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E35: Barb Jungr and the art of song In this episode of Arts First, we turn our attention to music and the art of song: songwriting, interpretation, and performance. And who better to guide us than one of the most distinctive and acclaimed singers working today – Barb Jungr.
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Time: 40:22
In this episode of Arts First, we turn our attention to music and the art of song: songwriting, interpretation, and performance. And who better to guide us than one of the most distinctive and acclaimed singers working today – Barb Jungr.
Jungr has been described as “one of the most accomplished British singers of her generation,” a performer known for her ability to reinterpret familiar material and uncover new layers of meaning. As David Finkle of the Village Voice put it: “There’s no one like her in the States, or in her home, England.”
Joining us is writer and academic Dr Shirley Laws – specialist in culture and Modern Foreign Languages, and a Chevalier dans l’ordre des Palmes Académiques, awarded by the French Ministry of Education for her contribution to French language and culture. Shirley is also a regular at Barb’s London shows.
In a wide-ranging and often funny conversation, Barb speaks about the musical world she grew up in:
“My mum and dad listened to the radio all the time. As a little girl I got taken to the opera; we went to see Carmen and my dad said it was ever so hard to get people to play the role because she has to die every night… and of course I believed him!”
She recalls cinema trips, early musical influences, and the mixture of classical, jazz and popular music that filled the house:
“We were listening to everything – Nina Simone, Nat King Cole, South Pacific. We had the album at home and I learned the whole thing from having that record.”
She talks about musical roots and influences, from northern England to the Southern States of America, which she explores in her 2010 album Stockport to Memphis, and her most recent single Last Orders at Mercy Square.
She tells us about how moved she was on a trip to Memphis, one of America’s great musical cities. She describes arriving at the Stax Museum (former home of the famous soul music record company):
“I burst into tears. All of it tore me apart. I had never understood the very direct links between the Civil Rights Movement, the Lorraine Motel and Stax itself… what a huge threat that label was in the Deep South, because it was utterly integrated. So I finally got to Memphis - I grew up with that music.”
Barb speaks about some of current writing projects, including Worthing Girls, a new musical written with Sue Teddern and inspired by the classic TV comedy Golden Girls:
“It’s about four women who share a Worthing sea front house. It’s very funny and it was a challenge for me ‘cause I said, I’m gonna write all the songs and all the music. We did two nights in Worthing – a workshop performance – I was knocked out that people laughed and got it and cheered.”
It’s a wide-ranging and engaging conversation, full of stories, humour and insight into Barb’s creative life and career. We hope you enjoy it.
Links
Barb Jungr’s website, which includes videos, recordings, gig and show news and more.
Stax Museum Memphis
More on Worthing Girls
Dr Shirley Lawes profile.
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GUID: substack:post:179654235
Release Date: 28/11/2025, 19:47:47
