_{By Anwaya Mane}

From jamming to alternative folk-rock in their apartments to cracking corny puns and classic dad jokes (read: bad jokes), Michael Barrow & The Tourists are committed to making authenticity more than just a buzzword – it’s something they live by, and something they invite their fans to live in as well. 

Building on the sound of their debut album, Juneau, they released their five-track EP Santa Barbara Sessions on March 23, 2018, featuring the standout acoustic tracks “Running Barefoot” and “All I’ll See Is You.” Lead singer and guitarist Michael Barrow explained that while Juneau, their Alaska-inspired debut, was bolder and more experimental in its sound, Santa Barbara Sessions took a slower, more relaxed approach. They pieced together acoustic textures and smoother melodies, favoring intimacy over innovation and emotional resonance over grandiose.

The band shared that artists often become fixated on perfecting every detail, which can result in the raw magic of the music getting lost in translation. Wanting to avoid that trap, Michael Barrow & The Tourists chose to do the opposite- they unlearned their previous methods, tossed out strategies and formulas altogether, and simply played, old-school style.

The quintet gathered in Barrow’s apartment, set up the recording equipment, and let the music flow organically – born from the heart, between bad dad jokes, full-throated laughter, enduring friendship, and a shared commitment to authenticity.

The result? A simple, charming acoustic album without any frills. Santa Barbara Sessions feels like a personal diary brought to life, with every chord, every beat, and every lyric carrying a lived-in experience that one can feel right in their bones. The EP has a ‘lived in’ feel to it; you can almost hear the members’ hearts, their stories and the deep love they have for the music they make. The record is sincere and unassuming, and that’s precisely where its most significant strength lies.

Santa Barbara Sessions doesn’t manipulate its listeners into feeling a certain way; instead, it leaves fans to interpret and experience the music on their own terms. My favourite tracks are “Running Barefoot” and the fan-favourite “All I’ll See Is You.” With “Running Barefoot,” I could instantly visualise myself on a calm and serene beach – the salt-filled air brushing against every fibre of my being, carrying with it the polluted yet familiar scent of Mumbai, the coastal city in western India where I live. The song reminded me of home, even though I was home! There is something deeply nostalgic about its lyrics too. “I was running barefoot/ I was unprepared/ but I chased you like a dream.”

“All I’ll See Is You” makes one feel seen and heard in a way that makes the listener feel the song exists only for them. Once again, drawing parallels to a big metropolitan city like Mumbai – cosmopolitan, crowded and constantly in motion – it’s easy to feel alone and detached, even when surrounded by people. My favourite line – “I think we give the devil too much credit for everything we are doing to ourselves.” Brutally honest, indeed!

Santa Barbara Sessions carries the soul of John Mayer’s music—simple, soulful vocals, the acoustic instrumentation, and a relaxed, comforting vibe that feels both lived-in and therapeutic. Michael Barrow & The Tourists craft a unique yet heartfelt blend of American soft rock, folk, and soul, much like how artists like Ed Sheeran and Vance Joy have developed their own recognizable sound. It’s the kind of music where fans know exactly what to expect when they hear their name.

While every track stands strong on its own, the album lacks cohesion when viewed as a whole. The transitions between songs can feel incoherent, almost as if you are listening to songs from different albums by the same artist. While this openness allows fans the freedom to connect with the music on their terms, a more purposeful direction could have made it a more enriching soundtrack and an overall immersive experience for its listeners.

The highest compliment a musician can receive is when fans say they can hear their journey more than they can see it, and Michael Barrow & The Tourists are well on that path to greatness.

Be sure to follow Michael Barrow & The Tourists on Instagram. You can listen to “All I’ll See Is You” from Santa Barbara Sessions below!