Sky Barbarick Returns to Herself
We first met Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Sky Barbarick with the release of “Gold Lens.” When she followed it with her latest single, “And the Night Went Still,” we wanted to catch up with her and talk about the deeply personal story behind the song, the artists inspiring her, and what this new chapter of her music means to her.
You mentioned that “And the Night Went Still” was written in the stillness surrounding your grandmother’s passing. How did such a profound loss shape the way you approached the song?
The song just spilled out of me while I was playing and recording at the same time. I made a few lyric adjustments afterward, but it was one of those rare moments a songwriter gets where you don’t have to try - you’re completely inside the feeling, with no distractions. The loss created this stillness around me, and the song seemed to come directly from that space.
Photo by By Siobhan Webb
Your songs leave plenty of room for vulnerability and reflection. What do you hope listeners take away from your music when they hear something that comes from such a personal place?
The songs that have impacted me most from my favorite artists are the ones that let me feel that vulnerability and, in some way, feel understood. I hope my music can offer that to other people; to help them feel more comfortable with their own deep feelings, especially the ones that can be hard to access or put into words.
What have you been listening to lately, and are there any artists or records that have been particularly influential on the way you’re thinking about your own music?
I’ve been listening to Anthony Green regularly for the last couple of years. He’s a post-hardcore singer-songwriter legend, and the king of vulnerability, in my opinion. There’s a real lack of ego in his music. It never feels performative or guarded. I’m always inspired by how fully he lets the songs be what they are. I never miss one of his shows when he’s in town, and I’m constantly inspired by what he creates.
I also love Andy Shauf’s intimate songs and casual humor. And Imogen Heap is the GOAT for me. I think it’s incredible that she does everything herself, making so many magical feeling songs from start to finish.
Photo by Siobhan Webb
As you continue releasing music, what are you learning about yourself that you didn't know when you first started this journey?
I started releasing music in 2012 under the name Noosa. Back then, I was using it as a way to figure myself out and enter the world as a young adult in New York. The possibility of what could come from it was exciting and really fueled me. Using a name other than my own also gave me some separation from it…almost like an alter ego.
It’s been interesting, and definitely more exposing, to release music under my own name now that I’m more self-aware, fourteen years later. These new songs feel more honest than ever, and there’s nothing to hide behind. I love that vulnerability, but it also motivates me to make some more fun, lighthearted music to balance it out.
Are you working toward a larger project, or are you allowing each song to find its own place in the world?
I have a lot of unfinished songs that I’m still figuring out what to do with, but for now I’m happy to release singles when they feel ready. Longer term, I’d love to assemble a collection into an EP, maybe even an album, and make a new Noosa album. I’ve been drawn to albums lately because I love the feeling of living with a body of work, and letting songs speak to each other and create their own little world.
What does this next chapter of music feel like for you? And what do you hope it feels like for your listeners?
It feels like a return to the reason I started making music in the first place: to understand myself and connect with people. But I’m bringing a lot more life experience and self-awareness into it now. I’m less interested in trying to be anything and more interested in making songs that feel true, whether they’re heavy, tender, funny, or light.