Barrelly Ego releases new single “3rd Rock”

Romanian-born and Berlin-based singer-songwriter Barrelly Ego pairs poignant songwriting with melodic flair to deliver a bright indie sound. The creative alias of Ion, formerly the frontman and founding member of Cluj-Napoca’s Mojo Barrel, Barrelly Ego is the latest project in his artistic journey, allowing him to explore his own sonic vision exactly as he sees it. After his band entered an indefinite hiatus, Ion refused to let that pause silence his creativity and channelled his artistic energy into a solo project that balances reflection, wit and catchy musical output.

The name Barrelly Ego itself hints at the project’s self-aware humour and background; a play on the phrase “barely legal,” it’s less about provocation and more about the quiet battle every artist faces, the impostor syndrome that creeps in when creating something new. The title became a reflection of Ion’s ongoing conversation with himself as a musician and as a person learning to tackle self-doubt through song. It’s an ethos that runs through his work, honest, human and infused with the search for what he calls “uncomplicated and unpretentious catharsis.”

Unveiling the Barrelly Ego project in 2018, he released the debut single “Naive,” which he’s since followed up with a string of well-received releases, finding influence in a wide spectrum of acts from Radiohead and Jeff Buckley to Florence + The Machine, Queens of the Stone Age and Jack White. His upcoming solo album is set to continue expanding his sound via a conceptually rich journey through the chaos and confusion of young adulthood.

Now bringing us his latest release, he shares his brand new single titled “3rd Rock,” an engaging indie rock outing that reflects on the whirlwind of parenthood, the exhaustion, the wonder and the moments of self-discovery that come with raising a child. It’s a song about chaos and grounding, about learning to hold on to a sense of self while everything around you shifts. Supported by the Brandenburg Ministry for Science, Research and Culture in Germany, “3rd Rock” has already begun to make an impact internationally, praised for its emotional context and relatable songwriting.

Brought in by the bright strums of guitar, the laid back shuffle of drums and breezy vocalisations, intricate lead guitar notes give way to Ion’s expressive vocal leads. Spinning laid back melodies carrying storytelling lyricism, that song flows with gently rhythmic sway as the arrangement develops with delicate flicker of guitar. Reaching a stunning chorus propelled by the marching rustle of drums and capped by compelling vocal leads, it’s a truly charming indie rock jam that’s impossible not to love.

Putting his songwriting talent and performance flair on full display, with “3rd Rock,” Barrelly Ego delivers a magical musical output that’s timeless, original and memorable all at once. With his latest single release, Barrelly Ego continues to go from strength to strength on his enduring musical adventure and we can’t wait to see what his forthcoming full-length record has in store.

Listen to 3rd Rock below

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