Today we’d like to introduce you to Bleak Barrow
Hi Bleak, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Justin Chiovitti: Growing up in a strict household my music taste was always limited. However even with these limitations I was always attracted to heavier style of music, music I wasn’t “allowed” to listen to like Mudvayne and Slipknot and all those classic bands. Thankfully I had some edgy friends in school who would introduce me to these bands and with the help of them and Guitar Hero 3, I started to discover more and naturally my interests in music grew. Fast forward a few years and my music taste really expanded to not only more music genres but particularly heavier ones like deathcore, and black metal. Over time, I began to really have an appreciation for vocalist like Phil Bozeman and CJ McMahon and would try my best to sing along to this type of music. But like a lot of people, whenever I tried, I would not only sound like a dying cat but would just tear the hell out of my voice to the point where it would just be sore and I would not want to continue. No matter how many tutorial videos I watched I just couldn’t get the hang of it. Then one day I attempted to sing along to an Amon Amarth song (horribly mind you) and my voice didn’t hurt. Thats when I discovered my false chord vocals and everything started to make sense. So with a better understanding of my voice and some very useful tips from my good friend Nathan (Vox Nostra vocalist) it wasnt long before I started to post song covers on my social media of songs ive been wanted to sing to for years. With each cover I would learn something new about my voice or find something I can work on more and eventually it led me to Bleak Barrow. Just like everything else I still have a lot of learning to do but for the time being I’m just stoked that my homies dig my vocals enough to be their vocalist!
Thomas Rife: I got into music at a very young age. My family growing up always had music playing when we spent time together and every single car ride, we never went anywhere or did anything quiet. After many years of my siblings and cousins showing me their favorite bands or artists, I experienced my first riffs. Something about Randy Rhoads guitar work gave me the most impactful and inspirational moment of my youh, and I knew I wanted to learn the art of RIFFING!
Will Carriker: I got into music unknowingly – long story short, I was in a time where I was very young and not doing anything outside of school. My grandfather had recently given me a guitar, and my dad’s close childhood friend happened to be a guitar teacher! I still remember my first lesson, and feeling like it clicked immediately. It wasn’t easy, but enough for me to understand, I remember coming home and playing an A major chord, and an E major chord, and well, the rest is history! I was always singing songs in the backseat of the car and could never sit still, so I guess the music was already coursing through me, I just had to learn an instrument to harness it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Justin Chiovitti: Well, it’s definitely been a long road that’s for sure. From 9-year-old me discovering Slipknot to where I am now as a vocalist there were millions of factors that lead up to this point. None of which I could’ve ever expected would’ve brought here. The road I’m on is still going and I’d be an idiot not to expect more struggles and obstacles but life’s all about overcoming them and most importantly learning from them and appreciating where they bring you, even if it’s not somewhere you want to be. I never thought I would be able to make music with such incredible musicians and yet here we are so I’m curious to see where the road continues to take me.
Thomas Rife: Sometimes, fuck yeah its a great time. There is no better feeling of writing one bitchin riff, and then just jamming it and somehow it comes together for a banger song. On the other hand, sometimes its fucking hard to translate what is in my heart and mind then have the confidence behind whatever riff I got recorded. I have to remind myself to trust the proccess, and just keep riffing. Now that I have the ability to riff, record, and collaborate with musicians on a daily basis it makes it a whole lot easier to get creative and have fun with it.
Will Carriker: Absolutely not – its a never ending process of trial and error, and your growth and skill adaptability comes through that. Aside from the “being in a band” aspect, it took me forever trying to get it going. From everything being great and being very lucky to go to college for music, to wasting time with posers and narcissists, thats the process of being a musician sometimes.. but to round it all out in a positive light, I met both my bandmates here and its been nothing but growth and great times. Especially having rewards to reap (creating music) from our bandmate relationship and friendship, its great. Dwell on the rewards, and use that feeling of success to push yourself farther to constant greater things!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Bleak Barrow is the culmination and result of 3 different individuals with the same goals on different paths to get there. Still allowing and “humoring” each other as musicians to have fun creating our songs and art, and showcase our skills, but also wanting to help people find their “6th sense” .. whether it be inspiration, a safe space, a community, or to just enjoy some rad music and have a great time.. that is the aim of Bleak Barrow
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Justin Chiovitti: To keep it short and simple I’d say the best take away I got from COVID is that not only your life, but the whole world can change very quickly whether you want it to or not. I think when we get comfortable in our day to day lives, we tend to think that it’s just going to stay this way, and when change comes it hits us like a train. Thats why I try to always welcome change and live outside my comfort zone from time to time the best I can. Change is the only constant in this world, and I think it’s important to remember that.
Thomas Rife: COVID taught me a few things. The was to be more socially aware with the overall happeings of our society. We were heading into lockdown in CO and I had little idea COVID was getting this serious. The second reason is probably most important, and it taught me to be more responsible in my behaviour with substances and how quickly things can get out of hand. After things in the world starting to reopen I got a very clear idea in my head I had to get my shit together, so thats what I did.
Will Carriker: the whole coronavirus thing really showed me the truth of how our modern society can act in a “state of emergency” .. and what I learned from that, is its all on you and only you to trust yourself and make your decisions. Despite what you think about the “pandemic” – whether you’re a conspiracy person or a believer that it killed millions.. dont follow the bandwagon. Think for yourself, assess the situation from the outside, then make your way in, paying attention to what you can from all perspectives, but ultimately using that information to lead you to your own conclusions. …and maybe don’t dwell on the past, haha.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bleakbarrowtx?igsh=MTliNzFkOWkzOTFyOA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bleakbarrowtx?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M6GtvdATaKA&pp=ygUYYmxlYWsgYmFycm93IGludmlzY2VyYXRl
- Other: https://bleakbarrow.bandcamp.com/track/inviscerate
