Interview Magazine (October 1992)

Ungrunge

Twenty-two-year-old pop rocker Kristen Barry calls herself "the crossover queen" because she has no trouble pleasing audiences when, as often happens, she finds herself in club lineups sandwiched between local grunge punks and heavy metalheads.

The classically trained Seattleite constructs sharp, introspective tunes and performs them with the vigor of a rock vocalist. Barry's voice encompasses both art-folk phrasings, like Jane Siberry's, and more postured rock howlings, like Robert Plant's.

"I like the idea of singing beautiful melodies aggressively," she says. "You can almost scream a melody if you try." The effect is electrifying. She is not yet signed to a label.