There are so many different ways to reach people with a message these days. You can write a book, you can start a podcast, you can make a video. You can do social media posts.
But one of the best ways to get your message across to a large audience is through a song. In a world filled with darkness, singer songwriter Barry Stagg has done just that with his timely and uplifting song “Shine A Little Light.”
Check it out on YouTube here:
During the late 70’s and into the early 90’s, Barry wrote and composed six full-length modern operas. During this time, he also wrote film scores for various documentaries and mini-operas. From 1987 to 2016, Barry was the playwright-in-residence for the NOSCO Academy of Theatre Arts where he wrote and composed over 90 musicals.
In 2002, Stagg was commissioned to write a 16-piece musical "Psalms From The Ark" for the High Country Youth Ballet in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. In 2004, he released the album “Slaughterhouse Of Love”.
In 2009, the album “No More Mountains To Cross” containing the song “Private Edwin Jennison” was released. This song won Stagg the Southern Heritage Music Awards Songwriter of the Year. “No More Mountains To Cross” also contains the song “Appalachian Prayer” which reached #1 on Cashbox Magazine’s Americana charts.
Barry’s most recent release “Shine A Little Light” is a message the world needs to hear right now so the timing is perfect this positive and uplifting message.
Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/7FSewyCYsxtH9wpB0nvwQu
We caught up with Canadian-born Barry Stagg at his North Carolina home to get a first-hand account of the thought process on the creation of “Shine A Little Light.”
“I draw from within my own journey of life,” Stagg said, “and try to help people navigate the complicated terrain of this current landscape. The song “Shine A Little Light” is about looking back, looking back on a time when I was beginning my life as a musician and a songwriter.” Barry uses a third person he to emphasize a distance between the world, then and the musical space he occupies now. On one hand “Shine A Little Light” and nostalgic journey, but not without its slice of humor. “ he would write on hotel walls give this boy a call his songs will surely blow your mind. Can’t nobody see the genius inside me, but you’re looking for only what you want to find.”
Barry Stagg recognizes the vulnerability of a songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve, but is not embarrassed to seek strength and guidance outside of himself. “Every day he’d pray show this child the way. Give him some direction please am I doing right? Because the songs that I write, I’m laying bear my soul for all to see.”
Shine a little light attempts to capture a moment in time of beginning with his musical aim was to push and pull of useful love
the feeling of love and adventure has never diminished over the years. I have never stopped giving thanks for the journey. May the light always shine on your own journey.”
On behalf of Barry Stagg, we invite all of you to “Shine A Little Light.”
Editor’s Note: Barry Stagg is positive proof that age is not an issue with continuing to write great songs, performing and touring globally as well as performing in his own club, The Dispensary facebook.com/dispensarybar, which he co-owns with his wife Barbara. In the last few years he has appeared at Indie Week (Toronto, Canada) MIDEM (Cannes, France) Lilla By Festivalen (Rinkaby, Sweden) and plans for a tour of Nova Scotia this fall.
