In this 2023 interview, Canadian singer-songwriter Jill Barber talked about Homemaker, motherhood, marriage, creative identity and the challenge of balancing a music career with family life.
Jill Barber and the Album Homemaker
At the time of the interview, Barber was discussing Homemaker, an album that returned to a more stripped-down folk sound after records built around fuller arrangements. The songs explored motherhood, marriage and the distance between a polished public identity and everyday domestic life.
Barber described that contrast with a memorable line:
“One day I was headlining Massey Hall, and the next day I’m sweeping a messy hall.”
She said she had reached a point where she needed to reconcile the romantic public image associated with her career with the realities of being a wife and mother.
Why Homemaker Recast the Mother as the Hero
A central idea in Homemaker was reclaiming the homemaker as the main character rather than a background role. Barber spoke directly about how motherhood and aging can make women feel pushed outside their own stories.
“Let’s be real: every mother is a superhero. But society doesn’t always see it that way. As mothers, we often fall into a supporting role, and as aging women, we can seem to fade into the background. As a result, we sometimes lose sight of our own narratives.”
She continued by describing self-actualization outside the roles of wife, mother or caregiver as a way for women to step back into the leading role in their own lives.
How Did Jill Barber Balance Recording and Two Kids?
When asked how difficult it was to juggle raising two children while making an album, Barber answered with humor before describing the practical reality:
“Well, the trick was not to accidentally drop one of them and ruin a vocal take. But seriously! Any working mother knows it’s a balancing act. I wrote a lot of these songs when my kids were either at school or asleep. My husband took on extra duties while I was doing long days and nights in the recording studio.”
Family vs. Professional Success
Barber was candid that both music and parenting involved plenty of failure before any visible win.
“It feels great to receive professional accolades, but the majority of the time being an independent musician is as humbling as being a parent of young kids. It takes lots of fails before you achieve a win. But as challenging as it is, I swear the music business is still easier than this parenting business.”
She also acknowledged the unavoidable trade-offs:
“Putting extra energy into my career takes time away from my family. Putting extra time into my family takes time away from my career. If you’re lucky you can put time and energy into both and do a decent job all ‘round. As they say: You can have it all… just not at the same time ; )”
Who Were Jill Barber’s Role Models?
Her answer was not another famous musician. Barber pointed to the mothers around her:
“My amazing community of Mom friends are my everyday role models. When I see a slick mom move, I announce loudly: ‘I’m taking notes.’ Mothers everywhere amaze me all the time. Moms are the best.”
For another conversation with an independent musician about building an audience and creative career, see our CG5 interview.
Bottom Line
Our 2023 Jill Barber interview was ultimately less about promoting an album than about the identity behind it. Homemaker gave Barber a way to write openly about the tension between public success, domestic work, motherhood and the need to remain a full person within all of those roles.
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