Hot Indie News: You’re not just a very talented musician but you’re also an actor. Please tell us a bit about it.
Barth Beasley: Well I wouldn’t say so much that I’m an actor. As far as I’m concerned we all are actors as acting is recreating emotion in true life or imaginary situations. When I did the movie “That Thing You Do” directed by Tom Hanks I spent 3 months growing my hair, I had a baby fro and goatee. I watched any old school videos I could to imbed the sixties music in my psyche. The week before my scenes with the Blue Spot Trio in the film were to be shot I went to wardrobe down on Hollywood and Vine. I walked into this warehouse that at every turn had anything and everything from the sixties in clothing. In the background noise from all that was going on with the various cast members was Junior Walker and the All Stars song “Shotgun”. Junior Walkers sax was blaring and set the vibe for me just right when I was trying on various suits. I was just grateful to be a part of a film in Tom Hank’s directorial debut. I remember the call from him and Gary Goetzman asking me if I would like to be in the film and now it had come to fruition. I remember the months before at the restaurant and he would tell me to quit having my hair trimmed. He told me to leave the goatee be and to let it grow and that was part of my details to take care of. A few days before I got to shoot he invited me to the set to have lunch with some of the crew and to meet Tom. For this kid from Michigan that was huge. Look I’d been focusing in Europe where I was the highlight of attraction but this was so different to be part of a film. I got the tape of the song the Blue Spot Trio would be playing and spent 48 hours learning it because all the notes/riffs and the piano had to be authentic to match the playback just in case they took a close up of my fingers on the piano. I’m talking note for note. I met all the lead actors but my biggest surprise was after make up getting side burns extended was that Rita Wilson – Tom Hank’s wife had been in the chair next to me getting her makeup done. We had a great conversation but I had no idea who she was until the bar and table scene. Mr. Bill Cobbs who played Del Paxton was in the scene. If you don’t know him look him up. He is a legendary actor. In between takes he was just cool and talked about the conversation we should be having to make the scene great. Don’t get me wrong he wasn’t directing. To this day I wish that there was more time we all had in that scene appear in the movie. We had some great moments but I understand with the length of a picture things need to be trimmed as we were just a part of the story when Shades played by actor Tom Everett Scott came to the bar. With Tom as the director all I can say is that his story on a break to set up more camera angles was enlightening. Thanks Tom for getting me into the Screen Actors Guild and I also would thank you and Gary for your kind thanks where you listed me under the Producers would like to thank section on the movie soundtrack CD.
Hot Indie News: From the title of your new release, “Run On To Detroit” it’s evident that your home state plays an important part in your music. Why is that?
Barth Beasley: Michigan while I was growing up was a haven for R and B, Soul, Rock N Roll, Country and Pop you name it. Not dissing any genre but the Motown talent was a great influence to write great songs and bring that feel and good energy. It made me say when I was four years old watching performers that that was what I wanted to do. What a school Barry Gordy built in work detail that groomed some of the greatest song writers. That was a music lab. To this day I send some trusted honest friends clips of my new songs and ideas to see what they say. The modern technology lab of texting as a songwriter has been an invaluable tool.
Hot Indie News: What inspired the song on your latest release?
Barth Beasley: “Run On To Detroit” was inspired by stories of different people I’ve met in the barbershop over the years and memories of my father and his friends. Drives to Detroit when I was a kid. The feelings and DJ’s spinning records to this day stirred the translation to the groove and lyrics. My biggest realization in life came early on as radio signals didn’t reach that far back in the day. I would be holding on through static to catch the motor city sounds because by the time we were a ways out of Detroit the signal would be lost and I couldn’t wait until the next trip to hear the music. Battle Creek at the time had nothing like it nor did the cities in between. Every now and then on a Saturday night the local radio station in Battle Creek would play 20 minutes of R&B/Soul. The savior in all this as to the music was my Dad. Still to this day some of my favorite times would be him sitting at his old stereo and playing a pile of records that featured Ray Charles, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Aretha, Marvin Gaye, Smokey, Diana Ross, and The Temptations etc.… Age is a number but melodies and great songs are infinite. Like my father educated me don’t limit your kids pallet in music. There is no new school without the old school in my opinion that is what Dre, Ice Cube, John Legend, Madonna, Pink, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Steve Perry will tell you. Oh yeah and now me Barth Beasley.
Hot Indie News: When you perform locally what is your favorite venue and why?
Barth Beasley: I’ll be honest. I don’t perform here in the Battle Creek. I did a lot when growing up but now it’s where I will be launching from. Like when I prepared for the FRPTV show in New York. Check the 2 videos out on their Facebook page. The 2 songs are “Run On To Detroit” which is available at ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/run-on-to-detroit-single/id1046724307 and “New Soul” has a planned release as the next single sometime in April. Expect the 14 song CD sometime in the summer. The plan has been to release a few singles to introduce me as an artist here in the states. My career prior to this was in Europe and unfortunately my management back in the 90’s did not access the developing internet technology at the time to preserve my songs and shows. This past weekend I appeared on FRPTV, again go to their Facebook page, scroll down and you can see the two videos live in their studios. You can also check out some archived files that were saved from my award winning performance as the first American to win the Internationally acclaimed Voice of Asia, it’s on YouTube. Eventually I will have plans to perform at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. I am truly looking forward to it but first there is work to do outside of that zone.
Hot Indie News: What act, both living and non-living, would you give anything to open for?
Barth Beasley: I would have loved to open for Ray Charles or James Brown. Now I would say Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, or Charles Bradley would be awesome. My audience age range is 25 years +. There are a lot of great performers still touring. Oh yeah, Rod Stewart would be another one. I met him at Stanley’s Restaurant in Sherman Oaks, CA. He was so genuine and just hanging next to me at the bar having a glass of chardonnay. We had a few words but nothing about music and then poof he was gone as the hostess let him and his two friends know that there table was ready. How humble was that I thought. I have seen people that don’t have half his track record requesting special treatment. The main equalizer in this is that everybody works for a living and those that come to our shows are not lesser but above us. We as entertainers should be grateful for the living they afford us. Pride ends in destruction and humility ends in success.
Hot Indie News: Anyone you’d like to musically collaborate with?
Barth Beasley: I would love to collaborate with Elton and Bernie Taupin or Dr. Dre. I met Dre when he was just launching Aftermath. I got to perform for him and was hoping to sign a deal. Some things happened in his life at the time and all signings were put on hold. I never got the deal but to this day I remember the next time I ran into him he called me “Wildman”. I know I’m not a rapper but he has a very melodic ear that there is no way I wouldn’t be inspired to climb to new heights in musical ideas. With Elton and Bernie all I can say is it would be an honor to see their process. Who couldn’t learn from being in that top secret music lab that has spanned for decades?
Hot Indie News: What would fans be surprised to know about you?
Barth Beasley: I love to cook (BBQ year round especially when it snows) and train soccer players. Cooking is one of my passions. It is therapy to me to blend spices and herbs. What the ##!! did you do to this chicken?? – Oh never mind this is good!! Soccer is a passion as well. I walked away from coaching college because I could not believe “the something is owed to me” attitude by some college players. This thing with parents babying their kids disgusted me. I was a tough but fair coach and expected standards to be met off the field first. Somehow that got translated to a negative. The President of the college wrote a letter on my behalf before he left that I hold dearly to this day. The biggest phrase was that I went through “undeserved scrutiny”. The club players I coached all have achieved great things on and off the field. I know for a fact that they would never waste a scholarship in getting close to a free education by acting like it was owed to them.
Hot Indie News: Any issues or causes you’re involved with?
Barth Beasley: I have causes that I’m tired of not being able to do anything about. I have volunteered time but I was raised to do things anonymously so that the focus is not on me but the needs of others. Scholarships to soccer camps is one that I have been a part of for inner city and low income kids. I also take time away from music and give free training to families that can’t afford private training for their kids that love the game. I’ve had a lot of past soccer players that walk the talk when it comes to doing community service at the camps I have held. The maturity level and skills they have taught to kids has been an amazing thing to watch. I know in character building I was tough but to be a student athlete it means working not just on skills and school work. In my program in club and college I have been blessed to hear back from time to time on players’ life accomplishments. I have also heard from ones that played the blame game. To those all I have to say is one day when you get your dream job, show up and do the work and go the extra mile and look in the mirror. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. In this business of music it’s my job every day to always get better on and off the stage. Adversity in life can be a blessing when one channels their vision towards a positive outcome.
Hot Indie News: Tell us about your writing process.
Barth Beasley: The writing process is keeping my cell phone close by at all times. I realized after thinking I would remember something later was crazy. I’ve lost a lot of great ideas for songs that way. Not anymore! I sing in gibberish and let melodies and words flow no matter how crazy it sounds. I stay out of my own way. I add piano/rhythm later on or right away and record it on my cell phone. I do it quick then the work begins and feeling is translated to the hook.
Hot Indie News: What about your recording process?
Barth Beasley: The new recording process is that once the song is ready I do piano, lead and backing vocals with a basic beat I’ve programmed. It is then mixed a bit and I send the tracks off to my producer Allan Phillips. Once it’s sent to him in his lab I’m not in his way. It allows him room to produce me. I stay out of the way and then I fly out to California to record and make changes to my performance through new sounds. It really inspires a new level of maturity of any song that was in its infancy.
Hot Indie News: How would you describe your sound?
Barth Beasley: My sound is Rock-n-Soul Pop. It’s a mesh of styles with no color lines. In my hurry up and wait period before I signed with Taurus Music in Finland I had A&R people that would come to my shows. When I would get a meeting with the ones that loved what I was doing in my performance they wanted to change my direction. Being black meant that I needed to be more R&B. Nobody was going to accept me as a Rock-N-Soul Pop artist. It was easier if the marketing departments could put me in a mold and promote me from what I call the instructional booklet. To me the world already had the artists they wanted me to emulate in style. I’m not a sell out and never will be. I was tempted to change just to get a deal but was blessed to know that I had to be true to my heart and soul and above all to all the people that came to my shows. I know where my blessings come from. Although it’s been a tough road it’s paying off now and that’s all that matters. I can look in the mirror and know that I’m me and not the fake Barth Beasley.
Hot Indie News: What do you see in store for yourself in a year from now?
Barth Beasley: More hits and tours, Superbowl halftime (eventually). Filling needs on and off the stage and being inspiring as much as people inspire me. I’m really looking forward to performing and promoting on networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, and ABC. I want to do all the talk shows and Saturday Night Live. I have a lot of songs I’ve written and for those that aren’t right for me doesn’t mean that they should sit in solitary confinement. I am looking forward to having other artists record them. Collaboration!
Hot Indie News: How do you feel about the current state of the entertainment business? What about the world?
Barth Beasley: I feel that artists not signed to the majors are making breakthroughs in other creative ways via social media. Not gonna say to much more. As far as the world goes a lot just needs to happen with understanding of all cultures. Prejudice is shameful and never leads to permanent love and understanding. All of us who are adults need to remember and reflect through the part of us that had child’s eyes.
Hot Indie News: How can our readers find you and your music?
Barth Beasley: I am out there on iTunes, CD Baby and through Google on the internet. I have been very blessed with some wonderful reviews by many writers. Here is a list of the links below. Thanks for going to the sites to check out my music and reviews. ROCK-N-SOOOOOOUUUUUUL-POP TO YOU ALL WITH A HIGH NOTE! Thank you to all and Hot Indie News for this time to talk on my life and music. Peace and Love.
https://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/barthbeasley/
www.cdbaby.com/artist/BarthBeasley
