From his formative years with The Payola$, through his tenure with Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts, to his work with the Blue Shadows, Barry Muir has left an indelible mark on the country’s music scene. The guy’s got gold and platinum albums on his shelf, a few Juno awards tucked away somewhere, and more studio time under his belt than most musicians dream of.
“Some fires never quite burn out; they just wait for the right moment to reignite.”
“Smoke Filled Room” is the first taste of Muir’s upcoming album “Canvas.” This track leans hard into 70s R&B territory, trading in his earlier rock credentials for something smoother and more sophisticated. Co-written with Joanne Stacey and Lucy LeBlanc, the song tackles that awkward-but-electric moment when you run into an ex and realize the spark hasn’t quite fizzled out.
“Canvas” might just be Muir’s most interesting project yet. He’s diving deeper into jazz and R&B influences. There’s something quite admirable about a veteran musician who’s still willing to take risks and explore new creative territory.
If you’re new to Barry Muir’s work, then this is a pretty great entry point. An artist with nothing left to prove but plenty left to say. Either way, “Smoke Filled Room” makes one thing clear: Muir’s not content to coast on past success. He’s still in the game, still experimenting, and still worth your attention.
Muse Chronicle 
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