Uof T alumnus Laura Barrett plays the Tranzac, Sept. 27 for the festival’s opening concert. The Varsity caught up with her in Kensington market as she spilled the beans on calimbaplaying and robot ponies.
The Varsity: So how did you get started with the calimba?
Laura Barrett: It was just a product of coincidence… I was making electronic music at the time, searching for something portable on eBay and I bought one on a whim. There was this Weird ‘Al tribute show at the (now defunct) Bagel that I heard about and I decided to prepare a cover. The next theme was “robots” and I wrote “Robot Ponies.” It just took off from there… I finally feel like I’m starting to tap into new aspects of the instrument. Before, I was still trying to work it into this 4/4 pop convention and now everything’s like 12/8 and divided in different ways. I’m having a lot of fun with it.
V: Where do you get inspiration for songwriting?
LB: A combination of cognitive science and sociology… I’m pretty academic. I’m drawing on personal experiences more, but I’d rather look at things from the more universal way … I’ve never done confessional, therapeutic song writing, although I could try. I generally look at things around me, and either try to turn a large-scale idea into a small metaphor, or vice versa.
V: Are you excited about playing Ladyfest?
LB: I’m just happy to play on a bill that has more women on it…just in terms of numbers. I talked to Liz Piesen from Picastro and we commiserated about always being on these bills loaded with dudes. And there’s nothing wrong with it, except for the perception that it spreads. It perpetuates just this idea that they’re the only ones who can, or are sustainable. Some people even feel like girls can’t play guitars, I almost feel a little frustrated that I’m not out there playing in a thrash metal band just to prove everyone wrong. But it’s not really about pitting genres against each other. It’s just important to continually have events like Ladyfest that raise awareness.
