOOD Magazine, and Billboard. In their review of the LP, Pitchfork offered comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, and Rufus Wainwright, writing, "this is raucous, messy, and emotionally rich music, as any art about queer nightlife ought to be."
Seán is no stranger to queer nightlife, but it’s the peaceful time he spent living in and visiting the most remote and beautiful areas of rural western Colorado that animates the heart of his upcoming folk EP, Internal Trembling. Recorded at the legendary Blackbird Studio in Nashville, four of the five songs feature the Nashville-based, traditional bluegrass supergroup, Hawktail. A fifth song, “Firefly,” is a collaboration between Seàn and Brooklyn-based producer, Kyle Joseph. The result is emotional, driving folk pop, with a slow, relentless build.
The visceral, intense performances Seán has become known for are animated by the evocative honesty of his songwriting and rooted in a vulnerable, intimate relationship with the audience. On Internal Trembling, stripped of any hint of the glam or roots rock influences of his previous recordings, Seán demonstrates just how comfortable he’s become with the evocative honesty that defines him as a songwriter.
Hawktail is Paul Kowert (Punch Brothers, Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch), Brittany Haas (Punch Brothers, Steve Martin), and Jordan Tice (Yola, Dave Rawlings, Steve Martin), with special guest Dominick Leslie (Molly Tuttle).
Seán’s previous releases include, Pictures of an Exhibitionist (2014, LP), Margaret Thatcher of the Lower East Side (2020, EP), CISSY. (2018, EP), Cutter Street (2012, EP), and the single, “Straight Motherfuckers and Their Famous Friends.” In 2021, Seán opened for Counting Crows on their 22-date national tour. Prior to the release of “Wallflower,” his most recent single is a refreshing cover of the song, “Mr. Jones” — a surprise birthday present to Counting Crows frontman, Adam Duritz.