Singer-songwriter Liz Barnez stopped by the KGNU studios to celebrate the release of her long-awaited new album Wholehearted. In conversation with DJ Meredith Carson, Liz shared stories behind the record’s eight-year creation, including collaborations with members of The Subdudes, Bonnie and Taylor Sims, John Macy, and a circle of family voices woven into the autobiographical title track. She also discussed the inspiration behind “Snow on the Bayou,” reflecting on the changing climate and her New Orleans roots. Liz spoke about the vibrant Fort Collins music community, her work with FoCoMA, and the efforts underway to strengthen connections among Front Range musicians. The interview features live discussion, humor, local music history, and a warm look at the creative collaborations that shaped Wholehearted. (November 21, 2025).
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DJ Meredith Carson: Liz Barnes on KGNU, brand new CD called Wholehearted. Welcome to KGNU.
Liz Barnez: Thank you Meredith.
DJ Meredith Carson: Darling, you’re so welcome. It’s fabulous to see you in the daytime. Lovely to see you.
Liz Barnez: Yes.
DJ Meredith Carson: It sounds like we’re getting a little rowdy in the studio there on that cut.
Liz Barnez: We got a little bit rowdy. It’s a traveling song that I wrote a long time ago. I probably started it at our mutual friend Celeste Kress’s house in Nashville. It’s kind of an escape-from-Nashville song. Great people are on it—Bonnie and Taylor Sims playing guitar and mandolin and singing with me. You can’t go wrong with those folks.
DJ Meredith Carson: From the little you told me this morning since you busted in the door—
Liz Barnez: Busted down the door, swept in. I have a new record.
DJ Meredith Carson: It sounds like all kinds of wonderful people played on this with you.
Liz Barnez: Every kind of person you can imagine.
DJ Meredith Carson: Well, every kind of musician person.
Liz Barnez: Yes. Even some non-professional musicians. The title track Wholehearted is autobiographical—my coming to terms with myself as a grown-up.
DJ Meredith Carson: I have yet to get there.
Liz Barnez: I’m not saying I achieved it. But starting as a kid—“oh wasn’t she sweet”—and reconciling with the parts of me. I wanted a lot of women’s voices and non-professional voices. I was talking to John Magni from The Subdudes—our mutual pal and musical mentor—and his family was in town. I said I wanted a young girl voice, a medium-age girl, and an older girl. His granddaughter Elena, who’s 13, sang on it. His daughter-in-law Lauren Magni, my wife Lori, and my daughter Hailey—both not professional singers but can carry a tune. All meaningful voices. They’re like the voices of me as I came up through these ages. Although my wife is older than I am.
DJ Meredith Carson: I’m sure she appreciates you announcing that on the air.
Liz Barnez: I have not yet gotten to that age. But also the Subdudes guys—Steve Amedée, John Magnie, and Tim Cook sing on this. Christian Teele plays drums. Eric Thorin plays bass. Marty Ryan plays bass. Brian Mullins plays drums. So many people. And a Nashville contingent on one song. I snagged people off the street.
DJ Meredith Carson: You didn’t have any fun doing this, did you?
Liz Barnez: Did not have any fun. I let it take eight years to spread the fun out. Didn’t want it to be over.
DJ Meredith Carson: And yet here it is.
Liz Barnez: Here it is. And it’s going to be top 40 on all the charts—jazz, hip hop, all the genres.
DJ Meredith Carson: John Macy is also on the record. He recorded two songs and played pedal steel.
Liz Barnez: He’s a great guy.
DJ Meredith Carson: It’s fun to see a new CD from you. We have to wait a long time. You and Sally Van Meter release one every ten years.
Liz Barnez: Whether we want to or have to. It’s needed in the ecosystem. It was fun to do. I’m glad it’s finished. We’re doing a record-release show in Fort Collins at The Armory on Sunday night. It’s sold out. That’ll be fun with the whole band and some surprises.
DJ Meredith Carson: And then you have a gig coming up at The Dairy Center?
Liz Barnez: I think it’s December 21st. A solstice thing. Songwriter-in-the-round. Some really cool people on it. I remember reading their names, but right now I can only think about getting the record release show done.
DJ Meredith Carson: I have a leaky brain as well.
Liz Barnez: Leaky brain syndrome instead of leaky gut syndrome.
DJ Meredith Carson: Let’s play another cut. What would you like to hear?
Liz Barnez: Snow on the Bayou, number three. John Macy recorded it and plays pedal steel. It’s kind of a climate-change song.
DJ Meredith Carson: I was just down in Texas and New Orleans and everyone was talking about a foot of snow.
Liz Barnez: That’s exactly what this song is about. It’s wrong.
DJ Meredith Carson: So wrong.
Liz Barnez: Thank you for understanding. I’m from New Orleans. Watching the news—six inches of snow, people cross-country skiing down Bourbon Street. Wrong. My niece and her kids were excited, making snow people, putting Spanish moss on for hair. But they don’t have proper gear—Crocs and socks for gloves. And I started seeing pictures of snow on the bayou. I go out on the bayou. Something didn’t seem right. That inspired it.
Plays “Snow on the Bayou”
DJ Meredith Carson: That was Snow on the Bayou. It’s a very gentle song about a vicious problem. Thank you for making that song.
Liz Barnez: Climate change. I have to bring it up gently for some of my family in New Orleans who are still somewhat in denial. I just say, “Six inches of snow. I’ll be damned.” As gently as I can.
DJ Meredith Carson: Thank you for being our gentle harbinger of doom.
Liz Barnez: Liz Barnes and the Gentle Harbinger—that’s my new band name. Or Gentle Harbinger and the New Doom Band.
DJ Meredith Carson: So what’s going on in Fort Collins? We broadcast up there.
Liz Barnez: It’s a great town. I feel lucky to live there. Northern Colorado—including Boulder—we’re all in the same deal. I’m involved in FoCoMA (Fort Collins Musicians Association). They run FoCoMX—Fort Collins Music Experiment. Applications are open now. Musicians can apply.
DJ Meredith Carson: F-O-C-O-M-A or F-O-C-O-M-X.
Liz Barnez: Correct. Dot com or dot org. I didn’t come prepared. I volunteer with them on the talent committee. I’m basically the old broad reminding people that older musicians have something to say too.
FoCoMX is great. We had a town hall Wednesday discussing ways to tie the Front Range communities together. Adam Perry from Boulder was there, someone from Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins. We talked about creating networks so musicians can play across towns. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, my band had that. We traded gigs—Linden’s in Fort Collins, McCabe’s in Boulder, Herman’s Hideaway in Denver, Tugboat and The Mogul up in the mountains. At McCabe’s, every third weekend was me, and every other third weekend was Big Head Todd and the Monsters honing their chops. And The Subdudes. I wasn’t at that level yet. They were like older brothers.
DJ Meredith Carson: Not recreate, but reimagine an atmosphere where that could exist.
Liz Barnez: Exactly. Greta Cornett, a trumpet player, said they fill the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins but can’t get as many people out in Boulder or Denver. How do we build networks where bands play together and bring their audiences?
DJ Meredith Carson: As far as I know, that’s not happening in Denver or Boulder.
Liz Barnez: Adam talked about Roots Music Project and how it’s based on the Fort Collins music district. The Roots Music Festival is based on FoCoMX. Fort Collins also has the advantage of a wealthy donor supporting the music community. It helps foster the idea that musicians bring value—economically, spiritually, culturally.
Denver had the LoDo Music Festival for a while. DNA Picasso from Denver talked about civic involvement. One question was how to get cities involved—like Austin does. But everyone said: we have to support our towns by going to shows, volunteering, being the change we want to see. It felt collaborative and supportive.
DJ Meredith Carson: Great to hear. Volunteer opportunities are with the radio stations—Fort Collins, Greeley, here. Independent stations depend on members, more than ever. Funding is being cut.
KRFC is Fort Collins, Colorado Sound in Greeley, and KGNU here and in Denver. KCUV in Denver as well.
Speaker 2: Darling, keep that. That’s a gift. Happy birthday darling.
DJ Meredith Carson: Thank you. Everyone has one—not an album, but a birthday.
What shall we hear?
Liz Barnez: How About You, number two. A plea for love and togetherness. We have more in common than we don’t.
DJ Meredith Carson: True. And if you want something, ask for it.
Liz Barnez: Yes.
DJ Meredith Carson: Thank you so much for coming by this morning.
Liz Barnez: Thank you Meredith.
DJ Meredith Carson: We’ll look for you at the Dairy on December 21st. A solstice show. Liz’s new CD is Wholehearted. Here is How About You on KGNU.
