With the release of the 2008 EP Where I Want To Be Barry Russo has followed up on his 2005 CD These Are the Days.

While Barry's demeanor and life history definitely qualify him as a bona-fide average guy, a look beneath the surface takes you to a place where paradox runs deep; a place where the crosscurrents of introspection, experience, and an extensive study of human nature collide to question and celebrate the meaning and purpose of life.

As a shy schoolboy growing up, Barry found music as a way to connect with people. Each day after school, Russo headed straight to the baby grand piano in the living room of his parents' home overlooking the shores of Narragansett Bay.

His early classical studies included the works of Bach, Mozart, and Clementi, as well as many other composers, who became his inspiration. Equally influential in his development was the music of many pop artists, including Howard Jones, Survivor, the Hooters, Duran Duran, Richard Marx, Michael W. Smith, and Billy Joel. All helped to shape the writing of infectious melodies and catchy lyrics that Barry is known for throughout Southern New England.

Perhaps the seeds of Russo's paradoxical nature were planted and nurtured as his musical experiences unfolded, when extremes seemed to be the norm. Often, Barry would find himself playing in a bar with a band at 2 a.m., only to be in church a mere six hours later playing hymns. Experiences from such extremes have granted him a unique perspective on life and have helped shape his creations and define him as an artist.

After a period of long-distance co-writing with Nashville's Shay Watson, Barry decided to not only record his first album in Music City but to accept Watson's offer to produce the freshman project. Considering Watson's work with numerous artists including DC Talk's Michael Tait, Curb recording group Selah, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman, and Sony recording artist Gretchen Wilson, as well as the fact that his songs have received international radio and television airplay, the decision was an easy one to make.

Russo's deft handling of weighty life issues through playful lyrics and catchy melodies reminiscent of a young Billy Joel makes one want to put the top down, turn up the volume and take a long cruise down an open highway.

"The style of my music is melodic pop rock, with a spiritual content influence and an 80s stylistic influence, but one that doesn't sound like it was recorded in the 80's. The exception to this, of course, is "Child of the 80s," the second track on These Are the Days, where we had a little fun incorporating recording styles of that era," says Barry. "And though the themes I speak of in many songs may be thought-provoking, the presentation represents my overall optimistic outlook."

Today, Barry continues to be a student of life, but at the same time finds himself playing the role of teacher - taking the listener on a journey of discovery to find the answers that we all seek from life. He has followed up These Are the Days with his recently released EP, Where I Want To Be.

The new EP delves deeper into issues of faith and spirituality. On the title track, Barry professes his acceptance that this life is passing, and the importance of keeping our eyes on the bigger goal of going home to be with our Creator God. Of course, this will depend upon how we conduct our day to day living while here, and in an upbeat, playful way, Barry outlines his struggles with that. "Never Lose Faith," based on the Biblical book of Job, and "I Wanna Know," a remake of a song written by Nashville-based Christian artist Brian Cooney, are powerful accounts of seeking to grow in faith and spiritual understanding.

"Many times, my music isn't necessarily about where I'm at, but more where I want to be. Time seems to go by so quickly. It's easy to get bogged down in day-to-day living and lose sight of the big picture. I think to some extent, a lot of people are in a similar situation," says Barry. "I hope that through my music others can perhaps see themselves, understand themselves a bit better, and walk away with the same renewed sense of faith, hope, optimism, and persistence that I have found in my journey."

In concert, Barry creates an energetic atmosphere that takes the audience on an exhilarating ride of peaks and valleys. As the first note is sounded, there is a sense in the air that this event will be far more than just hearing some music performed. Instead, it becomes quickly apparent that it will be a couple of hours of inspiration, soul searching, celebration, laughter, and sentiment. All the while it is often hard to tell who is having more fun - the audience or Barry himself. His innate ability to connect with people, along with his humble persona and dry, often self-depreciating humor, strikes a chord at every concert. Through a series of up-tempo songs and ballads, storytelling, and moments of audience participation, he takes the audience on a fun-filled, yet powerful journey. Whether solo or with his superb backing band, Barry makes the most of every performance, blending his piano and keyboard skills with heartfelt vocals. Most of all, his audiences leave not only having been thoroughly entertained and encouraged, but feeling as though they have just made a personal connection with this unassuming "everyman."

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It is sometimes asked if Barry is in fact a Christian artist or a mainstream artist (being that Barry's music stretches from songs of intense spiritual reflection and resolve, such as "I Wanna Know" and "Never Lose Faith," to the zany pop-fare of "Child of the 80s," and also because Barry performs in both Christian and mainstream/secular venues).

To this inquiry, Barry states:

"God has blessed me with the opportunity to make music my life. With this blessing, I go forth into an endless variety of settings, venues, and performance opportunities.
I believe it is my life's calling to lift people up through music. Whether that means assisting someone's worship experience in church, or reaching out to them in some way at a concert with a song I have written, or simply cheering their spirit by playing a mainstream song in a secular venue, I am fulfilling my purpose. I am writing and playing for God regardless of where I am. My music is not for one religious denomination only, or for Christians only, or for one age group only, and so on. My music is open to any audience that wishes to experience it."

Barry indeed possesses the ability to blend and weave the serious songs and moments together with the lighthearted ones into a unique recipe that has the potential to touch hearts and lives on multiple levels.

For audiences at churches and other Christian venues, a Barry Russo concert will certainly not disappoint, as it is filled with a sense of assurance, praise, and celebration, as well as an overall emphasis on continuously striving to grow in faith and trust. Barry's ability to share his own experiences, struggles, and realizations in song and word are a catalyst for reflection for all who attend.

Audiences at secular venues will likewise experience a positive message of hope and encouragement that is sure to be a beacon of light in their lives.