A Podcast Conversation with... Micah Barnes

By Bill King

Micah Barnes – Canada’s Got Talent

As Covid struck, vocalist Micah Barnes entered the jazz charts at #1. Timing is everything. Where does one go from here? Barnes stayed focused and fully occupied, vocally coaching the gifted and pinching virtual for all its potential. His consideration of detail and buoyant temperament have served him well.

 Barnes was recently named Music Director of the 2023 season of Canada’s Got Talent. Magnifying the good fortune with a recording/distribution deal with Alma Records/Universal Canada, the man of the song is in a favourable place and eye toward the future. Plenty of mileage between the prime days of the Nylons and the grooming of future artists, such as J.P. Saxe.

Barnes and I stretch out for a catch-up session every three or four years, and those conversations are rich and animated. Barnes will perform Saturday, Sep 24 @ 8:00 PM at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. This is where we begin on today’s FYI Music News.ca podcast.

Notes:

Alma Records, the Canadian jazz label home to releases from Florian Hoefner Trio, Alfie Zappacosta, Eliana Cuevas, and Hilario Duran is excited to announce former Nylons singer Micah Barnes to their roster. Launched in 1992 by jazz performer Peter Cardinali, Alma Records discovers and develops new and original artists who choose not to be compromised by the demands of an obsessively commercial music industry.

This philosophy has been a success. Their company has a roster of exceptionally gifted musicians and artists who have recorded an enduring catalogue of albums. Their work is now available around the world via prudent licensing deals with kindred labels such as Universal, eOne, edel, JVC, Proper, Perleberg, Pony Canyon, Gallo, EMI, Scorpio, Sony, Warner, and more.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome multi-talented singer, songwriter, and musician, Micah Barnes, to the Alma family, and I look forward to making some great records together,” says Cardinali.

As Micah gears up for his Brampton show on September 24, he heard that he has also been named as Music Director for the upcoming Canada’s Got Talent season, set to air in 2023.

Born in Vienna and raised in Canada, Micah Barnes cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz clubs of Toronto in his teen years, before joining The Nylons in 1989. Recording and touring as a member of the internationally celebrated A Capella group placed Micah firmly within the global music scene. Through managing a busy schedule of concerts and television appearances, Micah’s rich and soulful baritone was introduced to music fans around the world.

Micah says, “It's rare for an established indie artist to find a home with a label so perfectly designed to support their journey. That’s why I’m especially thrilled to be joining forces with Peter Cardinali and Alma Records. I know my next album will benefit from Peter’s extensive history as a producer, and we’re both looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and jumping into the music together! With the added support from Universal Music Canada, it feels like our audience is about to expand internationally, which adds an extra layer of excitement for all of us involved.”

In his days since the Nylons, Micah has launched an active solo career, which included touring the USA with his international club hit Welcome To My Head - which placed #1 on the Billboard charts. His solo career also marked his long-awaited return to the jazz genre of his early years, resulting in a series of critically acclaimed recordings, including New York Stories (eOne Music). Micah has also shared the stage with a host of internationally renowned artists, including Molly Johnson & Jackie Richardson.

 Micah’s latest release, 2020’s Vegas Breeze entered the jazz charts at #1. The music (including singles When in Rome and End of a Love Affair) transports listeners back to the days of the legendary Vegas showrooms, featuring songs first recorded by jazz luminaries Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, and Peggy Lee.

At his home base in Toronto, Barnes is a busy vocal, performance and career strategy coach whose international clients include Grammy-nominated J.P. Saxe and Emmy Award-winning Tatiana Maslany.

Sat, Sep 24 @ 8:00 pm Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton