Steve Barnes - Music
Over the following ten years he gained a reputation for producing and releasing Trance music and got to work with and remix many interesting and respected artists. Steve recorded under several different pseudonyms, most notably "Digger". He worked for a number of different labels including Kickin records, Slip n Slide, Sun up and Nice n Ripe. In 1999 he went into partnership with well known house music producer Grant Nelson, to form hard house and trance label "Casanostra". (more below) |
Steve Barnes embarked on his love affair with music when, as a schoolboy, he watched an episode of Blue Peter in which Mike Oldfield record the theme tune to the show, playing all the instruments himself. Steve later remarked that It was the coolest thing he had ever seen and from that day forward, music has played a large part in his life. After a six year spell in the army as a bandsman, during which time he got to play music and see the world, he moved to London in 1992 and soon fell in love with the thriving dance scene. 
New Day
CD £11.39 / $16.39
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"New Day" is an exquisite contemporary instrumental music album from Steve Barnes, better known for his Trance music during the 1990's. His debut release for AD Music is a superbly produced and very smooth excursion into romantic new age style electronica that may be a long way from his former Trance/Dance music days, but as you would expect, has all the hallmarks of a seasoned composer and producer who knows how to construct a tune and convey the emotion and atmosphere required to keep the listener interested.
"New Day" contains 11 tracks of soothing and drifting electronica that features superbly played piano and acoustic guitar themes over the most chilled of rhythms. There is a warmth here that is almost sensual; melancholy yet uplifting; contemplative yet always involving; beautiful but not sugary. "New Day" is one of those albums that will be on repeat play as you discover the wonderful depth and subtlety in Steve's emotional and dreamlike music. The delicate, melodic piano themes are infectious and will gently caress you, putting you under a spell that will find you gently tapping your feet as the chilled rhythms come in to play. Whilst there are clearly nods to the likes of Mike Oldfield, Ludovico Einaudi and Debussy, "New Day" remains an original album with a clear identity that is both beautiful and incredibly rewarding.
Steve Barnes Bio
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As well as regular appearances in the dance charts between 1992 and 2002, Steve was lucky enough to appear on many dance compilation albums including Ministry of Sound, Euphoria and Gatecrasher and also to remix some fantastic and diverse artists including Miriam Makiba, Grant Nelson on N&G's "Right before your eyes" which debuted at no 12 in the UK charts in March 2000 and even a trance remix of "Fanfare for the common man" for Emerson, Lake and Palmer. One of Steve's tracks "Church of Ra" by Digger features in the new Til Schweiger movie "One Way". Whilst he still retains an enduring love for the more inventive and interesting dance music, Steve felt the need to move out into other genres. So after a break from the music scene, he returned to the studios during 2007/8 to record the instrumental album "New Day". This collection of fresh and original instrumental tracks falls somewhere between dreamy chill out, new age and Mike Oldfield inspired instrumental music imbued with a warmth and depth that is both original and emotionally charged. Steve believes Music has to be about self expression and that it's a powerful way to convey emotions and feelings that are not easily put into words. Of his influences, Steve says: "I have a huge and very diverse set of influences including, BT, Ludovico Einaudi, Debussy, Thomas Newman and Thomas Dolby. I love music that conjures up emotion and especially when it has that dreamlike quality which transports you to another place". |