From his latest release Justice Now, Barista has enlisted some of the greatest minds as collaborative help and has released his latest single, Billions. A track primarily about the injustices and inequality suffered in the world, Barista utilizes metaphor and dire imagery to illustrate his message in this clever narrative. “See the beaming faces at the check-out lane, Fat bellies bulging, Oblivious of all the pain, Default carelessness with that iPhone in your hand, You don’t get to understand, Entertainment rules the land.” Set to a moderately up-tempo rock groove, Billions is a sing-along, danceable track worthy of heavy rotation across any rock genre commercial radio. Listeners should pay special attention to the phrasing of the main guitar fills as it shapes each cadence with delicacy and sophistication, lending to the seriousness of the message and playing off the theme. With a heavy hook in the chorus and a catchy metaphor of exposition Barista really cracks this theme wide open; “Brothers and sisters, pull upstream, Send a prayer to the poor and the chained in your dreams, She calls me a childish dreamer, Hey thanks! I try to be, Cos thru the darkness, A dream can save us all indefinitely.” It is here as well that we see the effective way Barista shapes his lyrical structures to turn his poetic approach into a popular hit single.
Billions is about the billions on this planet looking for freedom, security, and a place to call their own. This world is sacred, and our troubadour songwriter delivers a reminder on these fronts. As mentioned this song features some of the best players in the rock music industry today. Featuring Jesse Siebenberg, guitar (Kenny Loggins, Supertramp), Reggie Hamilton, bass (Waren Zevon, John Mellencamp), and Dave Palmer, keys (Fleetwood Mac) this experience, professionalism, and talent are on display with a replayable, highly infectious hook that appeals to a vast and diverse audience. The production is also on this level, as each instrument is given its own space in the frequency spectrum. With plenty of allotted headroom, Billions can be replayed at thigh volumes, ( which is recommended) free of distortion and unwanted noise. A highly enjoyable track and worthy of many listens, Billions has a message that challenges the listener while continuing to entertain.
Reviewed by: Lee Callaghan
Evolution Music Press
December 11, 2022
In collaboration with MTS Management Group
