With the release of Misstress Barbara's debut artist album, she has created a brand new LIVE band called Misstress Barbara LIVE with Girls On A Ducati. The new LIVE project looks to expand on the new original songs from "I'm No Human" and will be coming to a city near you soon. Stay tuned for upcoming tour dates!
DJ sets are still the signature techno sound of Misstress Barbara!
WORLDWIDE MANAGEMENT: Complete Control Management
contact Matt Spurlock: matt@controlny.com
DJ BOOKINGS AMERICAN CONTINENT: AM Only
contact Mike Selvin: mselvin@amonly.com
DJ BOOKINGS REST OF THE WORLD: Elite Music Management
contact Emma King: emma@elitemm.co.uk
contact Paul Wells: paul@elitemm.co.uk
LIVE BOOKINGS CANADA ONLY: Feldman & Associates
contact Jeff Craib: craib@slfa.com
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Influences
Sounds Like
Misstress Barbara LIVE @ Metropolis at M for Montreal, Nov 21st 2009
Misstress Barbara on Virgin Radio Montreal
Misstress Barbara's Album Launch Party and Live Performance on webpresse
Misstress Barbara performs on the finale of Star Academie
Misstress Barbara & Sam Roberts interview on E-Talk
She’s an internationally renowned DJ who has spun at some of the world’s top clubs and worked alongside electronic music legends like Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin and John Digweed. Her DJing and production have earned her accolades and awards, including “Best Breakthrough Underground DJ” at the UK Underground Music Awards. But while she could easily rest on her laurels, Misstress Barbara (born Barbara Bonfiglio in Sicily, Italy) is embarking on a whole new adventure with the release of I’m No Human, her first album as a songwriter – one that features contributions from Sam Roberts, Brazilian Girls and Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.
“I’ve always been drawn to anything that’s different… I like challenges,” she says. It’s this spirit that drew her to the Air Cadets, where she learned to fly a Cessna at age 16, and led her to become a Ducati motorcycle rider. This adventurousness also convinced her to trade her first instrument, the drums, in for turntables and a mixer after watching underground DJs ply their craft. “I’m hungry for more knowledge in everything I touch. I thought it was very beautiful the way they were working and touching the vinyl.”
For I’m No Human, Misstress Barbara has drawn on her background in electronic music production, while infusing it with a new sensibility. Starting the songwriting process on piano and guitar inspired her to experiment with chord changes and overlay her minimalist beats with lush melodies. The album also finds her singing for the first time, and with her intoxicating space age femme fatale sound, it’s a happy development that was born out of unhappy circumstances.
Though Misstress Barbara had been planning on making an album for years, the catalyst came in the form of tragedy when her father passed away on Christmas Eve in 2006. The next day, she wrote a poem and found that the words flowed easily. Soon she had a large collection of songs and headed into the studio – first her personal studio, where she did the majority of the production, then into outside facilities in her hometown of Montreal as well as Los Angeles, where she worked on arrangements and vocals bringing the album to life. The influence of her father followed her into these recording sessions. “I know he would be very, very proud. He played guitar, violin, piano,” Barbara says. On recording violins in the studio, she adds, “I had tears in my eyes. He would be so happy.”
This emotion shines through in the album. I’m No Human is a rumination on themes of uncertainty and love – the latter a topic very close to her heart. Or as Misstress Barbara herself puts it: “Everything in my life is for love. I do everything for love and I undo everything for love.” Fittingly, she included a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me To The End Of Love” on the album. It also features “I’m Running,” a duet with Sam Roberts, which tackles love from an overarching perspective. “It’s a love story,” says Misstress Barbara. “But it’s more wide than just love. It could be friendship. It could be family.”
There’s one song, though, that’s pure, teasing fun. The made-for-the-dancing track “Four On The Floor” refers to the traditional structure of house music – a kick drum on each beat – and came about as a reaction to a friend who asked, “Is there anything you do that doesn’t start with a kick and a clap and a high hat?” “I was so upset,” says Barbara, “that I thought, ‘I’m going to make a song and be really ironic about it.” The result is a joyful celebration of the techno music she fell in love with so many years ago. “It’s a four on the floor! Yes, once more!” she shouts cheekily on the song’s driving verse.
Though her DJ career means she’s no stranger to performance, recreating the songs live is yet another new challenge she’s excited to undertake. After traveling and performing solo for the past 13 years, Misstress Barbara is energized by the dynamics a live band offers. “I love the sharing of emotion. I really love it,” she says. And with the release of I’m No Human on MapleMusic Recordings in May 2009, Misstress Barbara is making some new additions to her already-impressive list of accomplishments. Pilot, producer, DJ – and now captivating songwriter and musician.
Very much injoyed the show in Ottawa saturday night, Mavericks. Have been listening to the cd ever since.... jogging to it is fun ! Ha. Hope to see you again soon and dance. XXX
My Dear Misstress Barbara™, I want you to know that your music and your songs are my passion. I am addicted. There is something that pulls me towards them. Keep it up Misstress Barbara™. Do PS:Follow Me Twitter at http://twitter.com/iaent
lol's.Ur.music.rocks
