A ppalachian
ENTERTAINMENT
Barrett keeps to his
Story by
Destinee Ott
Photos courtesy of
Joe Wern
roots
“M
Mitch Barrett performing
in Fort Collins, Colorado in
2010.
usic has been a healing force in my life for as long as I can remem-
ber,” Berea singer/songwriter Mitch Barrett said.
Barrett explained he remembers, as he was growing up, his mother
would sing when she was happy as well as when she was sad. He
said there was always some kind of homemade music during the holidays on both
his father’s and mother’s sides. Barrett said, when he was a teenager, he sang at so
many churches and funerals that he couldn’t count them.
“That’s where I first learned of the healing that comes with music,” Barrett said.
He explained, 40 years later, he is still using singing and songwriting as a healing
tool. Barrett said he sings and writes songs with “children, college students, physi-
cal and sexual abuse survivors and incarcerated recovering drug addicted mothers
and fathers.”
Barrett said, when he writes with groups, he likes to first share his own stories
and then invites others to share, so that they can establish “common ground and
trust.” He then uses the stories that he hears and they write a collective song.
Barrett also embraces music daily for his own health and well being. He ex-
plained he tries to write every day, but rarely comes up with a song from it. His
writing is not a thought out thing, but there is discipline to it.
According to Barrett, he takes the lines that catch his attention from stories he
has been told, as well as from his own thoughts and molds those into songs.
“I love writing but it can be painful and challenging to open up and speak from
the heart,” said Barrett.
But, he said, he does and despite the challenges, he loves when it happens be-
Mitch strumming
along on his guitar and
singing.
F E B R UA RY- M A R C H 2 02 0
Madison Magazine
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