Sam Barber

Sam Barber Biography by Mark Deming Million Eyes Sam Barber is a singer and songwriter who has made waves in country and rock music with spare, deeply emotional performances that harken back to atmospheric sounds of the past. Barber's voice recalls Hank Williams' doleful tone in a style that's at once plain-spoken and expressive, and early recordings such as 2021's "Run Away High," with Barber accompanied only by his guitar, had a confidence and maturity uncommon for a beginner. He moved on to a bigger sound with full-band accompaniment on later sides such as "Ghost Town" and "Dancing in the Sky," both off his 2023 Million Eyes EP, without losing the power of his rough, elemental style. He also showcased his concert performances on 2024's Live EP 001, before delivering his full-length double-LP debut, Restless Mind. Sam Barber was born and raised in Southeast Missouri, growing up in a farming family. In his early teens, sports were his passion, and he was active in school athletics, which he credits with teaching him the value of hard work, discipline, and working with others. Music didn't make a serious impression on him until he was 16, when he started fooling around with an acoustic guitar that once belonged to his great grandfather. He quickly learned how to play and began picking up country and folk tunes, leaning from traditional influences. In 2020, Barber started making videos of himself singing and playing, which he posted on social media. It didn't take long for him to find an audience for his music, and in 2021 he released an original song, "Run Away High," a harrowing tale of an outlaw's violent ways. Fans discovered it on streaming services, and the following year, he uploaded two more tunes, "Ramblin' Man" and "As Time Passes." In 2022, Barber also auditioned for American Idol -- while he made the first cut and was sent to Hollywood, he was eliminated before he could advance to become one of the 26 main competitors. In March 2023, he struck a deal with Lockeland Springs, a label distributed by Atlantic, and a month later, his song "Straight and Narrow" gave him his first chart success, debuting at number 24 on the Hot Rock Songs chart and number 38 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. The accomplishment was all the more remarkable as Barber was still only 18 at the time. As "Straight and Narrow" became a hit, Barber wasted no time giving his fans new material, with "Drowning," "Ghost Town," and "Dancing in the Sky" arriving in quick succession in 2023. All of this led up to the release of his debut EP, Million Eyes, which arrived that September, cracking the Top 40 of the Top Country Albums chart. Twisters [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] A second short-player, Live EP 001, followed in January 2024 and featured live performances of songs off Million Eyes. He then delivered the non-album track "S.O.B." 2024 proved a prolific year for Barber, who also contributed the song "Tear Us Apart" to the soundtrack of the hit action/disaster flick Twisters that July. In November 2024, he delivered his debut studio album, Restless Mind. Produced by Eddie Spear, the double-LP found Barber digging further into his rustic, emotionally resonant country sound. Featured on the album were guest appearances by Lily Fitts and Avery Anna, the latter of whom dueted with Barber on the title track.