Seán Barna
Brooklyn
Featured in American Songwriter, Billboard Pride, NewNowNext, and Aquarian Weekly, Seán Barna is helping define the art of queer storytelling through songwriting. NPR's Bob Boilen, host of the Tiny Desk Concerts and podcast All Songs Considered, said Barna is, "a thrill to see... wearing Ziggy Stardust on his glittery sleeve," while Barna's seminal EP, CISSY, was called "a brilliant, giant statement about modern life and sexuality" by Counting Crows frontman, Adam Duritz.
Barna uses empathy, intensity, and his experiences living in NYC and Los Angeles to shine a light on the darker corners of the queer experience. Across his vast catalog, with increasing intensity in recent releases, Barna has sought to describe a time and a place—a scene—through its characters, as they thrive or fall, live or die, stay or leave. In this, he embraces a songwriting tradition that has bloomed at key times throughout history, like Laurel Canyon in the 60s or 70s, or NYC in the 70s, where the art and song grow from the bars and streets, or from the living rooms of intimate friends.
The former drummer of Deaf West Theatre's LA production of Spring Awakening and the national Broadway tour of Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Barna plays drums and rhythm guitar on all of his records, and is the sole songwriter. Sean is currently preparing the release of his second full-length record, An Evening at Macri Park.