AARUPA by Quinton Barnes

Quinton's new album, Aarupa, brings some of the most exciting soul, pop, electronic, and R&B songs we've heard in recent times. These songs are laced with strange and experimental stretches, and as the album progresses, you cannot help but sink deep inside and be carried away into the weird and enchanting musical journey that is Aarupa: "A dynamic, eccentric and forward-thinking release, Aarupa combines the sensibilities of modern pop and electronic music with a breathtakingly creative and idiosyncratic approach that often defies categorization. Aarupa throws caution to the wind, offering abstract and intimate portrayals of love, identity and sexuality that conjure images of an introspective creator with a penchant for self-expression. Despite this fervent sense of exploration, Aarupa remains consistently engaging and endlessly revealing in its search for authenticity and self-mastery."

Huge thanks to Travis at Counterzine for premiering this labum and for this lovely and thoughtful review: counterzine.com/2020/03/20/album-premiere-review-quinton-barnes-aarupa/

Huge thanks to Lorena Cupcake and Jes Skolnik and Bandcamp for making this album their Album of the Day: daily.bandcamp.com/album-of-the-day/quinton-barnes-aarupa

Also thanks to Bandcamp and Diamond Sharp for including this album in The Best Albums of Winter 2020: daily.bandcamp.com/lists/the-best-albums-of-winter-2020

Huge thanks to Claudia Galal of the Great Mix Tape for their kind review as well: thegreatmixtape.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/aarupa/

Huge thanks to Jim Di Gioia and Dominionated for this kind review: dominionated.ca/reviews/quinton-barnes-aarupa/  

credits

released March 20, 2020

All songs written and produced by Quinton Barnes with the exception of ‘This Moment’ which was co-written with (and features) Xtina Jewell.
quintonbarnes.bandcamp.com

Cover artwork by Chelsey Boll
Graphic design by Elizabeth Owens

Thanks to my family, first and foremost. Thank you to Dad and Mom for being my sounding boards as I worked this album out. Thank you Chelsey for the artwork, interview, and all the help and love over the years. You have changed my life forever. Thank you to Xtina Jewell for
your wonderful feature and immense kindness. Thank you to Sam for your enduring friendship, and patience for my outsized ego as I obsessed over this record and borrowed your ear whenever I needed validation. Thank you to everyone who listens, and maybe resonates with something here. Thanks especially to Grimalkin and Nancy Grim - the work you do is so, so important, and the support you provide for queer artists is beautiful. I love & appreciate you all immensely.

Artist receives 75% of all proceeds of digital only sales. The remaining 25% supports Grimalkin's label and mutual aid fund and helps us towards sustaining our work.