Christopher and Natasha Barran: Reviews

To Whom It May Concern:

My twenty-five years in the music industry working on Broadway musicals and at Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century-Fox have provided me the experience necessary to evaluate young singers, musicians and songwriters. I am happy to recommend Christopher Barran as one of the most gifted and promising performers and songwriters that I have ever worked with.
I have known Christopher for four years, having worked with him on several theatrical projects and musical shows. He has outstanding talent, great skill as a performer, and creates music with powerful and poignant messages that deserve to be heard. He has a terrific personality and is an amazing audience relater who gets the crowd into his music. His music connects with a broad range of people in a way that touches the soul to its deepest depth. Christopher truly has the power to enthrall an entire room of people. His spirit alone is the epitome of a rising star.

My credentials include two Emmy Awards, two Ovation Awards, a Mania Science Fiction Award, and First Prize in six international film festivals.

If I can give you any further information about this remarkable young man, please do not hesitate to call me.

Yours truly,

Cornell Christianson
cornellchristianson@gmail.com 310-985-1024

"I am very pleased with our production of Song of the Angels and the positive impact Christopher is having on our global community through his music."

"Christopher Barran creates music flavored with joy and childlike enthusiasm - watching him perform is to watch someone in love with their calling. A treat of heart, connection and healing imagery." -Rev. David Ault

To Whom It May Concern,

For four years, Christopher Barran has been a Co-Director and Performer for my church’s community outreach program which provides musical entertainment for patients at hospitals and nursing homes in Los Angeles, California.

Founded in 1986, the Agape International Spiritual Center is a nondenominational, nonprofit church with over 9,000 members located in Culver City, California, headed by Rev. Michael Beckwith.

Christopher volunteers for no pay working many hours as a Co-Director of the Agape Road Show Ministry. This ministry reaches out to the elderly in nursing homes and hospitals. Musical shows are performed that bring human contact, love, companionship, and caring to a huge market of shut-in people who often get no other visitors all week.
Every month, Christopher runs the shows at Oceanview Hospital in Santa Monica, CA, Fireside Hospital in Santa Monica, CA, Marina Care Convalescent Home in Culver City, CA and Brentwood Nursing Home in Brentwood, CA. He manages the other performers and artists, runs the ninety-minute shows in the activity room or dining room, and then goes room to room to perform for the bedridden patients for another hour. Christopher fulfills not only the patients’ need for entertainment but also for spirituality, enlightenment, and uplifting consciousness.

For the work Christopher Barran has done, this ministry was recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Fireside Hospital for outstanding service to their patients.

Christopher’s work is invaluable to the Los Angeles community, and he is needed to run upcoming shows on December 1, December 9, December 16 and December 23 as well as January 5, January 13, January 20 and January 27. These shows will affect hundreds of elderly hospital and nursing home patients who look forward to them every month.

His sister, Nikki Barran, is also scheduled to perform in these shows and her presence is badly needed by our community.

Please contact me if you need any further information.

Sincerely yours,

Tina Marie Daly, Co-Director
Agape Road Show Ministry
Agape International Spiritual Center
5700 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
310-348-1260 x603
www.AgapeLive.com

"Christopher Barran-brimming with talent and star quality voice, songs and look, a must to be snapped up."

"Christopher Barran is a music lover's dream discovery. As a talented singer/songwriter, he's a trendsetter, not an imitation. He delivers great songs, energy, charisma and a great look."

"Christopher & Natasha are regular guest musicians at Golden Circle Church of Religious Science in Santa Ana, where I am the Music Director. They are popular with the congregation for several reasons: the spiritual content & musicality of Christopher's original music, the loveliness of Natasha's vocal harmonies, their heartfelt delivery of the songs, and their bright and delightful presence. In addition - as if more were needed! - I find them easy to work with, willing to engage in the creative process of music in service, and altogether fine musicians."

Debra Baker Cullen
Music Director
Golden Circle Church

Review:
Song of the Angels

The journey leading up to Christopher Barran’s new CD Song of the Angels is as noteworthy as the music itself. Accurately described as World Inspired Music, Christopher has graced his voice in all corners of the globe, from Kenya to California, from India to Peru. The time spent around the world shows richly in his music, not only from the Latin, folk, and native sounds, but from the depth and richness of his lyrics that remind us of our global humanity. The journey through this album is both heartbreaking and full of hope.

After a brief but beautiful prelude with angels, one glides into the album on the silky, smooth ride into “Learn to Love Somebody”. The straightforward, yet deeply inspiring lyrics carry arguably the most important message any of us can ever learn, and it captures you fully for the ride ahead. “Roses Love the Rain” shares a love story that is pure and absolute. “Gypsy Winds of Change” reflects on the helplessness of a relationship drifting apart, while “Magic Hour” poetically describes a chasm separating lovers as a soul searches for his inner light. The sheer excellence of the musicians gets fully celebrated with the beefy Latin guitar and drum sounds in “The Healer”. Its contagious energy compels you to jump up and dance the flamenco. “Sky of Many Waters’” native flute and chanting further shines a light on Christopher’s international influences.

The poetic storytelling and eclectic sounds leave one feeling as if they’ve traveled this personal and geographic journey with him. In his final song, Christopher sings “I want to sing the song of the angels, paint on our hearts their message of love.” He can rest in the assurance that his mission was beautifully accomplished.

CHATTING WITH CHRISTOPHER BARRAN

On Monday November 27, 2006 I was able to speak with Christopher Barran while he was at his mother's home in Calgary, Alberta. The previous evening he had performed for the hometown crowd. Unfortunately, the inclement weather there had prevented many from attending yet he had still been pleased with the evening.

"People were mouthing the words to the songs, even those that weren't as popular." It was great experience for Barran and a natural high that he was still on.

I have known Barran for about fifteen years. I used to be Administrative Assistant for a mall in Calgary where Christopher's father owned the pharmacy. I walked in one day and saw a young man behind the counter wearing a POISON t-shirt. I reminded him of that and he says it was a good thing he had gone to the concert. I also reminded him of his music then; how I enjoyed the excitement I felt listening to him rock and then the difference I feel listening to his debut CD 'Song of The Angels'. So I asked him how he felt the music has changed.

Barran feels that he is now more mature. Whereas before his music was all about chasing women and getting Ferraris (he and a partner actually had a clause in a contract that they would get a Ferrari if they sold so many albums) now he is more spiritual.

When you visit www.christopherbarran.com - and I urge you to do so - you will see that The Agape International Spiritual Centre is something that means a lot to Christopher. So I asked him how he came to be associated with them.

"When I arrived in Los Angeles people kept telling me I had to go to the Agape Church, about how much they loved my music there. So I went and saw this amazing minister, Dr. Michael Beckwith." Barran goes on to speak of Beckwith in glowing terms and with reverence. He describes the man as a spiritual force to be reckoned with and it sounds as if Dr. Beckwith could convert anyone. You can find a link to The Agape International Spiritual Centre through the links page on Christopher's site.

Christopher comes across more settled, more spiritual than when I knew him previously. I asked him if this change was an epiphany or a more gradual one. At first he said gradual but later in the interview he amended that with a heart-wrenching story.

While visiting a hospital for children with polio in Pune, India, Christopher looked into a room and saw several children in various degrees of pain. He asked one of the workers what had happened and it was explained that these children had had surgery that day. The hospital was too poor to supply anesthesia or pain killers. One of the nurses suggested that Barran sing so he did. It was like magic as the children lost themselves to the music, forgetting their pain for the moment. Christopher realized that day how powerful his gift was and just how much good he could do with it. As he rode back to the hotel in the van, he cried. The trappings of music stardom aren't worth a lot unless he can do something meaningful with it. And that is now his goal. To attain a level of stardom and to use the power associated with that level to help those in need.


Christopher has traveled to many countries, spreading hope through his music. Philippines, Nepal, India, Costa Rica, Kenya and Peru are just a few of the place that have been blessed by the sounds of Christopher Barran. Although I have never been honored to hear Christopher perform live (the one opportunity I did have we had car trouble and arrived just as the show had ended) Christopher says it is an experience that surpasses the CD. So if you have the chance, take it.

But we almost didn't get to hear Christopher's gift. He was determined to be an athlete, to compete in the Olympics in downhill ski racing when a near fatal accident ended that dream. After he healed, a friend talked the young Barran into singing with his band and the friend's mother, an opera trained singer, overheard Christopher. She trained Christopher for a while then turned his training over to her vocal coach. The rest, as they say, is history and the Olympics loss was music's very worthy gain.

But our conversation wasn't all serious and spiritual in nature. If you go to his website and look at the photos, there is one with Christopher and a llama. Christopher is just beaming and it says 'The love of my life, Peru.' I thought he meant that Peru was the love of his life so I asked him why.

"No, the llama," he says. "That's my girlfriend. She's got great legs." Kind of hairy though, don't you think?

And then I asked him about the fact that he was born in South America, I met in Calgary and he now lives in Los Angeles. Where would he consider himself to be a citizen of?

"An earthling." Was his immediate answer. I chuckled.

"I was betting you were going to say a citizen of the world." I remarked. This time it was Christopher's turn to laugh.

"I was thinking that."

It was great having the chance to speak with Christopher Barran again and catch up on what's been happening. He's grown and matured but I expected that after all this time. Yet he is still charming and amusing. I look forward to keeping in touch with him, watching his career take off. I look forward to one day being able to say - I knew him when!

Visit his site at www.christopherbarran.com and take a look around. Listen to samples of his debut CD, 'Song of The Angels', learn how to order it, learn more about Christopher. You won't be sorry you did.

“I wholeheartedly put my support behind Christopher Barran and the music he is putting forth to the world. It is refreshing to listen to songs with meaning and passion behind then rather than ‘what’s in for the moment’ music that’s being mass promoted today. He is a thought provoking, heartfelt singer/songwriter.

Through his radiant passion of song, Christopher touched my soul at a very deep level this past year. I consider the day he took the time to sing “Malaika” (Swahili-meaning Angel) to me as a turning point in my life. Since my husband died nine years ago my heart had been set; afraid to feel any more pain, I had also blocked deep feelings of love. Through this beautiful song that he sang to me with ardent spirit expressly to me, I was touched on a deep spiritual level. Since that day I have been granted strength to re-open my heart, allowing the tears of memory to flow as well as express high spirited passion.

As a professional visual artist I attempt to capture passion, love and spiritual peacefulness with paint on canvas. Christopher’s music is the type of worldly music that I desire to hear while I create. His songs and voice lift me beyond myself and my immediate landscape. I dearly thank Christopher for the gift he has given me through his music; a gift that definitely needs to be shared on a world wide level. I pray that others like myself will not be deprived of the opportunity to hear Christopher’s message that comes through his music and presence.

I thank you for your time spent reading this letter, may your life be blessed with loving abundance.”

Christopher Barran
Song of the Angels

This 12 song CD is interesting. The songs are relaxed yet possess a power uniquely their own. Long after it finished playing, I found remnants of the tunes floating in my head, calming me. The first cut - the title song - starts the CD with Barran's distinctive voice and style. Then the CD flows into the next tune, 'Skies are Blue', and a song I remember from years ago. It's like meeting an old friend. It's changed, grown but still made me smile, as did 'Gypsy Winds of Change'.

Christopher does a cover of one of my favorite songs, the 1969 'One Tin Soldier'. He does it justice, managing to bring tears to my eyes.

I have known Barran for many years and hearing 'Song of Angels' I was pleasantly surprised. The young musician that I rocked with all those years ago has grown and matured and I heard that in the songs, in his voice. His life's experiences are being poured from his soul into his art. These songs will tear at your heart but they will also mend those rips leaving you feeling more complete than you were before you started.

This is a CD to listen to by candlelight, either alone or with the special someone. But it is one to definitely listen to.


 

“I recently attended a concert at St. Matthews United Church in Calgary, Alberta. Christopher Barran was amazing! First of all, Christopher's radiant presence and positive energy captivated the whole audience before he even sang, and his vibrant spirit touched everyone throughout the entire show. The stage was surrounded by candlelight and you really felt up close and personal. As Christopher sang, he made each person feel like they were a part of him. His vocal range is outstanding and his songs played in your head for weeks after leaving the concert. His music ranged from touching heartfelt ballads to fast tempo songs like "River". And every song was different. I noticed toes tapping, hands clapping, and voices singing along, myself included. You couldn't help it. I also noticed some watery eyes during soulful songs like ‘Roses Love The Rain’.

His musical style includes Spanish rhythms, troubadour tempos, and Indian spice. Some of his lyrical ideas are based on gypsy freedom, spirituality, peace, love and roads/journeys of life. I believe some of his songs can be closely compared to styles of Cat Stevens, Sting and Disney soundtracks, with Yanni esc world music arrangements. The great power and clarity of Christopher’s voice was reminiscent of John Anderson from Yes and Steve Perry from Journey.

I left the concert feeling elated and inspired to continue my writing career. It was definitely a concert not to miss. Christopher is someone who affects the world in many positive ways.”