Name: "Dirty Money"
Album: "Love.Sex.Magic."
Recorded: July 2013
Writer/Composer: Barbara Harris "Barbarian", Daniel
Producer: Daniel
Length: 3:48
Genres: Synthpop, R&B
Instruments: Guitar, synthesizer, paino, drums and percussion
Photographer/Artwork: Diane Martel
Record Label: Hot Eye Records
Formats: MP3 Download; iTunes, Amazon (Digital Only)
Release Date: October 20, 2013 (Digital Download & Radio Airplay)


Song Description & Background:

"Dirty Money" is a song by American recording artist Barbarian taken from her debut studio album "Love.Sex.Magic.". The album itself is set to be released November 3, 2013 through the support of Hot Eye Records. The song was written and produced by Barbarian and Daniel. The song takes the album on a different turn with it's synthpop sound but also maintains the R&B roots that are showcased throughout the album. The song is now being distributed worldwide as the second single from the "Love.Sex.Magic." album through the support Hot Eye Records. The song was first featured on Best Buys's new commercial for "Beats Studio Headphones" featuring a comedic cameo from NBA superstar John Wall. The snippet in the commercial includes video footage from the official video as a preview. The song also has an edorsement with Best Buy, through this endorsement all Best Buy Stores around the world will be playing the snippet on their display screens for the new Beats Studio Headphones and they will have the song on their store playlist starting November 3, 2013, the day the "Love.Sex.Magic". album is released. The song was made available for digital download (pre-order) for two days and radio airplay request on October 20, 2013. The song was officially released for digital download and uploaded on Barbarian's official youtube/vevo channel on October 22, 2013 to avoid leak. A official music video for the song was filmed on September 28 and 29th in a private film studio in Los Angeles, the video will premiere on November 3, 2013.


The lyrics talk about Barbarian fantasizing her man being a pimp and herself as an exotic dancer. The twist to the idea, is that Barbarian is requesting her lover to drop money on her promising that she would pick up the energy in her routine when doing so. The song contains many sexual innuendos and the song has a straightforward approach but is commercial enough for radio airplay.

Barbarian had already spent many months recording her album and with no one having an idea of her comeback, and the pressure was on to get as much material recorded to only pick the best out of the bunch. One of those songs was "Dirty Money". After a long night of writing and recording sessions, Barbarian began working on the song "Dirty Money" in which she had begun writing earlier that day. During that specific day, she was full of inspiration but for some reason could not get a song finished because she couldn't find the right chorus for the song. The verses on the other came out very clean and sharp and she didn't seem to struggle very much with them. After many hours of thinking, she deiced to sing the chorus with the inclusion of the song's title "Throw me that Dirty Money" which reminded her of an R&B club bager and that's when she realized that she wanted the song to sound a bit more classic rather just synthpop. When writing the record Barbarian also came to the conclusion that she would want Daniel to feature on the record. Barbarian was a huge fan of Daniel despite him being her own manager and didn't think it should hurt to have him feature on her record. Daniel after all is known for his production work for artists like Stephanie Fierce, Radio Vine and his secret love for the contemporary R&B artists. However, Barbarian wanted the record to be genuine and no to planned, so she had to record a demo and send it out to Daniel first and see what he could come up with. When Daniel received the record, he loved it and immediately decided to start work on it, so they invited Barbarian to his studio. Little did she know, he had his whole verse laid out for her, and he presented her with an amazing beat, which Barbarian immediately loved. In the end,"Dirty Money" turned out to be something very unexpected on behalf of the many songs recorded on "Love.Sex.Magic".

"Dirty Money is one of those songs that gave me a timeless throwback feel. The lyrics are very raunchy and sensual. I really wanted a big sound but something that was very commercial at the same time. My approach towards the album is to start things on a more tamed level and then just keep turning it up as the singles keep coming. With that being said, it was important for me to bring it 'vocal wise'. Daniel really pushed me to use to my voice in this record, we were constantly redoing the recordings because he was pushing me to hit notes I didn't think I could hit. The song overall just brings something different to radio, it's catchy pop, but it has that soul in it, you can really feel it when you play in your car or even a night out at the strip club. Obviously with the album being titled "Love.Sex.Magic" we have to have the sex, but this song is so playful and fun that people can still jam to it without feeling so damn horny or something. Working with Daniel was just amazing experience because he's my manager but he's a really great vocalist and I personally think he brings something unique to this record and it comes off as a genuine collaboration, not something forced or gimmicky." - Barbarian

"Barbarian loved the way the song flowed and though it could be a classic if given a right beat and production. What I love about Barbarian is that she doesn't give up on her vision but she also takes feed back very well. She could be a diva but in the right times and that's important especially when you are first starting out in your career. That girl has been shut down so many times because she can really get creative with her work and that's what happens when you are immensely talented. People feel somewhat overwhelmed. Her approach with this record however, was very clean and simple. I could tell she had a clear mindset when writing this song because it all sounded so smoothly. When we were creating the beat and the production, it was all very easy because I all felt the record in the room. What Barbarian didn't bring the table, O brought to the table, same vice versa. In the end when we finished, we just felt the record giving everyone in the room goosebumps and I immediately said to her: You better put this one on your album Barbarian and she laughed with her cute little laugh that she always had while nodded her head. It was adorable. She was a pleasure to work with " - Daniel

The song's production begins with a throbbing futuristic electronic beat, which is followed by Daniel echoy background vocals. His tone gives the song almost a nostalgic throwback feel to the production. Barbarian begins to sing in an excited and feisty tone, as the beat propels her forward with other adlibs joining as the song progresses. Daniel is continued to be heard as a background vocalist throughout always following behind Barbarian. Daniel's verse then finally comes into play, and the beat in the background becomes less busy as Daniel's vocals are heard smoothly and progressively. The song's bridge is mostly sung by Barbarian with melodramatic minimal beats that are caused by a synthersizer. Both Daniel and Barbarian switch off and take turns singing until the throbbing beat return and Barbarian continues singing with her regular pace and Daniel joins her more fully and aggressively, adding a harmonizing melodramatic effect. In one bit Daniel adds jazz vocal adlibs. The last bit has Barbarian grasping her words as she sings adding more angst and fury to her vocals. The song ends swiftly. After a short moment of silence an outro is then heard which adds a little more drama to song but quickly fades out.