By Adam Downer

Above all else, Jeannine Barry values honesty. The word kept popping up during our conversation with the UK Country Pop singer. It’s the quality she most appreciates in other musicians and the quality she aspires to in her own music. “I always try to write about things that come from the heart, you know?” she said. “I don’t want to sit there and think ‘What can I write so that everyone will like it?’ I’m trying to sing and write about the kind of things that go around in my head, things that I’ve been dealing with for years, the things people have issues with.” It’s no surprise, then, that when we sat down to learn a little bit more about Jeannine Barry, we had a candid, open conversation where we discussed her mission to popularize American country music in the UK, the artists and albums she admires, the sort of books she likes to read, and her touching promise to meet a fan!

AD: Here at GoGoMix we want to hear about what you’re working on and get to know the things you like i.e. artists that influenced you, what you’re listening to, what you’re watching, etc. So let’s start with what you’re doing!

JB: Well, at the moment, I’m working on my national campaign. I’m looking at getting over to Nashville to record my second EP that I’m writing. Part of the campaign is that I build my fan base by connecting with it, so I spend a lot of my time chatting to my fans, people who like my music, people who want to know more about me. I really connected with one person in particular, Courtney, who is eighteen years old and has brain cancer. We had been talking for a while, and she really likes my music and she kept saying “I’d really like to see you play live.” That was just before her second brain surgery. She was talking to me every day, really worried and scared, and I said “We could spend the whole day together when I get over to the US.” I think that helped her at the time. I want to keep that promise, so I included that in the campaign. That’s what I’m working on at the moment, that and the writing of my new EP.

AD: In your IndieGogo video, you describe your songwriting for this EP as “deeper.” What sort of songs and albums are influencing you and bringing out that sound?

JB: To be honest with you, the sound is not yet defined because the stage that I’m at right now is just guitar and voice. I’m writing about homelessness. I’m writing about my relationship to my dad, things like that. That’s why I made that “deeper” comment… If you ask about artists that influence me, it’s going to sound funny because my sound is country pop. Growing up, I was not exposed to country music very much. It was more pop and R&B, things like that. I really felt inspired by Pink, and also Eminem. The honesty these two artists have, their “I’m not gonna play the game, I’m just gonna stay honest” attitude, that really inspired me a lot. It still inspires me. I want to be as honest as I can and not be fake or just try to be liked. I want to truly inspire people.

AD: Can you think of a specific song or album by Pink or Eminem where you really connected with their honesty?

JB: Yes! Yes, Pink, it was the Funhouse album when I really started connecting with her. Not so much when she did the R&B stuff. She herself said in interviews—I was a bit obsessed with her for a while. I’ve watched all her interviews (laughs)—that during that time she didn’t really feel she was giving a lot. It was more like receiving a check in the mail saying “Thank you for recording the song.” It’s not really like she gave her heart to it, but now she writes and she poured her heart out, you know. Eminem, it was Recovery, I believe?

AD: The one that came out a couple years ago? It had “Not Afraid” on it?

JB: Yes, that’s the one!

AD: So what songs and albums are you currently digging?

JB: I just discovered Lee Brice. I’m really liking his music. Again, he writes about things that have substance, you know? It’s not just “Truck, beer, and girls”! He talks about real things, his family. I do also like my Carrie Underwood because I really just like singing along with it (laughs). Also a few of the Nashville tracks from the TV show.

AD: Makes sense! So you like Nashville! What do you like to watch? Movies, other TV shows?

JB: I used to be very addicted to Grey’s Anatomy. All these kind of doctor shows, actually. Private Practice, and I really like this one show, Heart of Dixie.

AD: How about movies?

JB: The last movie I actually watched was Walk the Line, and I really loved it. I was at a Johnny Cash tribute concert on Monday (February 24th) where I sang “Hurt.” I felt like I didn’t know that much about the artist and the person, so I watched the movie and I really liked it! I thought it was quite inspiring and interesting to see how easy it is to get thrown off track because we all want approval from our parents. You can see how easy it can happen—you make one mistake and suddenly you have a big problem. But to see that you can get out of it, change your life… I thought that was quite interesting!

AD: You’re a UK Musician. What are some of your favorite places to play over there?

JB: I really like to play at The Garage, where I opened for Ben Taylor, James Taylor’s son, recently, and that was a really nice experience and a really nice venue because people only come to that event to listen to music. They don’t come to have a beer and chat with friends. I have to say though, the Johnny Cash concert on Monday, what was the place called… The Boogaloo! It was kind of just a pub, but the event was part of their “Under the Influence” series. They do a monthly event where every month, it’s a different artist that they give tribute to. It was a room full of people and it was very busy, but every time an artist played it got very quiet. They really respected the artist playing. Those are obviously the sort of places and events I like to play, but there’s so much you can do here. If you want to, you can play every night. You can play two or three times a night!

AD: Are there any books you’ve been reading recently?

JB: I just started “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle. I’ve been reading spiritual books. I’m kind of really into that stuff. I read “The Secret,” books by Louise Hay, all these spiritual books.

AD: Are there any apps or gadgets you’re obsessed with?

JB: I use WhatsApp every day, but I’m not obsessed with any Apps beyond Twitter and Facebook to be honest with you.

AD: How about any restaurants you really dig in London?

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT JEANNINE’S FAVE LONDON RESTAURANTS!

AD: That’s everything on our end! Thank you for speaking with us!

JB: Thank you very much for having me!

Go to GoGoMix.com to find out more about your favorite celebrities favorite things…in their own words!

Check out Jeannine Barry’s Give Me Something EP here!