The ArtSage Alliance — operated by Venetian Arts Society, John Knox Village and NSU — is bringing in a special treat Feb. 1 by name of Katreese Barnes. ArtSage is hosting a reception at 6 p.m., the main event at 7 p.m., and guests have the opportunity to meet and greet at 8:15 p.m. Barnes is well-rounded musician: she’s a producer, composer and Grammy nominated pianist who’s also won two Emmys. She’s worked in collaboration with a multitude of other artists, including Sting, Roberta Flack, Chakhan and Mariah Carey, whom she adored, but ultimately Barnes puts a soulful, multi-genre twist on her original music.
Barnes not only pours her distinctive energy into her music, she shares it with other people: in her new streaming show “Welcome 2 My House,” she and Chamberfusic meet in her living room only two hours before showtime. That means they’ve only got around an hour to practice. This kind of intimate structure means the music that comes out is bound to be genuine and filled with excitement — because that’s what’s coming from the artists. Not to mention, Barnes brings up that “there’s very few platforms to do this kind of old school live performance,” so viewers will not only be struck by the rawness in the music but a clear distinction from what they’ve experienced before.
At ArtSage, Barnes will play Top 40 twists and original music from her 2016 EP “Something to Consider.” While performing, Barnes is bound to be a strong as presence, as she has demonstrated in other works. She says a huge part of her excitement for ArtSage is working with people passionate about art, and afterall, giving a strong performance is that much easier when there’s people backstage that believe in both you and in what you believe. If you attend, you might get to hear “Goodbye Butterfly”, which Barnes said is a personal favorite.
This ArtSage event is certainly worth your time. Barnes hopes to leave those who attend feeling inspired and uplifted, so while she won’t be coming to your living room, she’ll make you feel at home and at peace, even just for a short time.
