a l e t a r e c o r d s "no music...no life"
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must paint if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be." Abraham Maslow
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This statement so perfectly describes the heart and desire of Contemporary Christian songwriter and singing prowess, Barb Elyett.
Passionate would be an understatement when it comes to Barb's love for music. Her voice is nothing less than dynamic and drips with compassion as she delivers songs that grab the attention of listeners. To see Barb perform live is to experience her grassroots, child-like love for music that effortlessly exemplifies Maslow's statement " a musician must make music...if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself."
Following the lead of artists like Loreena McKennitt, Barb established her own record label, Aleta Records, on which she recently released her debut CD, The Simple Side. Working with award-winning producer and engineer, Bill Buckingham (Carolyn Arends, Rita McNeil), at The Palace Studios in Vancouver, BC, Barb has truly taken her talent to another level.
10 out of the 11 songs on the album were written by Barb and the11th song is an amazing self-arranged version of The Lord's Prayer that can truly blow your socks off! Combining Barb's incredible ability for introspective, thought provoking lyrics, transcendent piano-based melodies, accented by a voice that contains the conviction of a preacher, Barb's album The Simple Side is sure to be timeless and undoubtedly a mainstay in CD players for years to come.
The title The Simple Side arose out of Barb's own desire to get back to the simplicity of knowing who she truly was at her core and expressing that. The more she searched, the more Barb started recognizing a oneness in her quest that pointed to God as the ultimate source of simplicity. Each song on the album therefore, contains a scriptural "key" that opens a door to the "simple" or God-side of life. To know where she was and where she is now with her music is to understand why Barb is often quoted as saying "no music...no life."
Yes, music was Barb's passion as far back as when she would play ukulele and sing at the top of her lungs during her elementary school Christmas concerts. But as Barb grew, her love for music heavily fell prey to the negatives and insistent practicality that was forced upon her. Eventually, this led to Barb being diverted from her true identity and dream, which led to many confusing, frustrating, and painful years. "It was almost as if wrong had become right, and right had become wrong for me."
Luckily though, Barb, in secret much of the time, continued to pursue her musical interests and eventually broke through many embedded negative beliefs to establish the kind of life she had always wanted in music.
Throughout her journey, Barb performed on numerous occasions by invitation at Christian conferences and events and was a soloist for the Vancouver Outreach Community Soul Gospel Choir in which she performed at the historic Orpheum Theatre and St. Peter's Cathedral in Vancouver, BC as well as many churches in and around the Vancouver area.
After serving as musical director at her church for four years, she was invited to be a lead vocalist for the Ninth Hour Band. She continued to make regular appearances with them for two years. Barb also had the privilege of sharing the stage with Celine Dion at GM Place on her North American tour as well as gracing the independent movie scene with a riveting performance of Sweet Heart of Jesus in the movie Bad Money. She has also shared the stage with Michael Bublé and her vocal talent has been used extensively used by the Nashville Songwriters Association and the Vancouver Jingle Industry. Recently, Barb also received Honorable Mention for her song "Come To Me" in the Billboard World Song Contest.
"In every adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit. For me, the benefit of going through my own personal set of challenges was that it has put a desire in me to communicate hope and a better way to live to others that may have had a rough start in life. It is a joy to see how what I have learned from my experience is impacting others in a positive way."
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Barb Elyett
Press Release
Barb Elyett's Debut CD, The Simple Side, Not Only Pleases The Ear But The Soul As Well
The Simple Side is the first CD released from Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Barb Elyett on her self-owned label, Aleta Records. With artistry and pure passion, Elyett focuses on her dynamic voice, using her piano as a highlight. Elyett has received recognition and praise for her music from people all over the world, and was recently honored to place among the top songs in the Billboard World Song Contest with her song, "Come To Me."
The Simple Side is a blend of touching, heartfelt songs "Only You Know;" clever lyrical jewels with swaying rhythms "Thorns and Fragrant Roses;" and upbeat, infectious melodies with precise instrumentation "Abandoned Nets." The Simple Side was produced by award-winning Vancouver producer and engineer, Bill Buckingham (Carolyn Arends, Rita McNeil). Musicians on the project include Barb Elyett (vocals, piano), Bill Buckingham (acoustic and electric guitar, digital programming), Dave Pickell (Hammond Organ, additional piano), and Gord Maxwell (additional background vocals).
Accenting the unique, soothing sound of this album is a timeless message of wisdom and truth. Each song beautifully shares a scriptural key to simplicity that paves the way to peace. Elyett's mastery for creating music that not only pleases the ear but soul as well is paramount throughout this entire project.
To experience Elyett's music is to feast on art that is one-of-a-kind. Elyett has the ability to sing and write songs that drip with compassion yet boldly and aggressively drive home the point she is trying to make. Discover the spirit, vision, and vulnerability unleashed from within Barb Elyett on The Simple Side.
For more information, visit www.barbelyett.com
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Barb Elyett's Music in a Nutshell!
Blend ½ a cup of "soft rock," with a ¼ cup of "intelligent pop," sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of black gospel and you've got the music of Barb Elyett!
The Simple Side Events
Overview (Adult Ministry/Ages 25+)
Let's face it, in todays fast-paced,
"follow the crowd," status-quo society, it
is easy to compromise the simple life God desires us to live for counterfeits that promise happiness but deliver emptiness.
Complicating and confusing God's simple truths and living a life that is stressed-out, frustrated and difficult has become the norm and an all too familiar reality for many of us. But God never meant it to be this way.
From the beginning, God created a side of life that would render all the blessings, beauty, fulfillment, peace, joy and success we could ever want. But he gave us a choice (Duet 30:19) Either we could choose to follow the ways of the world, go our own way and ultimately end up apart from God; unfulfilled, bored, lost, hurting and torn, or we could choose to live with God on the side of life that in its simplest form offers a dot-to-dot plan for successful living.
Many people in today's society want to live on the side of blessing, success, peace and fulfillment but they constantly fall prey to the ever pressing demands of their own emotions, the pains of the past and fears of the future that keep them stuck in opposition to what they really want.
The Simple Side events were created to counteract the negatives that divert us from our real desires, and redirect our focus to getting on and staying on the simple, blessed side of life that God has already made available for us to live in Christ.
Super 2-in-1 Events
Barb's passion for not only stimulating the right brain (creative) but left brain (logic) is evident in her music and events. By combining a concert and seminar into one, Barb reveals the scriptural keys that open a door to "the simple side" of life contained in each of her songs through bible-based teaching, personal experiences, and hilarious anecdotes.
You can expect that a "twinkle-in-the-eye" kind of hope, rekindled passion for living, re-ignited childlike faith and a renewed desire to live God's simple truths will be common among audience members upon completion of each event.
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Simple Side Concerts
Goodbye Complicated! Hello Simple! - 60-90 min concert
This concert event includes a riveting performance of songs from the new album as well as an overview of the scriptural keys contained in each song that opens a door to "the simple side" of life.
Barb shares how each key played a critical role in taking her from a confused and complicated existence to one that was solely based on God's simple truths. Practical tips on how to apply the keys to everyday life are also shared.
This event is the perfect way to retreat from the busyness of everyday life and refresh, reflect, recharge and rekindle that passion for God that can transform your life.
Structure: With just a few adjustments a Simple Side concert can be transformed to suit your needs!
It's great for: retreats, special events, conferences, women's events, seasonal programs (Advent, Lent), fundraisers, singles events, special music, parish missions and more! Mini-concerts are also available.
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Simple Side Seminar-in-Song Topics
60-90 min each
How To Be Who You Really Are
Trading Pesky Thorns For Fragrant Roses
Pursuing What Matters Most
Forget Perfection...Just Do It!
Learning To Let Go and Let God
Leaving It All To Have It All
Having Faith When Nothing Seems To Make Sense
Finding Simplicity In Jaw-Dropping Awe
YOU are Priceless
Finding The Fullness of Joy In His Presence
First Things First
Passionate about sharing what she has learned about being a "stressed-out, plate-spinning adult" and finally finding freedom on
"the simple side," Barb delves even deeper into the life-changing details behind each scriptural key contained in her songs and offers practical tips on how to apply each key to everyday life.
Structure: Say goodbye to "snooze-fest" seminars with Barb's unique seminar-in-song events! What better way to illustrate a point than with a song! It's like getting a seminar and concert all-in-one!
Options: Each presentation is tailored to suit the occasion and vision of the event coordinator.
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Toward Bethlehem - 90 min evening concert
Toward Bethlehem is the perfect way to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and relax and reflect on what is most important.
Combining traditional Christmas carols, holiday favorites, and beautiful original songs together with Barb's unique 2-in-1 concert/seminar style, this event is sure to please not only the ear but soul as well.
It is the ideal way to immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you embark on a musical journey that leads you inward to the Bethlehem inside of you.
The combination of thought-provoking lyrics, insightful bible-based teaching and inspiring music make Toward Bethlehem a unique event that enables you to get the most out of this wonderful season.
Barb Elyett
Contemporary Christian Singer/Songwriter
Frequently Asked Questions
What do most church leaders and event coordinators want to know?
Find out below....
Cost?
Aleta Records, Barb's self-owned record label, is a faith-based ministry and operates in accordance with Phil 4:19 "And God will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory."
Considering this, Barb has a "no set fee" policy for any event. This is a matter left between the host and God. Barb's only request is to have permission to sell her CD's and merchandise at the event and to receive a love-offering during the event.
Do we need special equipment?
Barb's flexibility in working with venues is one of her greatest assets! She will need only the following equipment to put on a great event:
Piano - A "grand" is preferred, but an upright will work great too. The piano must be in excellent working condition. If a piano is not available, let us know and alternate arrangements can be considered.
Sound system - A sound system in excellent working condition with a CD player hook-up and preferably sound personnel.
In what setting can Barb share?
Barb has shared her music with small groups through to public events of 1000+ people. Besides a standard 90 minute evening concert, Barb tailors each event to suit the occasion and vision of the event coordinator.
Can Barb adapt her presentation to our event theme?
Yes! Barb will happily tailor her presentation to suit the event theme - no problem. Contact us to discuss the details of your tailor-made show!
How long is Barb's presentation?
Goodbye Complicated! Hello Simple! is an evening concert that runs approximately 90 minutes. Taking the Scriptural Keys to the Next Level events run 60-90 minutes each and are usually also presented as evening concerts.
For special events re: retreats, conferences etc., Barb will work with the church or event coordinator to come up with a tailor-made presentation that suits the needs of the venue or event. 30 minutes to 1 hour, or even sharing throughout an entire day or weekend is the norm for special events.
Does Barb share in various denominations?
Yes! Church traditions/culture are always considered when bringing a presentation. Barb will often dovetail into the current "season" of the church or requests of the ministry team...something very appreciated by pastors and leaders. Whether presenting for 30 minutes or over an hour, the content is shared powerfully, yet, with spiritual sensitivity.
Barb Elyett
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