Anna Barie and Her Powers
The waves made by Brooklyn-based band These Are Powers can be felt all around the world. While hibernating during the chill of a New York winter, I sat down with Anna Barie, the lady behind TAP's vocals and electronics, to talk about their music.
The first time I experienced a These Are Powers show, the air was filled with bubbles, strobelights and crowdsurfers, the band’s lead vocalist Anna Barie being one of them. She floated over hands and bodies, through the bubbles, all the while howling in tune to a sound that can only be described as beautiful noise. The crowd was electric—all dancing, sweaty bodies, experiencing the music the way it was meant. Shortly after, These Are Powers, made up of Anna Barie on vocals and electronics, Bill Salas on drums and Pat Noecker on bass, set out on a month-long tour. That’s been their story all year; TAP has been powering all over the world, from Oakland to Beijing. “This was an awesome year for us. We did a lot of traveling, we performed at the Whitney [Museum of Art], we did a lot of gallery shows, we just did live scores for some films for Cinema 16—things that made us better musicians, and pushed us to do things differently.”
Now that they’ve settled themselves back in their homebase of Brooklyn, Barie has made time to sit and wonder. “We’re just hibernating right now. We’re writing right now; we just want to record and release as many songs as we can before we go on tour in the spring.” They’ve got a lot on their plate, with not a lot of time to make it happen. “We want to do a mixtape. We’re reinventing ourselves right still. I don’t think that we have a recording that reflects where we are just yet.”
These Are Powers has been ever-evolving since Barie formed the band with Noecker three years ago, and they’ve made quite a name for themselves all the while progressively moving forward. A Texas native, Barie made her way to Brooklyn as soon as she finished school, settling in Williamsburg shortly before 9/11. “If I could have left Texas when I wanted, I would have been here at 15.” Barie found herself auditioning for commercial and film work, and making music. “You know, all I ever wanted from playing music was to travel and meet people. And that’s it.” Along the way, while performing in another band, Knife Skills, Anna met Pat Noecker, former Liars bassist, and These Are Powers was born.
“Easy Answers” by These Are Powers
It wasn’t until Salas joined, on the electroacostic drums, that TAP become an evolving, cohesive unit. “There were people that heard us in the beginning, or early on, and wrote us off that hear us now and they’re like ‘Oh, you’re doing this now? Oh, I like this?’” With four albums under their belt, TAP has been called everything from No Wave to ghost-punk, though it’s not entirely certain that their sound even fits into box neat enough to give a name, which kind of reflects the current change in music and around us. “It’s not just change in New York but, also what’s happening in music. It’s only natural, since how we listen to music has changed how we buy music – it makes a difference in how we perform.”
Barie’s love for performing has her once again seeking acting roles as well as unleashing a new persona, CNTRL Top. She smiles and laughs, “To get to her, you have to go through me.” Barie’s shows as CNTRL Top are performance art, challenging society’s views on gender, sexuality, bondage, etc. all derived from women’s undergarments ... control-top pantyhose. To end a recent performance, at a Brooklyn art gallery, for the opening of the Eternal Christmas exhibition, CNTRL Top made a “snow angel” on a glitter-littered floor, a show that was no doubt something to be experienced.
As Anna continues on her journey with These Are Powers and CNTRL Top, the sweaty, dancing twenty-somethings in their crowds will continue to fuel her performances. “I think people are looking for a good time, things are heavy right now and I think they’re looking for that escape.” What a better way to escape.
poncee
Dec 10th 09
07:15 PM