“I grew up in a house full of people and their music,” says RCA Inspiration
recording artist Joe L. Barnes. The 29-year-old singer/songwriter, who’s just
released his first solo LP entitled, The Good Shepherd, remembers listening to
every type of music with his huge family.
From his mother’s gospel favorites like The Clark Sisters, Yolanda Adams, Kirk
Franklin and Israel Houghton, to his father’s selections such as Hootie and The
Blowfish, Tracy Chapman, Amy Winehouse and The Fray, to his brother’s serious Hip Hop and R & B choices –the full range of musical genres has deeply affected Barnes.
Singing for two years with the multi-award-winning collective, Maverick City
Music, the former group member penned their massive hit “Promises” and
received a Grammy® Award, along with four other Grammy nominations in 2022.
Now, his debut album incorporates his promise and praise musical approach which he sums up as “kind of like gumbo – my mix of Gospel, Roots, Urban, R & B, Quartet and Worship.”
The Good Shepherd features ten faith-filled songs including “Promises,” all written by Barnes. The LP is inspired by the 23rd Psalm and hopes to dispel the idea that God is angry, disappointed and distant. Instead, it aims to present the Lord as close, present and gentle just like the shepherd was to his sheep. The new music is full of revelation and Barnes feels that by singing the message, it’s more approachable than speaking on things that may be considered “dangerous.”
Barnes’s songwriting can be sparked by a concept, a conversation, a lyric or a
melody. Songs range from traditional worship music to ballads to more upbeat
tunes. “Roll It Over” a soulful, R & B-flavored track urges everyone to put it “onto Jesus as he’s more than able to carry it on” and features a honky-tonk piano plus an old-school Hammond organ.
“Good Shepherd” musically soars in acknowledging the psalm to let people know they belong right here. On the upbeat “Living Proof” Barnes’s powerful voice combines with fellow worship singer Aaron Moses and on “Count Me In” Barnesand Hip-Hop artist Aaron Cole joyfully urge everyone not to worry as love is all around. The LP’s last track ends with the encouraging “Wind of Love” which gently calls for spirit “to come and take control and let the wind of love blow.”
Joe L. Barnes is committed to changing lives through his music, nurturing a core of people who are closest to him and his community. Under his “Feed the 25” initiative, those people can then reach out and spread the word on a wide-ranging scale. With a grounded vision for his life and career, he’s looking forward to a truly harmonious balance -- marriage and children, thriving success in the music industry, but most importantly going wherever God takes him.