Studio Session: Emily Barnes

Meredith Carson welcomed Emily Barnes into the studio for KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative for an intimate live session ahead of her annual show at Swallow Hill Music. Barnes performed several unreleased songs from an upcoming record, including deeply personal reflections on family, aging, poverty, and community, alongside conversations about her life as a self-taught songwriter and nurse working in end-of-life care in Denver.

During the interview, Barnes discussed growing up in New Jersey, finding her voice through songwriting, and using music as “an act of service” to connect with listeners navigating hardship and uncertainty. She also shared details about her new single “Comets,” her collaborative Swallow Hill performance featuring Bridget Benson, Chris Koza, and Tony Manguera, and the audience’s role in helping shape her next album. (Air Date 5/15/26)