THE ACOUSTIC BARN SESSIONS – BIGGER BEAST RECORDS
By Ralph Beauchamp
Bigger Beast Records invites listeners into a world of unfiltered musical storytelling with its upcoming release, The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One). The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) is a special compilation celebrating the power of a great song stripped down to its most essential elements. Recording live inside the intimate setting of The Acoustic Barn, this collection brings together 12 independent singer-songwriters for the sole purpose of capturing your heart and soul and sharing music in its purest form. Free from the excess of elaborate production, these recordings put the spotlight on the lyrics, melodies and distinctive personalities that make each song resonate.
Featuring a truly eclectic line-up of independent talent, including Sam Robbins, Jesse Terry, Frank Viele, Hailey Neal, Kentavious Jones, Kemp Harris, Danielle Miraglia, Bryan Titus, Laura Clapp, Rees Shad, Jessica Smucker and Kristen Ford, The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) exhibits a picture of a dynamic songwriting community. Each artist delivers a unique perspective and musical identity that transforms The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) into an intrinsic piece of art. A piece of art that creates an essential listening experience.
The tracks and the accompanying videos were produced by the celebrated Marc Apostolides who easily forged a warm connection between artist and song. In addition, Bigger Beast Records uses The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) as a medium to enhance their mission of community. The release is a chartable undertaking that will apply 100% of the proceeds to the Bigger Beast Toy Drive which benefits Toys For Tots. So, The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) merges the beauty of song with the needs of many. The true meaning of brotherhood and love.
AMP wanted to celebrate the release of such an amazing effort. We asked each artist two question concerning their childhood and their thoughts on recording at The Acoustic Barn.
Question 1 – What is the best gift or toy you remember receiving during the holidays and why? What do remember most about that experience?
Question 2 – What was it like recording at The Acoustic Barn? How was the experience and what does it mean to you to be part of the compilation?
Here are their answers:
SAM ROBBINS – LIVE THEM IN LOVE
Question 1
I remember I received my first “real” guitar as a gift when I was 13 – it was a red Fender acoustic, and I still have it today. I remember I absolutely CHERISHED it, and used it into college. When I play it now, I can see that it’s really not a great guitar, but it was the first tool I had that really got me into playing.
Question 2
The Acoustic Barn was amazing! What a great spot… there was a lot of great energy there! I absolutely loved recording there. I think music and performances need good “framing”, like a painting. The Acoustic Barn was amazing framing and really got me into the vibe to perform well, and I know it did with all of the other artists that are a part of this compilation. I’m really grateful to be a part of this project with such a great group of artists working towards a worthy cause.
JESSE TERRY – WHERE YOU CAME FROM
Photo Eric-Gerard
Question 1
Growing up near New York, the absolute best gift I ever received was a New York Giants jersey. I was a huge fan then and remain a diehard fan to this day. I wore that jersey everywhere until it practically fell apart.
Question 2
Tracking in the Acoustic Barn was incredible. I loved the warmth, the spirit, and the natural acoustics—it honestly felt like the kind of place Neil Young would wander into to record a classic album. Being part of this compilation means a lot, especially knowing the music is coming together for a great cause.
FRANK VIELE – TRYING TO RAISE A MAN
Question 1
Before that, I had only ever played this old Epiphone acoustic that my older brother inherited from my Dad when he went off to college. He left it behind after he graduated, I scooped it up, and somewhere along the way I started secretly teaching myself how to play.
That electric guitar was different though. It was the first guitar that was actually mine, but more than that, I think it was the first time creating something felt acceptable. Like somebody had given me permission to make some noise and see where it went.
I still remember plugging it into an amp for the first time and hearing this loud, raunchy sound come screaming back at me. I was hooked. I set my sights on conquering that thing. I obviously never did. That’s probably why I’m still playing guitar all these years later.
Question 2
I was actually the last of the twelve artists to record because I had a crazy touring schedule this year. But the day I finally went in, it just felt right.
In a world where everything lately feels either completely manufactured or uncomfortably dilapidated, Marc Apostolides somehow made this barn exactly what it needs to be without turning it into some overthought, polished palace. It’s comfortable. It’s authentic. It’s human. And as a result, it’s perfectly crafted to capture beautifully honest recordings.
I think that matters right now. We have more technology than we’ve ever had to make everything perfect, and somehow I find myself craving the imperfections more and more. The sound of fingers moving across strings. A voice pushing a little too hard. A room actually sounding like a room. Those little things remind you that there was a human being standing on the other side of the microphone.
And that’s what this compilation feels like to me. Twelve artists walked into the same barn at different times, carrying twelve completely different lives with them, and left a little piece of themselves behind.
Now we get to press those moments into a record and use them to put toys into the hands of kids who might need a little magic this holiday season.
HALLEY NEAL – SOMEONE LIKE YOU SOMEDAY
When I was 13, my father gave me my first electric guitar for Christmas. It was an Epiphone Les Paul Junior starter pack that came with this little amp, and I still have the guitar.
Question 1
The best gift I ever received was my first American Girl doll from my grandma. It wasn’t just about getting the doll, it was knowing how much it meant for her to give me something I’d always wanted. She and I sat in her living room the whole summer that year and looked through the American Girl doll catalogue together until we landed on this particular doll being our favorite. She made me feel so seen and loved. I still remember my little heart beating so fast as I opened it, and I couldn’t believe it was really mine. I cherished that doll for years because it reminded me not only of that Christmas, but of how loved I felt in that moment.
Question 2
Recording in the Acoustic Barn was a great time! It’s a really cool, eclectic space that feels warm and welcoming, and I loved that it’s tucked away in quiet Connecticut, my home state, which made it feel even more special.
Christmas is my favorite season and I’m delighted to be part of a compilation that I hope will make a big difference in some kids’ lives this Christmas thanks to Toys for Tots!!
KENTAVIUS JONES – ROCK YOU
Question 1
I remember getting my first tv for Christmas one year and I was so pumped about. Being the oldest of 5 boys, screen time back then was a challenging compromise. Getting my own tube was a real game changer.
Question 2
Recording in the barn was a pretty magical experience. I believe spaces hold energy and spirits. The barn is a fine example of that truth. Being apart of the compilation has been a deeply rewarding opportunity to collaborate with a fine cast of creatives to benefit a worthy cause. As artists, our charge is to share our gifts and spread goodness. The compilation project exemplifies that sentiment.
KEMP HARRIS – BABY, LET ME SEE YOUR PHONE
Question 1
I remember getting a little record player for Christmas when I was maybe, 4 years old. I also got some records of kiddie songs. I loved the fact that the records were bright colors, yellow, red, green…..it was an awesome present.
Question 2
When Adam and I showed up at the Acoustic Barn, I had been up the previous night, not sleeping well at all. I was overly tired and concerned about my voice quality and ability to pull it off. Within moments, Mark Apostolides put me at ease. I swear I seemed to gain energy and momentum as we went. We loved the whole session. Frank Viele hooked me on the project. Having been a Kindergarten teacher for 38 years, doing this to help children was a no brainer.
DANIELLE MIRAGLIA – THE ONE WHO MADE HIM
Question 1
In the days when you would go to a video store to rent movies, I would spend time at my Nana’s once a week. She would ask what movie I wanted to rent and I chose “Purple Rain” every time. So for Christmas, one year, she bought it for me, along with the Purple Rain concert video. I remember the smell of the plastic and glossy cardboard case. The newness and excitement of owning those videos. I watched them just about every day after that.
Question 2
The barn was warm and inviting. Marc was professional and easy to work with. I felt right at home. I’m honored to be a part of this compilation and grateful for our musical community.
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BRYAN TITUS – HOW YOU MAKE A HURRICANE
Question 1
My “Grand Aunt” Kate (my Grandpa’s sister) always gave me art supplies as a kid – I think she could tell I was a creative even when I was very small … she also gave me the Teddy Bear that I was inseparable from as a little guy. Aunt Kate was the best!!!
Question 2
I think musicians are really sensitive to vibes/atmosphere/ambience … & the barn has something really special going on. The creak of the floorboards, the beams of sunlight filtering thru antique, rippled glass, the faint smell of old hay & tractor engine oil … then enhanced with modern stage lighting, some really nice microphones, & a professional engineer & videographer … recording at the barn is really something special. That place & the people who created it get credit for the special performances in this compilation! It’s a real honor to be included BUT knowing that this project helps kids get the JOY they deserve is the BEST part!
LAURA CLAPP – NOT FOR ME
Question 1
The best gift I remember receiving was from my dad on Christmas of 1996. I had been steadily getting more into photography, and had been using my father’s Canon Rebel X whenever I could sneak away with it. Dad must have noticed, because that Christmas morning, I opened a box containing an auto-advancer for a Nikon manual camera. Puzzled by this random accessory, I realized there was note with a clue that led me to the laundry room where I found a flash sitting in the dryer. Next, I found myself in another part of the house opening a box with the lens. Last, but certainly not least, I made my way back to the tree to the final box; this one containing the body of my own Nikon F 35mm camera.
That camera came with me everywhere through the remainder of high school and college and I used it until it finally gave up after one too many bumps and bruises. I loved that my dad not only recognized that I would want a camera, but also made it so fun to find it. He was the best gift giver, and I cherish that memory to this day.
Question 2
My session fell on a day where I was in a pretty rough headspace emotionally. I had just made a major life decision two days before, and the reality had begun to sink in – hard. When I walked into the barn, my spirit was immediately soothed, and I was able to remember the what and why of music. I stumbled through a few takes, but then hit my stride. Marc was patient with me the whole time, and made the experience so wonderful.
I am honored to be part of this compilation with artists I am lucky to call friends, and to witness the impact we can have when we come together as a community.
REES SHAD – THREADBARE
Question 1
The best “toy” I ever received was a skateboard – a Logan Earth & Ski with Gullwing trucks… don’t remember what I was rolling on, but this board was a key to freedom as I traversed the City of Manhattan, and even a few fateful trips over the Queensboro Bridge into Long Island City. I would grab the bumpers of buses and get hauled along avenues sucking in lead gas emissions and never once mastering a single trick. It was just my ride, and I LOVED that board.
One day a cop car hit its lights as I was riding a taxi bumper uptown, and I had to outmaneuver them by quickly turning the wrong way on a one way street. I probably got cocky and flipped them the bird. Unfortunately they caught up to me later in the afternoon and tossed my dear ride into the East River as punishment for outrunning them and making them look like fools.
Question 2
I’ve done a tremendous amount of recording over the course of my career. I ran my own shop in the late 80’s and through the 90s. What I learned early on in my career as an audio engineer was to focus on making the artist comfortable and seeing to it that what they heard in the headphones was what THEY needed to hear, not what I thought would sound best. The focus is on a relaxed atmosphere that helps get the artist out of their own head…out from beneath the microscope that the recording studio can so easily turn into.
I have seen the most experienced artists turn into mush when their self doubt has been allowed to take over. I tell you this, because Marc’s barn, while seemingly a simple set-up with what seems like very little attention to acoustic treatment, is so unassuming it makes you feel at home and at ease. Of course TONS of attention has been dedicated to making the space right and equipping it with superior gear, but it doesn’t FEEL that way. It was a glorious afternoon with a lovely human being where I simply shared some songs with him, and next thing you know I’m on a Bigger Beast release!
JESSICA SMUCKER – DINOSAURS
Question 1
My grandpa made me a dollhouse when I was 7 years old, and it was wrapped up (in the shape of a dollhouse) under the tree for a few days before Christmas. I was pretty sure it was a dollhouse, but my mom had be convinced it might just be a dollhouse-shaped box. Either way, I was very excited to open it. But then my little brother got pneumonia and had to be in the hospital over Christmas, and I tried to be sympathetic but I really wanted to open that dollhouse. In the end, my brother got better and I was allowed to open it when he came home on December 27. It was a dollhouse.
Question 2
The Acoustic Barn is a beautiful space and my experience recording there was so comfortable and fun. It took me a little while to settle in – performing in front of a camera feels less natural for me than for an audience, and sometimes I clam up – but the dim, chilled out vibe of the room really helped. Marc offered gentle coaching when I needed it, and stayed out of the way when I didn’t. It all made for a very memorable recording experience, and I couldn’t believe how good it looked and sounded when it was done.
I’ve never released an album or a song on vinyl before, so I’m pretty stoked about being on this compilation – especially in the company of some of my favorite and most talented friends and peers!
KRISTEN FORD – WICKED BAD
Question 1
I remember being so stoked to get a Discman, an anti-skip CD player, I was probably in 5th or 6th grade. That went everywhere with me: long drives, bus rides, walking around. I’d choose my CD carefully for the day and really listen. I got to escape in the music.
Question 2
Recording at the barn, without a looper, playing brand new songs, pushed me right out of my comfort zone and also felt very comfortable. I learned to play guitar in a barn in New England so this was kismet.
I really love getting to share this experience with such talented artists and humbled to do some good through song.
True to the Bigger Beast Records philosophy, The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) proves music can make a difference. The entire album is a glowing reminder that artists really care for their neighbors. It is a true tribute to the label for putting in the time and effort to provide some joy for the less fortunate. The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume One) showcases 12 outstanding singer-songwriters who truly give a damn. This record would make the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone that enjoys heartfelt music and has the spirit of giving.
The Acoustic Barn Session Volume One) is limited to only 250 copies. When they are gone, they are gone. Our advise is to preorder your colored vinyl as quickly as possible. They can be ordered through the Bigger Beast Records website. We can’t wait to hear The Acoustic Barn Sessions (Volume Two) next year.
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