04. Cappuccino Crowd Greg Barnett 2020-10-04 | I think we all view The Cafe as a great escape from life's pressures. The song was written in a few weeks in 2001, with the fourth verse being added just after the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. Since then the coffee culture has really exploded in Australia. My own tipple is a Flat White (hence my recently named album), but "cappuccino" is the universal metaphor for the cafe vibe.While I was re-imagining this track, I spoke with Mike, my co-creator/co-performer from this 2002 album. It was a tough journey trying to make it sound 'different' from the original due to the then simple guitars + voice, and 4 identical verses with no chorus. But it finally took on its own character when the whistling riff and accordion were added (which reminds me of 10CC's 'One Night in Paris'). It was rounded off with drums, bass, and changing the fourth verse into a minor key.
Old Love featured by Pete Johns on his Studio Live Today LIVE Program Greg Barnett 2026-02-19 | Comments from Pete Johns, Studio Live Today, a player, home producer and YouTuber in Brisbane, Australia. This is my first submission to his "Live Music" program. His site is: studiolivetoday.wordpress.com His Channel is: youtube.com/@UC6BWO4JfxBFSSf41dtF8hqg
Drop-D demo - Blues in D Greg Barnett 2025-04-23 | Another Drop-D demo.Camera - Canon 70D with 18-135 lens. Audio - The sound is 'open air', captured on a Rode shotgun mic shoe'd on the camera, plus a Zoom H1 stereo field recorder. Both sound files were used in DaVinci Resolve, gain staged to equal levels, and treated with EQ and Compression.Guitar - Takamine. Downtuned two semitones to make the 12-string easier to play and bend and to give more bass resonance. No picks used on right-hand fingers.
Burn for You (cover) - chord demo Greg Barnett 2025-04-05 | Written/performed by John Farnham on the 'Chain Reaction' (1990) album.Standard tuning.
Drop-D demo - Goodbye Blue Sky (cover) Greg Barnett 2025-04-01 | "Goodbye Blue Sky" by Pink Floyd ... an acoustic instrumental cover.- Short to show each major section.- Camera is a Canon 70D with 18-135 lens. - The tripod is on the table, 1m from the guitar, and angled down.- The sound is 'open air', captured on a Rode shotgun mic shoe'd on the camera, plus a Zoom H1 stereo field recorder.- Both sound files were used in DaVinci Resolve, gain staged to equal levels, and treated with EQ and Compression.The guitar is downtuned two semitones to make the 12-string easier to play and bend and to give more bass resonance.
Drop-D Demo - A Little Death Greg Barnett 2025-04-01 | Drop D - Demo"A Little Death"by Greg BarnettTrack 8 on The Flat White AlbumFull song music video and free songsheet atwww.clancys.com.au/The-Flat-White-AlbumThe demo shows each major section only once, although the full song has repeated sections.Mainly chords over the bottom open D string, but also modulates with chords over the open A string and then the higher D string. I hit the strings with downward strikes of my index fingernail (I haven't used a plectrum in 40 years). NOTE: I downtune my 12-string by two semitones. Downtuning suits my vocal range which has lowered a little as I've got older and the octave strings are less likely to break when tuning. It also makes strings easier to play and bend, and gives a lot more bass resonance.
Drop-D Demo - Ferry to the Island Greg Barnett 2025-03-29 | Drop D - Demo"Ferry to the Island"by Greg Barnett and Mike LevyTrack 2 on Not All It Seems (REDUX)Full song music video and free songsheet at:www.clancys.com.au/Not-All-It-Seems-REDUXThe demo shows each major section only once, although the full song has repeated sections.The 'chords' I used are just the top three strings of the various standard chords played over an alternating D bass (Drop-D).NOTE: I downtune my 12-string by two semitones. Downtuning suits my vocal range which has lowered a little as I've got older and the octave strings are less likely to break when tuning. It also makes strings easier to play and bend, and gives a lot more bass resonance.
Remote - the original short to be scored for Tropscore 2015 Greg Barnett 2025-03-19 | This is the original version as received ... several camera scenes cut together with only a few incidental sounds (e.g. car, footsteps, digging and a bit of dialogue). Tropscore was a new competition within the TropFest event (Australia's biggest Short Film competition and held in Sydney).
Blues in A Greg Barnett 2025-01-22 | Trying to play something a tune from a few decades ago, it took a week to piece it together, one memory cell at a time. Then it was down to trying to play it all smoothly in one go, getting the fingers moving in vague semblance of times gone by, and overcoming performance anxiety which surpisingly had increased with age!
Hard To Say Im Sorry (cover) Greg Barnett 2023-09-13 | This was to be my first video to use AI-generated images and these ended up comprising roughly half the running time, the other half being my usual M.O. of stock video/image. It turned out to be the second AI-image music video to be uploaded. "Agincourt" was started later but finished earlier because the production side of "Hard"s audio track took longer than expected.Information about the music is here:http://www.clancys.com.au/The-Singles/tracks/hardtosay.phpMUSIC CREDITSThe 'familiar' song was: Written - Peter Cetera & David Foster Lead guitar break - Martin Hale Harmonies - Paul Harris and Jennifer Matthews (BigNote Productions) Originally arranged - Chicago (1982). But I was only able to recreate it after watching Leonid Vorobyev's cover (youtube.com/watch?v=gKhauqqEYpo)The folky prologue was my added concoction to prevent this all being a slavish copy!The guitars (12-string acoustic and 6-string electric) are real instruments and the vocals are real people. All other instruments are MIDI - drums, organ, flute, brass, piano, violins, cello, electric bass, horn. All elements were mixed and mastered at home using Pro Tools on a Windows laptop.
Running From Red (Extended Mix) Greg Barnett 2023-01-30 | I released this audio track as a single in October '22 and now, four months later, I've decided to have a crack at the music video. As always, it's impossible to find enough quality/relevant imagery from my limited cleared-to-publish sources to tell the visual story I had been imagining. But, after 50+ videos, I've learned to accept a 'make-do' philosophy and just work with whatever I can find. I hope the visuals are emotionally compelling for others without resorting to sensationalism.The audio track here is the result of the lack of other music projects towards the end of 2022. The desire to revisit this particular song was fuelled by the constant horror of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. [Also I had found, after finishing the 'Not All It Seems REDUX' album that revisiting existing material allows one to keep the finishing line within reach ... something that weighs more on my mind having now passed the previously-unimaginable age of 70!].Music seems a ludicrously facile expression of the terrible Ukrainian situation, but I was struck that humanity keeps repeating the micro and macro failures of the past. We all thought Russia's aggression in Europe post-WWII had finally run its course after the fall of the Berlin Wall. There was a blossoming of peace and a real feeling of optimism everywhere. Now, Russia has resumed its old ways and China too has increased its belligerence. But hey, let's not get too self-righteous and preachy. The 'Red' here can also be applied to the flags of the USA and its lacky Western allies, including the UK and Australia who, with only immediate political expediency in mind, will invade, bomb (indiscriminately killing civilians), bully and coerce, and assassinate individuals in other countries, all in the pursuit of power, influence, resources, etc. ... though often under the guise of 'self-defence'.Although attributed as 50/50, Martin Hale (my collaborator on 'Prescient', 2015) wrote "Running From Red", a wonderfully musical and very personal song about those bad old days of Russian expansion in Europe. In late 2022, I asked his permission to revisit it in the style of Jeff Wayne's dub-beat remixes of some of his old "War of the Worlds" tracks. Fortunately, I had recorded and mixed the original track on my computer so I was able to re-use Martin’s original vocal plus his electric and acoustic guitar recordings.The audio release for the Extended Mix is: open.spotify.com/track/6TFXVo8baQTIdfcq9HzfMR?si=fd5c8f3f12e848a2The original 2015 album track release is: open.spotify.com/track/7ySOuLoKJdzul2oKNCTYzj?si=10eeee7a58154486The music video for the 2015 original was made unlisted as a safety precaution (as not all imagery had been cleared). It can still be seen here: youtube.com/watch?v=t0wp17gtQDE&list=PLzoPh-b4qN3GI4rmmPztNA98bZCY6B9GB&index=8
Crossroads (cover) Greg Barnett 2022-09-13 | With no new music for a while, this is a cover suggested by Martin and, fortunately, he has the guitar chops to make it work well.CROSSROADS;"Cross Road Blues" (also known as "Crossroads") is a blues song written and recorded by black American blues legend Robert Johnson in 1936. The great modern re-interpretation was created by the UK supergroup Cream on their second album “Wheels of Fire” (1968)The audio on this music video is our 2022 cover version and was home-produced, mixed and mastered by Martin Hale. Performers were: - Martin Hale (lead guitars and vocals) - Greg Barnett (bass, keyboards, drums)The single is available on Spotify, Apple and all digital platforms.
Where Is Your Smiling Face? Greg Barnett 2022-09-07 | Streaming available ... Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/4vg4i7gviqbCOTsEwYTHtT Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/song/where-is-your-smiling-face-feat-sophie-kaesler/1646056659 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com.au/albums/B0BDSPT7XC YouTube Music: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l8b7Nwvfe0L7W3F_5WZessSZeuky7NjcU&feature=share... and all other digital platforms,“Where Is Your Smiling Face?” is a cover/remix/enhancement of the song “Nächster Schritt” which was originally written, arranged and produced by Stefan Kaesler (Warendorf, Germany), and sung by his daughter, Sophie Kaesler. Released in December 2019, it was amazingly recorded and produced using GarageBand on a iPad! I loved it on first hearing. It can be heard at youtube.com/watch?v=fmNmFKs_jZk, and on all digital platforms. I provided Stefan with an English translation soon after that which he subsequently recorded himself.In August 2022 when looking for projects, I asked him if could give it a new treatment. This mixes the German and English lyrics (Stefan supplied Sophie's original vocal), adds several instruments, and now has a new 'middle 8'. The sentiment was widened beyond 'losing someone' due a breakup, the funeral bell being the obvious harbinger :) This track also represents my cold-turkey switch from Pro Tools to Studio One. The first few sessions were an absolute b*stard of a struggle with the different interface, but speed and confidence eventually picked up. I've gained some new tools while losing nothing of consequence. Support is much better (I got a response within 24 hours!), I've saved money and shrugged off the yoke of an increasingly rapacious software giant.
On An Island (cover) Greg Barnett 2022-07-20 | A musical project instigated by Martin Hale (my local collaborator and friend since "Prescient" in 2015).“On an Island” original track by David Gilmour (2006)from the album of the same name.This cover version (2022) was produced, mixed and mastered by Martin Hale and performed by Martin Hale (vocals and all lead guitars) with Greg Barnett (12-string, bass, drums, keyboards). Our parts were recorded separately in our own home studios.
Poltergeist (... by eBay) Greg Barnett 2022-06-02 | My son Ben created a sit-stand desk a few years ago by attaching a motorised frame to a large piece of nice wood.I thought I'd do something similar (buying the same frame from the same ebay seller as it worked so well) but, because I'm sick of throwing away good things, I attached it to the desk that I've been using for the last 20-or-so years. It worked (thank goodness). I cycle every day whenever it's dry, but I've been putting on weight ... probably due to the amount of time I spend sitting in front of the computer and TV. In the last few days I've at least cut the computer-sitting by at least 90%. Let's hope it lasts!
The Way You Look Tonight (main riff) Greg Barnett 2022-04-04 | A nice sectional break for "The Way You Look Tonight", the old Fred Astair number dating from 1936 (music - Jerome Kern, lyrics - Dorothy Fields). The original sheet music was in Eb.
Blues in E Greg Barnett 2022-03-20 | Learned many years ago from ... I think a MelBay TAB book by Stefan Grossman. A struggle to remember where the fingers were meant to go!
Song for Guy (instrumental cover) Greg Barnett 2022-03-13 | Many years ago, playing this on piano, it struck me that it SHOULD be relatively easy to play on guitar as the range of notes in the melody is quite limited and all within finger reach of the basic chords. It took a few days to figure out something which sounded like a 'full' arrangement with some harmonies and bass. The challenge in 2022 was to:a) firstly remember how to play it!b) get the fingers flexible and do my bidding. (I used the capo to make for smaller fret gaps ... easier finger reach.)c) as a side project, try a performance without a boring front shot of me bent over the guitar. A Canon 70D with Rode direction mic shot my left hand using a telephoto shot from behind over my shoulder. A Zoom H1 stereo field recorder was placed in front of me. Telephoto focus on a close object is tough at the best of times, but try doing this yourself when the camera is BEHIND you and you can't see the preview screen! I ended up using a special phone app as a remote screen monitor (placed on the table), USB connected to the DSLR, also allowing me to record/stop the video.Haha ... the performance can't be THAT bad as the Youtube algorithm recognised the melody and issued a "Copyright claim found" notice. :)
Saltwater (cover) Greg Barnett 2022-02-18 | Poor old Julian. Largely abandoned and ignored by his famous father it is ironic that he was later villified by the music industry for 'trading on' John Lennon's name.I rate 'Saltwater' (1991) as a great song. Performed by him, and co-written with Mark and Leslie Spiro, it was one of the very first that focused solely on the planet's growing environmental plight.His production is a throwback/copy/homage to 'Strawberry Fields', doubling down in similarity by also using what sounds like Mellotron organ and strings. But, regardless, it's a beautiful and well-structured song with wonderfully concise lyrics that still encapsulate mankind's unthinking madness.The official video did the song a great disservice ... youtube.com/watch?v=ql1EnjVYrZM ... being too earnest by far. Why so many long lingering looks at skyscrapers? I only realised at the start of 2022, when I found the songsheets that I had made and used for public performance many years ago, that 'Saltwater' must have been a big influence on my environmental song "Earthrise", Track 29 on 'The Flat White Album' (2020).
Fields and Sunny Skies (Cover version) Greg Barnett 2021-10-01 | A beautiful, professional musical cover, done 20 years after the original.Music and lyrics – Mike Levy and Greg BarnettProduced by Paul Harris and Jennifer MatthewsVocals – Jennifer MatthewsProgramming and instrumentation – Paul HarrisMixed and mastered – Smudge Recorded at Bignote Productions, August 2021
3CR Climate Action Show Greg Barnett 2021-05-13 | 3CR Community Radio in Melbourne has recently accepted five tracks from the "The Flat White Album" to play ... "Last Post' and 'Agincourt' for the weekly Spoken Word program, and "The C-Bomb", "Earthrise", and "Frogs in a Pan" for the weekly Climate Action program. In addition, for the latter program, I was asked by the host if I could do a 60-sec station promo (which she voiced) using the 'keening' voices at the start of 'The C-Bomb' plus the Scott Morrision soundbite. She was very happy with the resulting audio sting and even happier when I made this visual for social media use (as you can't put an MP3 on a Facebook page).
05. That Bloke Upstairs Greg Barnett 2020-12-17 | Memory displacement. Confusion. Alzheimer's. Not recognising others. Not recognising oneself.
12. In Two Minds Greg Barnett 2020-12-12 | This is the last video to be tackled for the album (whew!) and I was running low on energy and inspiration. Fortunately, being an instrumental, there was no real story to follow so I could just attempt to mirror the two 'moods' - one contemplative, the other energetic.All clips except the single middle bridging clip were from one filmmaker (I've used his stuff a lot elsewhere). The first-half sailing clips were in extra-wide format but, unlike all previous music videos, I left them as is (causing the black bars top and bottom). I then superimposed fake black bars onto the bridging clip and opened up the size ratio when approaching the second half motorbike clips (which were all standard 16:9).
11. Worlds Apart Greg Barnett 2020-12-12 | Unable to find clips to reflect the lyrics I took the approach of using a single actor (everything from a single filmmaker), and mostly in close-ups. I find it fascinating that one can begin to impose story elements onto the smallest changes in facial expression.
10. Gonna Get You Greg Barnett 2020-12-09 | Believe it or not, we're all gonna die! I hope you find this amusing rather than depressing ... especially at the end.I was surprised that Mick Jagger agreed to appear in a cameo!
09. Listen Greg Barnett 2020-10-17 | The intent of the lyrics remains the same ... it's so hard to express your innermost thoughts ... and they are often completely misinterpreted by others anyway. I assume it's the same for everyone ... and is that resulting sense of isolation common to all?It was only when thinking about a video that it struck me that faces are mesmerising, and one can read anything you want into even the straightest of faces.Musically, compared to the original, the key is slightly higher (for my main vocal), the slide guitar has been processed with more punch and the strings used were recorded separately. New additions are more harmonies, new percussion, upper and lower string parts, a re-worked guitar lead break, and the end harmonics overlaid with bells.I was lucky enough to find the end video clip which had a serious face that SLOWLY broke into a smile, and that there was an 'eyebrow raise' that I could time with the last 'ding'. Gives a nice lift to an otherwise serious song.
08. Pleasant Land Greg Barnett 2020-09-22 | The idea for this song came from the pitched battles at the soccer in Melbourne between migrant factions from the old Yugoslavia. People who chose to start a new life in a new country but clinging to old hatreds. We had left the UK in 1981 which was then ablaze with race riots.The song is arranged in an Olde English folk style.
07. Home is Where the Heart is Greg Barnett 2020-08-28 | The original was piano and violin only without strict tempo. It had a few 'gaps' in the arrangement (lack of preparation before recording) that always bugged me. Now there are two main tempos, some better-defined chord changes, and added guitar and percussion. The bass piano was tracked separately for more control.This is the first video to have all clips from the same source ... artgrid.io. Just goes to show how the amount of video available around the net continues to grow.
05. Seasons Greg Barnett 2020-08-27 | This song was written and performed by Mike Levy and the audio track is taken directly from the original 2002 album. The simplicity and folk vibe was something special and has therefore not been re-recorded or embellished.
02. Ferry to the Island Greg Barnett 2020-08-15 | The fourth result of the 'Not All It Seems" REDUX project. The home studio music side seems to be tougher than before. I'm not sure if this is because my hearing is deteriorating (something that sounds clear one day may sound muffled the next) or perhaps the pressure of doing justice to the original album songs recorded in 2002. I've now had problems with Windows, the laptop hardware, the recording interface unit, ProTools, and two different cables! Sheesh!! This new song version differs from the original in using strict tempos, strong but hopefully suitable percussion, and synthesisers (two). And it's me replacing Mike's original vocal and just my 12-string. In fact, I had to cheat when I couldn't reach the lowest note ("sky" in the last verse), so I had to sing it a tone higher and then autotune it lower. Eagle-eyed video pundits may notice some inevitable issues due to limited availability of clips: European cars (steering wheel on left, driving on the right side) have been flipped to appear as if Aus/UK but this means some traffic signs are inverted; they're definitely not " ''mangroves' slipping by"; the pelican is not one of the beautiful white ones we get in Australia; and the ferry's flags and most locations are not any of ours. But, hopefully, the 'feel' wins.
06. Clay Shapes Greg Barnett 2020-07-26 | This is a re-arrangement of the version recorded in January 2002. At the time, Mike sang the lead and we used two acoustic guitars. Now it's my voice plus 12-string.The new version has a tight tempo and a more 'natural' arrangement and sound for the orchestral break, while the addition of panpipe/bottle riffs plus percussion throughout help glue the sections together. Free sheet music is available at the relevant song page on:http://www.clancys.com.au/Not-All-It-Seems
01. Fields and Sunny Skies Greg Barnett 2020-07-04 | This is a re-arrangement of the very first song I ever co-wrote, performed and recorded ... way back in January 2002. At the time, the original version was Mike's deeper lead voice, me on high harmony, and our two acoustic guitars. The current version adds percussion, cello, violin and 'choir' and it was challenge to find an acceptable balance as the 2002 arrangement was so deeply ingrained.Only 6 months after doing most of the videos for "The Flat White Album" there is already a wealth of new imagery to select from, and even the free sites are now offering 'collections' that feature the same actors, providing for more visual continuity in a music video.Free sheet music is available at the relevant song page on:http://www.clancys.com.au/Not-All-It-Seems
03. Mad About It Greg Barnett 2020-06-27 | The original lyric laid out a chain of events ... losing a job, losing a partner, and then losing the family. But changing less than a dozen words has made it more universal: just about relationships.The original music arrangement was voice plus acoustic guitar. The current version adds percussion, bass, electric piano, strings, choir, and vocal harmony.Free sheet music is available at the relevant song page on:http://www.clancys.com.au/Not-All-It-SeemsNOTE. I am severely limited in what imagery I can find and use and there is excessive tobacco smoking shown in the constituent video clips. Although I was a guilt-free smoker before having kids it is addictive, stinks, causes lung damage, and literally burns money from family budgets. I particularly despise smoking for the scum-baggery of the tobacco companies who continue to push cigarettes for profit.
Kettlebell Workout Greg Barnett 2020-03-02 | A group tryout of a new 'complex' amalgam of standard exercises.
Home views Greg Barnett 2019-01-11 | A combination of the 2nd and 3rd attempts of drone flying and taking videos of the house and environs (in answer to a few "why don't you ..."). A bit smoother than before and getting close to OK.Final shot is me, Ben Barnett and Liz Duus.
Dogs at Robina Stadium Park - 2 Greg Barnett 2019-01-11 | Another day at the Park with the dogs. Mike Levy (on a visit from Brisbane) greatly interested in drones/cameras to assist his landscape painting. Production is back to using mainly still images.
Dogs at Robina Stadium Park Greg Barnett 2019-01-05 | Massive open space with Mudgeeraba Creek on 3 sides.
Lawns on a Hot Day Greg Barnett 2019-01-05 | Best things about cutting lawns? Finishing and cooling off!
Boxing Day 2018 - Currumbin House Greg Barnett 2018-12-26 | Ben Barnett and Liz Duus ... a casual gathering of the clans.First real use of DJI Mavic drone.
Tom - Horse Whisperer Greg Barnett 2018-02-26 | This clip is straight from my phone to YouTube (no editing).
Coast Acoustics Music Festival 2017-Trailer Greg Barnett 2017-09-22 | The full 6-minute version: youtu.be/Zw40RpT0ogU
Her Ladyship and Royal Hounds at Heel Greg Barnett 2017-08-23 | Off-leash Creek/Beach areas north of Currumbin Creek.Camera: my new sub-$400 Moto 5G Plus phone (which can also shoot 4K!).
Filmmakers Event - Show Opener Greg Barnett 2017-08-17 | Event held 7pm August 11 2017. This is my tongue-in-cheek (my tongue, my cheek) opening to a free 'filmmakers' event I put on at a food court in a local shopping centre. My computer-training projector created a quality 5m image on a clear wall, and my small 'cafe' PA did a surprisingly sterling job on sound.I have hopefully created an opportunity for local clubs and individuals to show their creations to the public. I showed 'Master & Commander' (sailing), 'Mona Vale - Harvest 2013' (working on a farm in SA), 'Remote' (my submission to a film score competition), The Patrol (my latest, with Ben), and my music videos from 2015. Not mobbed by crowds, but the few friends and public blow-ins seemed to enjoy it.
Filmmakers Event - Show Closer Greg Barnett 2017-08-17 | Something to lighten the mood at the end.Required a little work in Photoshop/Illustrator to mask out the 'Looney Tunes' arc'd text above the centre circle.
The Patrol Greg Barnett 2017-08-02 | Dawn. A man searching and clearing dangers underfoot, willing to sacrifice himself so that others might be safe.Feedback. More than one person has said it 'would have been better with Army Boots'. No Oscar nod then? I WANTED to use army boots but had given my real ones away, and couldn't find my other work boots at short notice (shows how little work I do)! I wasn't going to let that stop the project ... this was a rare opportunity to get a result after 6 months of waiting.
The Interviews - Ep 2. Anne Shepperson speaks to Greg Barnett (Gregs Edit) Greg Barnett 2017-07-18 | ...
dArcy Doyle Art Awards & Exhibition Greg Barnett 2017-07-07 | Born 1932, d’Arcy Doyle became a tradesman master painter and sign writer. Only in his thirties did he become an independent professional artist, painting many assignments throughout Sydney.In 1973, with a young family, he returned to Queensland, building a home on two acres in Mudgeeraba, in the Gold Coast Hinterland. One of d’Arcy’s famous paintings, “The Cricket Match”, was subject to a then novel marketing strategy - the production and sale of a limited edition of personally autographed prints. The first edition of 1,000 prints sold quickly, leading to several re-prints. Many of his other paintings were sold the same way, always with great results. His work has been likened to the American artist Norman Rockwell in that they both found inspiration in the ordinary, and succeeded in capturing an essence of national spirit in their paintings. This lead to him becoming Australia’s best-selling artist in the 1980′s, and it was estimated that 1 in 10 Australian homes had one of his works in some form.D’Arcy passed away in 2001, but his legacy lives on in his timeless and quintessentially Australian art. The d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards endeavours to honour this legacy with a new generation of artists.
