What we appreciate about ‘3rd Rock’ is its slightly unconventional lyrical allure. Refraining from narrating about industry clichés (like heartbreak or sadness), the record embarks on what’s defined by its author as “a meditation on the beautiful chaos of parenthood”. The author in question is German-Romanian singer-songwriter Barrelly Ego, here indulging in eclectic and tender indie-rock goodness with heightened focus on vocals and lyricism. Writing about parenthood is indeed quite a refreshing and grown-up feature, one that we are confident will resonate with a lot of like-minded folks out there.
After all, there are tons of parents out there. Analysing the constant push-and-pull between duties of care and personal ambition, Barrelly Ego uncovers what it means to be a parent, a chaotic and challenging period where individualism often shifts into altruism and mindful parenthood. ‘3rd Rock’ follows up on the previously released single ‘Wither Weather’.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Barrelly Ego to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Barrelly Ego, thanks for chatting with us! Before we dive into your latest release, ‘3rd Rock’, I’d love to know more about the talented human behind the music. First of all, how are you? Are you coping well with the complex and chaotic reality around us? Would you say that songwriting and artistic expression are helping you cope with it?
I would love to just be able to say ‘I’m fine’, but I’m finding it harder and harder to cope with the reality we have been dealt with lately. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and more bitter, or because I’m allowing myself to be constantly bombarded with breaking news 24/7, or if things are just genuinely worse. Apart from that, on a personal level, between juggling a full-time day job, raising three kids, and trying to carve out time for music, life is perpetually chaotic.
Honestly, songwriting has become essential therapy for me. It’s where I process things such as the anxieties of parenthood, the tension between stability and artistic dreams, and the nostalgia for simpler times. I even allow myself to wade into geopolitics and social injustice, although I don’t really consider myself sophisticated and educated enough to publicly tackle such matters. For me, music gives structure to the chaos, transforming overwhelming or even traumatising situations into something tangible, ready to be dealt with later on. I can’t imagine myself not doing it anymore.
Looking back at your youth, was there a specific moment when you understood you wanted to embrace music? Was there any school involved?
I remember as a child being somewhat above average at singing. My parents and first-grade teacher were impressed by my singing skills, but I never had any real interest in music until later on. For many years, I enjoyed listening to pop music, not looking for anything with more depth than that. In high school, I then developed a taste for rock music, experimenting with metal and particularly nu-metal bands. But for some reason, it was only after rediscovering my love for Nirvana and the alt-rock grunge wave (like a decade after it went out of style) that I realised just listening to great music wouldn’t suffice. I needed to be part of it somehow.
Enter my previously mentioned singing ‘skills’, along with teaching myself to play guitar from the most basic guitar tabs, and I actually started to believe I could pull off being a musician. Not an artist-musician. Just a mediocre musician – just good enough to hang out with really talented people. So as years passed by, while being active in several bands, I accumulated the experience and skills to perform live, write and record original songs, and especially gather enough self-confidence to one day, forced by circumstances, start my solo music project.
Likewise, are there any bands or artists that have proven to be seminal influences over your artistic journey?
As mentioned, the 90s grunge scene left a massive imprint on me; there’s something about that raw emotional honesty that I’ve always connected with. Even beyond Nirvana, those Seattle bands and the ones associated with that era ignited something in me. Bands like Pixies, The Breeders, Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins will always have a special place in my heart.
Moving forward in time, all of that tied into my next musical milestone: stoner rock and blues rock with a twist of pop, embodied perfectly by Queens of the Stone Age and The White Stripes, and later Jack White. Early 2000s indie rock shaped my sensibility, too, artists who weren’t afraid to be vulnerable while still maintaining an edge.
On a parallel level, I found a new love for more complex music. It took me a while to understand the subtlety of bands like Radiohead. I know there’s more complex music than Radiohead, but that would be beyond my processing capacities. Apart from that, discovering Jeff Buckley and his out-of-this-world style of singing was huge for me. I’m aware I’ll never be able to sing like that, but it’s nevertheless a goal to keep in mind as an aspiring singer-songwriter.
To sum it all up, I’ll add a few more artists whose influence contributed to shaping and coagulating my musical approach: Florence + The Machine, Sufjan Stevens, The Walkmen, and Beirut, among many others.
‘3rd Rock’ serves as your latest effort, a charming indie-pop offering that’s heartwarming and fuzzy, partly nostalgic but also quite contemporary. Are you proud of how the track turned out? What does it mean for you?
I’m incredibly proud of it. Like with most of my songs, it’s a truly satisfying moment having all those feelings and melodies take shape and come to fruition after an extended process. This song started nearly a decade ago as a melody and a feeling, long before I had kids or truly understood what I was writing about. It began with the line ‘I would cry/fight/die for you’, and I knew it had to be about something bigger than myself. The original working title was ‘42’, a nod to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the meaning of life.
As each of my three children arrived, the song evolved and found its purpose. ‘3rd Rock’ became this triple-layered reference: the weight of parenting three kids, Earth as the third rock from the Sun (the only planet with life we know of), and rock music representing my refusal to abandon my artistic dreams despite the practical demands of life. It’s a snapshot of trying to be the rock my family needs while not crumbling under that responsibility. Worst-case scenario, even if it doesn’t find success with a larger audience, it will be a small testament of my experience to my children, hopefully long after I’m not around anymore.
‘3rd Rock’ follows up from your previous single ‘Wither Weather’. Are the songs part of a larger upcoming record? Also, is there a common thread between them?
Yes, both tracks are part of my upcoming EP ‘43VR’, which explores different stages of my adult life. ‘Wither Weather’ captures the anxiety and uncertainty of long-distance love. The track was originally written during my own long-distance relationship with my now-wife nearly 20 years ago. ‘3rd Rock’ continues that emotional journey into parenthood and family life. The common thread is navigating life’s storms while trying to maintain your identity and relationships.
The EP title is itself symbolic: ‘Forever’ + ‘43’ (instead of 42, continuing the Hitchhiker’s Guide reference) and also in the more distorted form of ‘for the three’: how life and everything in it seems to have a different purpose and meaning after having those three new hitchhikers join your journey. It’s a musical case study of coming of age as an adult: themes of long-distance relationships, new family, parenthood, nostalgia, homesickness, and mental health. Where ‘Wither Weather’ asked ‘will we make it?’, ‘3rd Rock’ explores ‘now that we’ve made it, can I handle the responsibility?’
Take us through your songwriting process; do you enjoy writing alone or with others? Do lyrics or chords come first for you?
I’m very much a solo songwriter: I write and record everything in my bedroom studio, which is honestly more out of necessity than choice, given my limited time. The process is chaotic: I might be working on melodies while sitting in my car waiting to pick up the kids from their sports or music extracurricular activities, or sneaking in recording sessions late at night or between afternoon naps. Interestingly, my ADHD often kicks in hardest when I’m supposed to be focused on my day job, and that’s when inspiration strikes; a bit of productive self-sabotage.
As for what comes first, it varies. Sometimes it’s a chord progression that suggests an emotional landscape; other times it’s a lyric or phrase that demands to be built around. With both ‘Wither Weather’ and ‘3rd Rock’, the core emotional hook came first, then the song evolved over the years. I collaborate with someone I trust a lot to help me with the production and mixing, which eventually translates my bedroom demos into polished tracks. But the writing-alone part is more out of necessity. Although I do tend to micromanage many parts of the songwriting and sometimes even production (regardless of my lack of experience), I do enjoy the shared experience of creating music.
I am intrigued by your motto: ‘Scraping the bottom of the barrel for any drop of inspiration’. Is there a particular story behind it?
It’s both self-deprecating and brutally honest. As someone juggling a full-time job, three kids, and musical ambitions, I rarely have those romantic moments of pure inspiration striking at convenient times. Instead, I’m constantly scraping: finding songwriting moments in traffic, during lunch breaks, in all those moments where my brain wanders off creatively while dealing with my day-job tasks.
The ‘Barrelly Ego’ name itself is a play on the ‘barely legal’ pun, but without any dark innuendos, just a celebration of me embracing my imposter syndrome. It’s also a spin-off on my former band’s name ‘Mojo Barrel’, which had a more healthy self-confidence message. But in my case, with less mojo, because there’s not much room for ego when you’re operating on sleep deprivation and stolen moments. It’s also about finding catharsis and creativity in every small experience, positive or negative, because I can’t afford to wait for perfect conditions. The barrel might be nearly empty, but I’m determined to get every last drop. The motto came later on when I found an old quote from Leonard Cohen speaking about his own creative endeavours. So I paraphrased it, and it ended up nicely tying everything together.
Lastly, what’s next for Barrelly Ego? Are you planning any shows in Berlin?
The immediate focus is on completing and releasing the ‘43VR’ EP, which will feature ‘Wither Weather’, ‘3rd Rock’, and additional tracks that complete this emotional narrative arc. I have an extraordinary music video coming up that was made by the fabulous director Antonin Pevny, and I’m building out further on the social media content that I enjoy making, which will also help me connect with new potential listeners and hopefully future fans. As for live shows, I’m gradually working on gaining some local traction and absolutely want to play in Berlin and the cities in Brandenburg and in the neighbouring states.
