2026 COMBO Songwriting Contest winner
Colorado
One of 10 winners in the 2026 Colorado Music Business Organization annual songwriting contest for Barne's song "How It's Spent"
“You really have the right stuff and your art is so important” - Sarah Craig -Executive Producer of Caffe Lena
2025 Hey Nonny Songwriting Contest Winner
Arlington Heights, IL
Presenting Hey Nonny's 2025 Songwriting Contest Winners!
1st Place Winner, Emily Barnes
2nd Place Winner, Brandon Reisdorf
3rd Place Winner, Val Leventhal
““Warren County” paints the listener quite a vivid picture. The song contains little more than some synth pads and an acoustic guitar, but the sonic space is wide and it cradles Barnes’ voice as though it were a stream flowing between two peaks. The soft percussion and vocal harmonies join in for the chorus and one cannot help but imagine the song playing as the opening credits roll across some Rocky Mountain film that has yet to be made, beckoning to the listener that there is “a world outside of Warren County.””
“Carrie Elkin playlist: Raina Rose, Ryan Culwell, Anna Tivel, Joshua James, Emily Barnes, Telisha Williams,Doug Williams, Son Of Town Hall, Robby Hecht, Danny Schmidt, Devon Sproule, Nels Andrews, Neilson Hubbard, Clay Parker & Jody James, Craig Kinsey.” - Carrie Elkin
2017 New Folk Finalist
“What I take away from this show about Barnes is that she is a dedicated singer-songwriter, with a beautiful voice, and an ability to take command of a room. Also, she said she’s not a piano player yet she played a few songs on piano with such ease and confidence. Not a piano player—really!?! Well, Emily Barnes, you have my attention now and I am listening.”
“Emily Barnes is more than just a musician; she’s a storyteller that sets the lives of her characters to music. Her sophomore release Let in the Light should be both required reading and listening for anyone who is feeling or has ever felt fractured by life.”
Divide and Conquer Music Reviews
Check out my interview with Deann from "Music for Lunch"