THE LINDA BRADY REVIVAL
Q: Well, with “The Barkers”, what was the inspiration behind it? What pushed you to actually write such a deep song?
I tend to ruminate. The song had been marinating in my head for years, even when I was not actively pursuing music. I spent those years with my family, raising kids and living like a so-called normal person. I started to see troubling events around me, as we all did, and these little things began to grow into big ones. And then this song came out, kind of cathartically.
Q: “The Barkers” is just steeped in imagery and metaphors. When you are writing, for example, the words to “The Barkers”, what type of process do you go through? Does it come out naturally, or is it more deliberate?
It was deliberate in that I knew I wanted to write it, that I had to write it. But it was natural the way it was actually written. It took about a year to write. I revised it quite frequently and then ruminated on the changes as I went about my days. These were times of reflection; I didn’t have a pen, but I was actively writing anyway. I usually don’t write longer songs like this, but in a strange way, the song kind of wrote itself and when it was done, I knew it was complete. I probably went through a hundred drafts.
Q: Actually, it’s the metaphor that really stands out: “clowns spinning tectonic plates.” What comes to mind when you use that image?
I’ve always found circuses and carnivals fascinating—these supposedly fun events aimed at children, with darkness just under the surface. You don’t have to go too far to find it. The world seems like that sometimes.
Q: There’s some pretty sharp commentary on social shifts, particularly about the loss of truth and moral relativism, in that song. Are those things you’d say have been central themes in your work?
I would say the search for truth is the major theme of this album. I didn’t do that intentionally. One day when I was assembling a track order, I realized that all the songs were looking for truth. Then I put a Ramones album on.
Q: The line “everything shakes everyone’s God” sounds like a critical remark on individualism or self-deification. What would you hope listeners would take away from this?
Well, “everyone” includes me. It’s the human condition. Tears for Fears said it better than me: everybody wants to rule the world.
Q: “The Barkers” appears to touch upon an idea of modern cancel culture and censorship. If so, can you talk about how you view these concepts and how they influenced the lyrics?
It bothers me when people don’t think for themselves and therefore don’t listen to different ideas. That’s a closed mind.
Q: The song has some religious imagery, in interesting ways, especially in phrases like “new churches” and “fundamentalists preaching.” How do you view the connection between religion and contemporary culture, and how did that influence the storytelling in the song?
Well, in a search for truth, we tend to look upward. There are fundamentalists all around us. You don’t only find them in churches.
Q: You refer in the song both to history and modern culture as a metaphor of statues toppling and speech control. How do you think the combination or cooperation between past and present shapes our society?
There seems to be a push to forget history. I don’t think that is a good idea.
Q: Some of the lyrics seem to critique both the left and right, or at least different sides of power. Do you see yourself as taking a neutral stance, or do you lean more toward one critique than another?
To mash up a Joni Mitchell song: “I’ve looked at life from both sides now, from left and right, and still somehow, it’s life’s illusions I recall, I really don’t know life at all.”
Q: Do you see “The Barkers” as a commentary on a particular moment in time, or do you think its themes will resonate in the long term?
Only time will tell!
Q: How do your own experiences and world view shape the lyrics across your tracks? “The Barkers” being reflective of your frustrations with today’s world?
Raising kids has forever changed my view because I’m not only thinking about my generation, but theirs, and of course, beyond. The rancor in the world would not bother me as much if only I had to experience it.
Q: You’ve used very poetic lyrics on this song-so do you take influences from any poets, writers or lyricists when writing?
Bob Dylan, Laura Nyro, Neil Finn—all use imagery beautifully. But honestly, this song was more like a surrealist painting than any songs I knew. My mother was an abstract painter, and she used very memorable images to get across ideas. I like to think I’m carrying that on in my own way.
Q: Given that “The Barkers” carry such harsh commentaries on contemporary society, what kind of backlash or controversy has surrounded the messages within?
I have received some puzzled looks.
Q: How do you feel the themes in “The Barkers” resonate with listeners? Have you received any feedback from those who have connected to this song in unexpected ways?
I’ve received both praise and puzzled looks from people of all political persuasions. Both reponses please me greatly.
Q: Are there any particular moments or lines in the song that are especially meaningful to you, or that carry a personal significance?
Well, late in the writing process I had everything but the bookends of the song. It was all just a rant. I was stuck and couldn’t figure out how to complete it. There was another thing to say but I didn’t know what it was. A dear friend of mine talked me through it one day and I went home and wrote the opening and closing. If I’m going to rant about a messed-up world, at the beginning and the end, I’d better look in the mirror.
Q: With “The Barkers,” what are you trying to get across, or what do you hope the people listening feel? Do you want more cognitive takes or emotive takes, or maybe a mix of both?
Another song on the album called “Lizzy” pleads with a friend to use her head. People generally have emotion when hearing songs but bringing their brain to the table helps a lot. Emotion is lovely but it can be very unreliable. A mix is a beautiful thing.
Q: Apart from “The Barkers,” what’s a recurring theme or idea you revisit throughout the rest of your songs? Are there specific causes or narratives that you find yourself most eager to speak to through your music?
The songs I find timeless are those in which I can insert my own personal details and experience the song quite differently than someone else would. For example, a person in ancient times could hear “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” and deeply understand it.
Q: How do you hope your music, and more precisely the lyrics from “The Barkers,” add to larger discussions of culture, society, and power?
I just really want people to hear the song. To that end, thank you so much, Derek, for your thoughtful and deep review!
