About

For a person who loves the creative spirit as much as she does, Seattle-born Barbara Ireland couldn’t have asked for a more suitable family to be born into – one comprised of highly eccentric fine artists and musicians! This was a childhood that was definitely not dull, and Barbara was given the freedom to explore her love of music, films, and art.

Barbara’s musical training began in two ways when she was seven years old: Piano lessons, which quickly led to her own compositions; and nightly ‘instruction’ from her George Carlin-esque father on how to listen to and understand the intricacies of various genres of music. Then, after a dream in which a woman taught her how to play a concert harp, Barbara began harp lessons, and at age nine, she composed a book of songs for beginning harpists, which is still in use today.

Also at age nine Barbara’s passion for filmmaking was ignited and she bought her first 8mm movie camera. (She had to get a paper route to pay for the expensive film and developing!).

When she was 16, Barbara began gigging in clubs, playing a multitude of synths and singing in Gordon Raphael’s band, Mental Mannequin. She later joined Upchuck Gerra’s seminal glam-punk band, The Fags, first as keyboardist, and later as bassist and vocalist. Over the next few years, Barbara performed in the bands: Sleeping Movement, Red Masque, and The Romans.

Barbara moved to New York and received a BFA degree in Filmmaking from NYU. Back in Seattle she worked in television, then went on to co-own the film production company, Filmus Maximus where she directed and produced Fellini-esque short films, documentaries, and music videos.

Barbara has shown her collage art at solo and group exhibits, had a film retrospective at the Film Forum, and performed and recorded music with Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard in his band, The Hank Khoir. 

In 2010 Barbara released her first solo cd, ‘Turning Back Time – Classic Songs To Kiss By’ – a rich collection of sultry jazz and blues tunes from the 1930s-1950s.

A dvd collection of her avant-garde (and often humorous) film shorts and music videos, titled, ‘From Dreams To Delirium,’ was released in 2011.

In 2012 Barbara released her album of originals, titled, ‘RED.’

While a 3rd album is upcoming, things shifted dramatically in Barbara’s life after a dramatic and illuminating near-death-experience. Barbara’s primary focus is now on helping people interrupt and replace repetitive, negative thinking, which she calls Mind Loops. See www.HowToStopNegativeThinking.com for more explanation and awesome info!!