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Lisa Barrett

Singers in grades 8 to 12 sought for professionally recorded music project sponsored by GCASA

By Billie Owens

Tomorrow is the first of three singing auditions for students in grades 8 to 12 in Genesee and Orleans counties who would like to participate in a professionally recorded music project with renowned local artist Lisa Barrett.

The Batavia singer/songwriter wrote a poignant song called "Everyday Hero" -- about youths who choose to be drug, alcohol and tobacco free, and who are positive leaders. She is sponsored by GCASA, where she is a prevention educator, and received a Reach Grant this year from GO ART!

Barrett is hoping to gather a choir of about 30 students to perform this song on Saturday, April 30, at the Linden Oaks Studio in Rochester where it will be professionally recorded.

After the recording is complete, the song will then be turned into a You Tube music video.

Along with the audition, potential choir members will be asked to submit a short essay. The essay content should include why they want to be a part of this project, as well as their views on tobacco, drugs and alcohol use.

Either email completed essays to lbarrett@gcasa.org or bring a copy to the audition.

The auditions will be held at GCASA’s Batavia site, 430 E. Main St.

The audition dates are as follows:

  • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 10
  • 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 14
  • 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 22

For more information, contact Lisa by phoning 815-1879 or by email at lbarrett@gcasa.org

The Everyday Heroes Project is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Batavian Lisa Barrett wins international "Best Original Song" contest

By Daniel Crofts

Well, it's official -- Batavia resident Lisa Barrett's song, "When You Look at Me," is now the best original song in the world.

"It's difficult to grasp the 'in the world' part," Barrett said in a thank-you letter to her fans. "I feel like I'm dreaming this!"

After five months of anticipation, "When You Look at Me" was selected as the winner of "Best Original Song," an international contest that started off with 100 music videos from around the world, on Monday.

This victory is especially meaningful to Barrett because of her nephew, Austin, in whose memory she wrote and performed the song. Austin died of cancer just shy of his second birthday.

"I’m so grateful  to all of you, the voters who have stood by me and supported me and this song in memory of  Austin," Barrett said. "I am touched beyond words, and I feel so honored. Your kindness will not be forgotten, and Austin’s spirit will live on through the music."

As the winner, Barrett will get:

  • her own web page on www.bestoriginalsong.com
  • promotion from Best Original Song to record labels, recording artists, producers and music agents
  • a press release to various media outlets, including music magazines (including this Nashville-based publication

Barrett is also the featured artist on Best Original Song's website right now.

The Batavian warmly congratulates Barrett on a job well done. For previous Batavian coverage, see:

Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song

Singer/songwriter Lisa Barrett advances to next round in world competition

Batavian Lisa Barrett moves up in international song contest

Lisa Barrett one of three finalists in worldwide songwriting competition  

Lisa Barrett one of three finalists in worldwide songwriting competition

By Daniel Crofts

Thanks to the loyalty and support of her many voters, Lisa Barrett's song,"When You Look at Me," is now one of three finalists in the international contest for "Best Original Song."

Yes, she's made it to the sixth and final round.

Barrett, who lives in Batavia, says she's very grateful to all of the people who have gotten her this far. She submitted the following to The Batavian:

There's so much I'm feeling...an array of emotion.

I do have butterflies this time around! I also feel like I'm watching this happen to someone else.

I'm so grateful to all who have been voting and standing by me. I wouldn't be here without them. 

I'm taking this all the way to #1 because it's too important to me! There's so much more I need to do on this journey.

There are so many more songs to sing and write, so many more people to heal with the music. 

I will continue bringing awareness for pediatric cancer research in Austin's memory.

I also do this in memory of my dad, Sigmund Racki. I look to carry on his legacy and his love for music. He always told me and my sisters that we could do anything if we just set our minds to it.  (Well dad, I did just that)

This competition has brought back so many memories of Austin, both happy and sad.

I remember one time in the hospital when Austin pointed to me.  He wanted to sit with me, and then fell sound asleep. 

I also remember visiting his home. I walked in and talked with my sister, Gail. Well, Austin heard my voice and came running with his arms outstretched towards me. He jumped in my arms with the biggest smile! That was in December, and it was the best Christmas gift I could have received. With so much sadness, I try to hold onto those happy moments in my heart. 

Finally, it's time to put a Western New Yorker on the map! 

Voting for Lisa's song will last through Monday. Here is the procedure:

1. Go to www.bestoriginalsong.com

2. Click on "Click Here to Listen"

3. Select Stage 6 - June 13th Show Date

4. Vote for and/or download "When You Look at Me"

For previous coverage, see:

Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song 

Singer/songwriter advances to next round in world competition

Batavian Lisa Barrett moves up in international song contest

Batavian Lisa Barrett moves up in international song contest

By Daniel Crofts

Batavia resident Lisa Barrett is now one of six finalists to have advanced to round five in the international contest, "Best Original Song."

If she makes it through this round, she will be one of three finalists to make it to the last one. One of these three finalists will win the contest.

Voting for Lisa's song, "When You Look at Me," will start at 8 p.m. on Monday, and will continue through June 13. To vote:

1. Go to www.bestoriginalsong.com

2. Click on "Click Here to Listen"

3. Select June 6 through 13 Show Date

4. Vote for and/or download "When You Look at Me."

For previous coverage, see: 

Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song

Singer/songwriter Lisa Barrett advances to next round in world competition

To see a story YNN did on Barrett recently, click here.

Singer/songwriter Lisa Barrett advances to next round in world competition

By Daniel Crofts

Lisa Barrett, of Batavia, is very grateful to everyone who voted for her song in the international contest, "Best Original Song." Thanks to her voters, she has made it to round four and is now a top 12 finalist.

Voting for this round starts at 8 p.m. on May 23 and runs through May 30. To vote, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to www.bestoriginalsong.com

2. Click on either of the two bars on the homepage that read "Click Here to Listen."

3. Select Show #1 -- May 23rd Show Date

4. Vote for and/or download "When You Look at Me."

This information was submitted by Barrett. If she makes it to the next round, she will be one of six finalists and have only two more rounds to go before she wins the competition.

See the April 29 article, "Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song," for previous coverage.

Batavia singer/songwriter has high hopes for very personal song

By Daniel Crofts

Batavia resident Lisa Barrett is hoping a lot of people will get online and vote for her song, "When You Look at Me," which has made it into round three of the international "Best Original Song" contest.

If she wins, she'll get her own Web page, and her song will be sent to dozens of recording companies, music labels (large and small), producers and agents.

Barrett's song was one of 100 from around the world chosen for the contest. Of those, 48 made it to round two and, you guessed it, "When You Look at Me" was one of them.

Now it's one of 24 that have made it to the third round. If Barrett makes it through this round, she'll be halfway to her goal of winning the competition.

Voting began this week and extends through Monday. In order to vote, go to www.bestoriginalsong.com and set up an account -- it's free and only takes a minute.

Barrett wrote and performed "When You Look at Me" in memory of her nephew, Austin, who lost a brave battle with cancer in February of 2000, just shy of his 2nd birthday.

"My goal is to touch people's lives with the music in Austin's memory," Barrett said. "I feel I'm doing this not only for Austin, but for all children who have lost their battles, or are still struggling with life-threatening illnesses."

She came up with the idea for the song about a year after Austin died.

"I walked by his picture, and this particular time I stopped (to look at it). My eyes met his, and I said out loud: 'I can almost feel your touch when you look at me.'"

According to Barrett, "something happened" in this instant that changed her life.

"It was like a switch went on. I heard a melody in my head, with the lyrics coming at the same time. I felt compelled to grab a pen and start writing."

It took her a few weeks, but when she finally finished the song it became, in her words, "a wonderful grieving outlet."

"After that," Barrett said, "the switch kept going on for other songs. Whenever something hit me hard emotionally -- whether it made me feel sad, happy, angry or it was funny -- I would write a song about it."

Her songs are not just about things that affect her directly. As she got further along in this new chapter of her life, she became inspired by other people's experiences as well.

In recent years, she wrote a musical called "Can't Bully Me Now," which deals with the experiences of children who are bullied in school. This song has been performed multiple times by students at St. Joseph School in Batavia, and educators from other districts have expressed interest in it as well.

The amazing thing is that prior to the composition of "When You Look at Me," Barrett had never been a songwriter.

"I didn't plan this. It's a path that has been laid before me, and I follow it, not always knowing where I'm going next."

Along the way, she has learned that "even after so much pain, the sun can shine again."

Originally recorded at Affinity Music in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005, "When You Look at Me" is part of an album with the same title. Barrett wrote and performed 10 other songs for this album, one of which -- "Share Your Light" -- was the theme song selection for Western New York's National Night Out in August 2010.

In an ironic turn of events, Barrett decided that the time had come to turn "When You Look at Me" into a music video around the same time that officials from Best Original Song contacted her. They had found her music online and were interested in having her as a contestant.

Barrett said she submitted her entire album. They chose "When You Look at Me."

"It was like everything was coming full circle. It brought back to me the reason I had done everything in the first place."

She and her husband, Kyle, filmed the music video this past winter at Genesee County Park. They were there one day, and found that the atmosphere was ideal.

"The snow was falling perfectly," Barrett recalls. "And I just said to my husband, 'We've got to do it now.'"

Shooting at the park in the winter was not easy. Barrett said her "toes were frozen" as she made this video.

But she kept going, and it was worth it in the end.

Have a look:

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Once you've created an account and are logged in, click on either of the two bars on the home page that read "Live Show! Click Here to Listen," then click on "Third Stage Show #1." From there, you'll know what to do.

Remember, you only have from now through Monday to vote!

Final Note: Barrett's CD can be purchased through her Web site, www.lisabarrettcd.com. Portions of the proceeds benefit Essential Care, a pediatric home care program of Hospice Buffalo for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Top photo -- of Barrett at Affinity Music -- taken from www.lisabarrettcd.com, second photo submitted by Lisa Barrett.

Batavia's Own Lisa Barrett Will Share Her Light at National Night Out

By Robin Walters

This Tuesday, Augst 4th is National Night Out here in Batavia at Austin Park. The event is being  held from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Pictured above is Lisa Barrett. She was out videotaping at a recent Care-A-Van event. I got the opportunity to catch up with her to hear her story of the song she will be singing at National Night out this week.

" I was sitting in St. Mary's Church listenting to Deacon Tom Casey's homily. He said some words that had a great impact on me. He said "we've all been given special talents, so go and share  your light with the wolrd." It was his words, together with my personal feelings on violence and the poor in the world, that inspired me to write the song. "Share Your Light".

The song has made great strides. It has been the theme song for National Night Out in Cheetowaga, NY in 2007 and again this year in Batavia.

"Share Your Light" is also a theme song for an event in Virgina Beach, VA called Share Your Light Night. The neighbors line their streets with  luminary bags to symbolize neighborhood unity and safe neighborhoods for kids. I have been the "ok" to start our very own Share Your Light in Batavia. Stay tuned for more information on this.

The song seems to appeal to secular and non -Secular organizations. Lisa had a minister email her that she wanted to play the song during the sermon. Another church in the D.C. district is interested in the song for a fundraising campagn for their church. They said the song so closely resembles their theme.

Lisa and her husband  Kyle and son Tyler are working on a music video for the "Share Your Light". They use to be neighbors of Paul and Bridget Ohlson from Care-A-Van Ministries years ago. When they started thinking of the video and showing people sharing their light, they instantly thought of Care-A-Van ministries and how they go forth to share the light. The video will include photos from the Virgina event and film footage from Care-A-Van Ministries. Care-A-Van was so honored to be a part of song and vision that will reach thousands of people.

Lisa also feels very honored to be singing at Austin Park. As she was inspired to start her songwriting upon the death of her nephew, who's name was Austin. Now does that give you the chills or what!

Be sure to join us all at Austin Park to hear this wonderful song and to celebrate the safety of our community. There are alot of fun events planned at the park including a Free Outside Family Movie.- Mall Cop.

In closing Lisa stated " I guess Deacon Tom was right. I shared my light.. and now the song is starting to reach across the world!

You can visit Lisa's website at www.lisabarrettcd.com

 

Also www.shareyourlightnight.blogspot.com for more on the Virgina event.

 

Best of Luck Lisa. God Bless and go forth and Share that Light!

As we say- Keep the Light On! - Care-A-Van Ministries

I also enjoyed her latest hit "Punchin' In Punchin" Out

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