An Interview with The Barren Room

A new album release from The Barren Room delivers a fast and almost expansive approach to indie rock with songs that have progressive and addictive changes along with elements of underground 90s rock Style influences at times which brings together a slew of vibes that let the songs wrap themselves around you and keep you right where they want to.

Of course, there are many more subgenres of rock influences strewn throughout the white clouds album and the very first track on the record is a perfect example of how they're able to feed into these different genres and approaches easily.

The first track is actually called "barren room" and this one works in such a fun way because it starts with a delayed guitar that gives you a rhythm and a bounce but also adds that element of experimental rock that you hear in different spots throughout the release as a whole.

It also feeds into this almost garage-style edginess and gives a performance that almost feels live. The vocals are animated and a little outside the box, slightly rambunctious, and completely addictive.

Then you have songs like "flavour", which is a track that comes in swinging. Right off the bat, you have a heavier and harder feel and this is where that 90s underground alternative 90s rock feel comes right in.

You can even hear slight punk influences on this one. The guitars are edgier and heavier, the drums are faster and more pumped up, and the whole approach to this one packs a bigger punch.

There are songs on the record that I'm more progressive than others, more soft than others, and more experimental. It just depends on where you're going on the record. This is why one of the most important things here is to listen to the record in full from beginning to end.

My point is, that listening to only one or two tracks from this record may give you an idea of what you might expect but will not give you the full spectrum of what the album has to offer.

This is an escape. The record is a full experience if listened to from start to finish and I think that's how it was meant to be heard.

Musically, it also beckons that time when albums were thriving. Right now, it's more of a single-based society and people don't have the same kind of patience as they did but when I was growing up, albums were the thing.

When you listened to a record it was an experience. You sat down and listened to the whole thing through and you came out of it feeling a little different.

This album makes me think of that. This record gives me the same feeling.

There are more than a few surprises around its corners and some of the songs feel almost like they were recorded live on the floor with everyone in the band feeding off of each other's energies the entire time.

These are just some of the things that really let this record leave its mark.

The vocals are performed with a certain kind of heart and a unique approach that doesn't follow any kind of cookie-cutter style and the whole record is a bit bigger than you might expect. This is an album that was created with fewer boundaries than what you may be used to and with its release we had to sit down with this band and talk shop.

Check out our interview with the baron room below where we find out how the record came to be, what it's really about, how they got together, and what may be coming up next.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Welcome all and thanks for taking some time with us! Let's start with the White Clouds album! This record was a wonderfully woven cross

of indie-rock, some folk, vast undertones and more!

Where did the album come from?

Thank you very much for the kind words – we really appreciate it.

THE BARREN ROOM is a trio from the Westerwald region of western

Germany. There are only mountains and forests here – we literally had no

choice but to make music. From an early age, we all played and play in

various bands: Electric Moon (Lulu), Vision Nosia, Sarkh, Teuer (Falko), Urlaub in Polen, Teuer (Oli).

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing some great styles here! Who are some of your biggest

musical influences?

We've certainly been greatly influenced by bands and musicians like Pink

Floyd, PJ Harvey, and Shellac. I think we're all open to any genre music

history has to offer and then cook our own stuff from it.

Actually, I'd say we influence each other through the sound we just make,

every musician contributing his way of creating it.

Buzz Slayers: Are you guys performing live right now?

The next gig will take place at Vortex Surfer on May 15, 2025 – a fantastic

club in Siegen, Germany. Great sound, light show and people. We're

planning more shows and a tour, of course.

Buzz Slayers: Excellent quality! Did you record this yourselves or did you do it in a

big studio?

Thanks! We did it all ourselves. Falko has his own recordingstudio. It's

called Institut für angewandten Krach (Institute forApplied Noise) and is

also located in the Westerwald region. Small but very nice. A lot of bands

are doing their stuff there now.

Buzz Slayers: Do you guys write songs together in a rehearsal space, or is there one songwriter in the group that writes most of it?

I (Oli) write all the songs. I bring my ideas to the studio, where the whole

band sorts, arranges, refines, until the songs are right for all of us. This

usually happens in a very intuitive process of jamming.

Buzz Slayers: This was a massive record! How long did it take to write and record

this?

The record was finished within a year. Falko did the mix and, together with

Lulu, the artwork. We were amazed at how quickly it all happened.

Buzz Slayers: Any music videos in the works?

We definitely want that. We have a lot of ideas and are working on getting

something done soon.

Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?

In my case, it's actually classical music - it's spring and that somehow

kicks.

Buzz Slayers: Now that the record is out there, what's next for the band?

Playing, playing, playing. We're looking forward to many great venues and

people.

We are also going to realease a really great 6-person-session-bootleg with

the Barren Room Trio and three other wonderful musicians (Georg from

Urlaub in Polen, Ralf - Teuer and Tanna - Phew), working title is currently

"Blind Date".

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, is there anything you'd like to express to fans ofthe

music?

If we connect with the audience at a live show - that's the best thing in the

world. Let ́s come together.

Buzz Slayers: Thanks so much for taking your time with us! Amazing album!

Thank you for your interest and support.

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