Misstress Barbara

Misstress Barbara

Misstress Barbara on the red carpet of the 2010 Juno Awards
Background information
Birth name Barbara Bonfiglio
Born 1975 (age 3940)
Catania, Italy
Genres Techno
House
Electronica
Occupation(s) Producer, DJ, Songwriter, Singer
Years active 19
Labels Iturnem Music MapleMusic Recordings (Canada)
Associated acts Sam Roberts, Bjorn Yttling, Brazilian Girls, Carl Cox, Christian Smith, H.O.S.H., Thomas Schumacher
Website Misstress Barbara's Website

Barbara Bonfiglio, better known as Misstress Barbara (the misspelling is an intentional portmanteau [i.e. "miss" and "stress"]), is an Italian-born Producer, DJ and singer-songwriter.[1][2] Born in Catania, Italy, she moved to Montreal, Quebec at the age of eight and has resided in the city ever since.[2][3] She has DJed around the globe in the best clubs and festivals among the very best DJs, and has an extensive discogrpahy as a producer.

Career

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the Université du Québec à Montréal.[4] After drumming in bands since the age of twelve, she began DJing in 1996 and established record label Relentless in 1999.[4] In 2001 she released the mix album Relentless Beats (EQ Recordings), with a second volume the following year, along with two mix albums for Trust the DJ.[5] In 2003, to avoid legal issues with a Relentless Records, UK company of the same name, she established ITURNEM. Early success includes her song "Never Could Have Your Heart" being licensed in Rockstar Games' arcade racing video game Midnight Club II. In 2006, she reelased the mix album Come with Me....[6]

In 2009 she released the debut artist album as a singer, I'm No Human,[7][8] which was nominated for a 2010 Juno Award for Best Dance Recording Of The Year, and included the single "I'm Running", featuring fellow Montreal musician Sam Roberts. The album also features collaborations with Brazilian Girls and Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John. "I'm No Human" was born out of unhappy circumstances, sparked by the death of a close family member features Misstress Barbara step from behind the turntables in front of the microphone and was recorded in her home town of Montreal. To perform songs from the album, she created a new live band and draws from her experience in electronic music infusing it with live instruments. The live show debuted at Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal 2009, to a sold out crowd at Montreal's Club Soda. In July 2010, Misstress Barbara performed for the second year in at row at Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

In April 2012 she released her second album "Many Shades Of Grey" which is, unlike her first album, more of a stand-alone project, with the song "The Right Time" as the first radio single. The live show "Many Shades Of Grey" was nominated for Best Show in "other" language at Quebec's ADISQ. In July 2012, she sang her single "The Right Time" at Parliament Hill during Canada Day celebrations and later in that same month she was back at Le Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, at La Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT), to perform her new live show "Many Shades Of Grey".

Discography

Albums

Many Shades Of Grey – Maple Music / Iturnem (Canada) – Apr 2012 - #91 CAN

I’m No Human – Maple Music / Iturnem (Canada) – May 2009

EPs

Je Suis Charlie – Loose (Italy) – Apr 2015

Zia / Closer – Tronic (Sweden) – Mar 2015

Sir G / Mrs G – Tulipa (US) – Sep 2014

Tenno 5 (Ground Under Ibiza 1) – Bedrock (England) – Jul 2014

Et Il Bat – Iturnem (Canada) – Mar 2011

Tu Seras Mon Roi – Iturnem (Canada) – Feb 2011

Finally Mine (H.O.S.H. feat. Misstress Barbara) – Diynamic (Germany) – Nov 2010

Triangle Of Love – Iturnem (Canada) – Oct 2010

Don’t Leave / Come Back – Iturnem (Canada) – May 2007

Barcelona – Border Community (England) – Feb 2007

K-10 / Azzurri – Bedrock (England) – Oct 2006

Come With Me… – Apr 2006 – Iturnem (Canada)

On Fire (by Misstress Barbara & Carl Cox) – Apr 2005 – 23rd Century (England)

Gloria Grande – Iturnem (Canada) – Aug 2004

In Da Mooda Da Nite – Iturnem (Canada) – May 2004

Misstress Barbara VS Barbara Brown Vol. 2 – Iturnem (Canada) – Mar 2003

Misstress Barbara VS Barbara Brown Vol. 1 – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Sep 2002

Barbara Brown presents: No More Boundaries, This Ain’t House! – Primary (England) – Mar 2002

Growing Pains – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Nov 2001

Effet Karma – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Apr 2001

666FVW – Primevil (England) – Feb 2001

Emotions On Plastic – Choice (France) – Feb 2001

Naked Thoughts – Default (Canada) – Feb 2001

Barbara Brown presents: Il Minestrone – Primary (England) – Dec 2000

Zero ID - Zero ID (England) - Dec 2000

Relentless Desire - Primate (England) - Jun 2000

For All There's Left - Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) - Apr 2000 (buy: bandcamp beatport itunes)

Barbara Brown presents: Dammelo, Mi Piace - Strive (Sweden) - Feb 2000

Royal Comfort (by Foreign Textures: Misstress Barbara & Christian Smith) – Tronic (Sweden) – Jan 2000

Cry & Dry – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Dec 1999

First Reality – Rotation (England) – Nov 1999

Foreign Textures Vol. 1 (by Misstress Barbara & Christian Smith) – Primevil (England) – Nov 1999

Endless Passion – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Oct 1999

Sagittarius – Zync (Sweden) – Sep 1999

Auger Lyer (International Artists EP) – Intec (England) – Aug 1999

April – Countdown 2000 (Sweden) – Apr 1999

Steps Towards Comprehension – Tronic (Sweden) – Mar 1999

Remixes

Frog Pond (Giorgos Gatzigristos) – Tulipa (US) – Aug 2014

Deux Ils Deux Elles (Lara Fabian) – Musicor (Canada) – Sep 2013

Phénix (Alfa Rococo) – Tacca (Canada) – Nov 2012

Quinchos (Llydo) – Dilek (Switzerland) – Nov 2010

2nd To None (Umek) – Rekluse (England) – May 2010

Love At The End Of The World (Sam Roberts) – Universal (Canada) / Rounder Records (England) – Sep 2008

Club Thing (Yoav) – Island Records (England) – Aug 2008

One Eye On The Strawberries (Pheek) – Iturnem (Canada) – Nov 2007

We Know You Know It (Foreign Islands) – Deaf Dumb and Blind (US) – Nov 2006

No Works Of Words (T21) – Productions Spéciales (France) – Jun 2006

Work It! (Ignition Technician) – Notorious North (England) – Apr 2005

Julian (Olivier Klitzing) – Headline (Germany) – Mar 2005

Aurelon (Vince Watson) – Bio (Scotland) – Jun 2004

Chances (DJ Hansz) – Body & Artform (Holland) – Dec 2003

No War In The Summer (DJ Preach) (Barbara Brown Remix) – Iturnem (Canada) – Sep 2003

Dogzilla (Simon Patterson & Richie Kayvan) – Maelstrom (England) – Aug 2003

Yul Fuka (Yaz, Miko and Preach) – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Nov 2002

Torso (Vintage) – X-Trax (Holland) – Jun 2002

Optical Way (Rino Cerrone) – Iturnem/Relentless (Canada) – Jan 2002

Midnight Magik (Punisher) – Seismic (US) – Mar 2001

Dashboard (Mhonolink) – Zync Rmxd (Sweden) – Nov 2000

Glass (G-Force) – Genetic (Belgium) – Oct 2000

Fusion (Foreign Textures) – Primevil (England) – Nov 1999

Compilations

Come With Me… – UWE (France) – Feb 2006

Iturnem In Pink – Florida 135 (Spain) – Jan 2004

White Is Pure 2 (by Barbara Brown) – Aria (Canada) – Mar 2003

MB02 – Trust The DJ (England) – Nov 2002

Relentless Beats Vol. 2 – Moonshine (US) – Feb 2002

MB01 – Trust The DJ (England) – Dec 2001

Relentless Beats Vol. 1 – Moonshine (US) – Feb 2001

Awards and Nominations

2014 MTL Awards Best Montreal DJ Won
2013 ADISQ "Many Shades Of Grey" - Best show in "other" language Nomination
2010 Juno Awards "I'm No Human" - Best Dance Recording Of The Year Nomination
2009 GAMIQ Awards (Quebec Indie Music Awards) "I'm No Human" - Best Electro Album Of The Year Nomination
2002 UK Underground Dance Music Awards "Best Breakthrough DJ" Won
2002 MIMI Awards SODRAC Prize Won

See also

References

  1. Wigney, Allan "DJ Misstress Barbara on a mission", Canoe.ca, retrieved 2011-01-02
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tan, Emily (2006) "Techno Tales: To Misstress Barbara, Playing the Right Music Always Trumps Self-Glory—Even If It Means Spinning in the Dark", DJ Times, Vol. 19, No. 4, retrieved 2011-01-02
  3. Potts, Diana "Misstress Barbara Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-01-02
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Biography of Misstress Barbara", Resident Advisor, retrieved 2011-01-02
  5. "Misstress Barbara - Relentless Beats", Resident Advisor, retrieved 2011-01-02
  6. Prato, Greg "Come with Me... Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-01-02
  7. Girard, Stéphane (2009) "Misstress Barbara - I'm No Human", Resident Advisor, 17 June 2009, retrieved 2011-01-02
  8. Leijon, Erik (2009) "Misstress Barbara's Human After All", CHARTattack, 17 July 2009, retrieved 2011-01-02

External links