New Music: Barbagianni – Queen Of Verona

It’s not often we come across a track with a Shakespearean theme, and it’s rarer that we find one that brings such sophistication to the sad banger genre.

Barbagianni – Karl McCrone and Matthew Keating – embark on another collaboration on Queen Of Verona, as the lyrics’ ‘pair of star-crossed lovers’ entreat us to listen to their tale of love.

The two guest vocalists bring different emotions to the surface, as the mood of the arrangement shifts from dream pop to French touch, always romantic, but with a hint of sadness belying the track’s bittersweet sophistication.

Says the duo, “Our third single [Queen Of Verona] brings us back to our roots, using funky basslines and sparkly guitars to lay down an electro-infused disco groove.”

“Working with Amy Naessens, writer of our last single, Out Of My Head, we chose the setting of Verona, Romeo and Juliet’s fateful meeting place, as an opportunity to write our first duet.”

“We brought in long-time friend of the band and our mixing engineer, Gary O’Reilly, to offer up a darker take on Amy’s lyrics and explore the challenges young lovers face. The result is an upbeat yet melancholic dance track that echoes Robyn’s Dancing On My Own and Metronomy’s Summer ‘08.”

Queen Of Verona and the two previous singles from Barbagianni – Out Of My Head and Punch Drunk – can be streamed on Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and Spotify. Head to TikTok or Instagram for more info.