Your humble Austin Music Minute maven recently caught up with songwriter Joanna Barbera on her recent one-year anniversary of living in Nashville. It’s opened her eyes – and ears – to different experiences working as a musician in a vastly different environment.
“I’ve basically have just been hustlin’ and soaking in as much knowledge as I can in this city,” Barbera explains, “putting together a band, gigging at the hip clubs, and co-writing with other writers. Nashville is definitely whipping me into shape as a performer and writer!”
Barbera will begin recording her forthcoming album this fall, focusing on giving listeners an honest account of her growth as a musician and as a person, which is a big part of why she made the move to Nashville. But her hometown remains in her heart. “Austin is always home and I plan to visit and play more frequently, now that I’m a bit more settled,” she says.
Barbera is in town through the remainder of August. She’ll return for a show on Oct. 22th at the Cactus Cafe, but you have the opportunity to see her perform sooner than that – tonight, in fact! See Barbera perform tonight at The Blackheart, 86 Rainey St., sharing the bill with friend and fellow songwriter Shane Cooley, along with Alicia Adkins, The Mystery Achievement, and the mighty Beth Lee & The Breakups. Excellent stuff, one and all. Get there by 8 p.m. Recommended.
– Photography by Steven Alcala.
