This is my first work about the town of Armidale NSW Australia where each instrument represents a different genre of people. 

The guitar are the country folk. Laid back and reliable, it's a sound that is familiar and comforting.

The violins are classical and a tad dramatic. They represent the academics and and the climax represents the big events like graduation where our town is filled with visitors during the splendour of Autumn.

The bass is the laid back of the stroll of everyday folk living in the harmony of country life of a University Town.

When the Autumn festival happens in Armidale NSW this piece of music is what I see in sound form.

The techno sound is progress, it is the sound representation of progress with the familiar undertones and foundations of the past, but with the new layers of progress in the symphony of country life.

The album cover is shadows of people on the many paths that unit the people represented in the music.

Riding the sun - town versus gown

I was thinking of the birds that bring our tree to life in the mornings. Lately wherever I go, I notice birds in the most surprising places. Living in Country Australia, birds are everywhere and you get used to the surprise of seeing them. For example, the little Willy Wagtail always showing off, the Magpies singing their songs and ducks out with their families along the creek lands.

El Pajarrito

When my nana passed at 102 I felt devastated but wanted to see the positive side of her influence. I call it the sun shines because she got to see me play happy music for her and she'd smile and laugh until tears would flow.

Abuelita mi sol

I write draft notes of music and see what happens. Inspired by my own photography at times.

©Massiel 2015

WIP-work in progress

A part of me is a thrill seeker, remembering what jumping out of a plane felt like or driving fast around corners. This song I wrote after a massive storm where I was out taking photos and a strike came so close. That's the picture on the cover.
Feeling alive, like a Thursday night shopping in Sydney with lights and traffic and catching the Manly Ferry.

Thrill seeking 2

This is the outcome of a project we called "friends of Sue" where a few of us creatives got together during the isolation of Covid-19 and were sharing stories, grief, challenges and music.

Loss, unable to visit, all our gigs cancelled, combined with loss of self.
All of a sudden, a piece of writing about loss was re-written, music created, layers of cello and next thing... ". 

Did I tell you we all live far away from each other? Tamworth, Brisbane, Armidale. Some of us have never met, but we all have our friend Sue in common.

The music is raw emotion sent to one another. We may do more to it later. But for now "how I miss you now you're gone" is the story of missing so much.

Lyrics by Angela Dillon, Suzanne Woo, and Massiel. Guitar and singing by Massiel Barros-Torning. Cello by Sally Davis Griffiths.

Album cover, Damsel fly taken during Covid-19 and turned into digital art by Massiel. 

From start to finish, all parts of the project are original and creative.

Now You're Gone

We remember those who've fallen one by one.

We Remember

We Remember - Live Audio - Yarandoo- Short Version

When I sing and play guitar, I go to a special place where I feel vulnerable and free all in one. Because I've played all my life I enjoy sharing my skills through teaching, passing on that special connection.

Massiel Barros-Torning

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