A singer songwriter and poetess. A contralto surprisingly powerful voice and a rare charismatic stage presence. An artist with no frontiers, a personal musical style , from jazz to folk ,world to rock or gospel. A rich mixed blood of African American , Indian American , Irish & Indian. Between Joan Armatrading , Tracy Champan , Nina Simone or Jeff Buckley.
Even though Ilene Barnes is an American citizen , born in Detroit Michigan , she actually encompasses different continents . A rich mixed blood runs through her veins, African American , Indian American , Irish & Indian from India. Installed Europe between, London, Paris & Amsterdam ,she has now mainly focused her career in Europe , as she is signed to an independent French label .Ilene Barnes belongs to that category of American artists who has invented their own “America “, the category of Josephine Baker, Ben Harper, and Calvin Russell amongst others. As a singer songwriter, Ilene Barnes has no frontiers and can easily travel with her personal musical style, from jazz to folk , world to rock and then back to gospel. On certain songs listeners may recollect the songs of Eagle Eye Cherry, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Champan, or Nina Simone and even at some moments Tim & Jeff Buckley, father & son. Ilene Barnes is a contralto singer songwriter without limits. The combination of her surprisingly powerful voice, her rare charismatic stage presence, combined with her contemporary work has allowed her to record six albums since the year 2000, and play over 400 concerts in Europe . The press is unanimous about Ilene Barnes’ work and stage appearances, and they all know and feel that she is very talented, unique & special.
Press:
“It’s the voice of a storm, a high tide, a cathedral, one of those voices that over shadows the microphone, at times primal and yet sophisticated. Ilene Barnes is not only an impressive figure, but a mélange of a sort of secular Mahalia Jackson, a highbred Tracy Chapman and Jessye Norman.” Bertrand Dicale-le Figaro "Unique, definitely. "Rolling Stone
Discography:
Columbia :« Set You Free » 2000 IC Music inc / Discograph : « Time » 2003, « Yesterday Comes » 2006 , « Live à Fip » 2008, « Here 's to You » 2009, « Three Sides » 2010
Some shows:
More than 400 concerts in France and in Europe Les Vieilles Charrues / Nice jazz festival / Rhino jazz festival / le Printemps de Bourges/ le Bout du Monde / Chorus haut de seine / Festival de Marne / le Zénith / la Cigale / L’Alhambra (France), Festival Patrimonio (Corsica), Paléo Festival (Switzerland ) , Stimmen Voices festival + extensive tour of 25 Dates (Germany) , Arezzo wave festival ( Italy ) ,Eurosonic Parkpop / the Highland Festival ( The Netherlands ), Mercas de musicas de Vic ( Spain) , Femmes funck (New Caledonia in the Pacific )
Line up:
Ilene Barnes joue sur scène en trio dans des arrangements acoustiques. Ilene Barnes : chant, guitare, basse Jean Baptiste Férré : piano Aymeric Krol : percussions
