Bill Barlow steps out from behind the curtain with the album, The Bill Barlow Project. It’s a peek into the mind of someone who’s been quietly shaping other people’s hits for years and is finally ready to sign his own name on the cover. A seasoned songwriter and ghostwriter, Barlow makes sly little thought experiments wrapped in hook-laden arrangements. The record’s range is wide, but it all carries his fingerprints: clever turns of phrase, a sharp ear for rhythm, and a sense that he’s having just as much fun as we are.
Take “The Page Was Left Blank,” a deceptively simple earworm that leans on a heavy, steady beat and bustling cymbals. The groove hooks you right away, but it’s the lyrical playfulness—riffing on the absurdity and meaning of leaving a page blank—that keeps you listening. Barlow’s charismatic vocal delivery turns what could’ve been a novelty idea into a surprisingly engaging statement piece.
“When He Speaks” pivots into sharper, more biting, satirical territory. The electronic rhythm pulses like it’s pacing a room, synth sparks flying as Barlow matches the tension with a clipped, intimidating vocal style.
Then there’s “King of My Destiny,” which swaps out Barlow’s voice for a stunning female vocal that oozes soul and sensuality. Over glistening acoustic guitars, sharp cymbals, and hard-hitting beats, she belts with an empowering and bittersweet emotional punch. The song’s declaration of self-rule is laced with a subtle acknowledgment that the crown comes with its own weight.
The Bill Barlow Project is a masterclass in how to turn quirky ideas and sharp observations into impressive songs that stick. Listen to it on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan