Audiobooks
“Listen to me, as when ye heard our father
Sing long ago the song of other shores -
Listen to me, and then in chorus gather
All your deep voices as ye pull the oars;
Fair these broad meads - these hoary woods are grand;
But we are exiles from our fathers' land.
From the lone shieling of the misty island
Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas -
Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,
And we in dreams behold the Hebrides.”
- Anonymous
Narrator & Producer Guy Barnes
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Mentored and apprenticed by legendary audio pioneer John Oram, Guy Barnes (performing music under the pseudonym G.B. Rider) has produced a steady flow of quality music for more than thirty years.
With an original and emotive voice, Guy’s sound blends his early love for substantial chorus-driven songs with a blend of singer-songwriter greats like Neil Sedaka, George Michael, Elton John, with a touch of Jon Bon Jovi, David Coverdale and David Bowie.
Writing music since the moment he picked up his first guitar at nine years old, Guy knew early on that he wanted to write songs that in their barest form stood up by themselves. His inventive style has led to writing collaborations for Universal, Mercury, Warner Brothers, and Sony Records, as well as major brands such as Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, AT&T, and Pepsi.
Beyond writing, producing, and performing his own music, Guy takes great pleasure in mentoring up and coming musicians in the industry, providing them friendship and support as they pursue their musical dreams.
Following the tragic and unexpected death of the young pop star, his friend and protégé, Chris Hardman (‘Lil Chris) in 2015, Guy took a sabbatical from the music industry in order to process this loss. The unique and profound way that Chris touched Guy’s life led him to slow down, experience the world around him, and ultimately contend with his grief through the outlet of music.
His magnificent comeback album, Child of Yesterday is a product of overcoming the dark, and continuing on with hope.
After relocating to Monchique, Portugal, Guy has become a sought after talent for audiobook narration. In 2021 he received the Audiobook Adrenaline Award for Best Historical Fiction Narration for A Brother’s Oath, The Hengest and Horse Trilogy Book 1. Guy followed this award with the 2023 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Narration for Max and the Spice Thieves by John Peregine.
Guy has acted in several film and television programs, and appeared in the lead role of Tim Hemp in the 2021 film, Typo, which is currently available on Amazon Prime.
In his spare time Guy is a passionate motorcycle enthusiast and owns a custom Harley Davidson and a Yamaha V-Star 1100. Whether writing, producing, or performing, Guy is always innovating, and always open to collaborate.
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WHY I CHOSE GUY
When I first opened my audiobook for auditions, I was overwhelmed. I had listened to so many auditions that they all started to sound the same.
I was really feeling weary of the whole process until I clicked on a short, simple message — “Here’s my audition, hope you like it. —Guy.”
The message was so short and simple, I was totally fooled thinking this was some shy dude, but was nearly blown out of my chair only seconds later—the fierce and fearsome voice of Hector blasting out of my laptop speakers.
The audition was incredible, and after reaching out in a few messages, I knew I had found not only the voice of Hector, but the partner I was looking for to bring these stories to life.
Guy and I have much in common creatively, and personally. He has grappled, endured, and overcome many demons in his life, just as I have. I recognized this almost immediately as I listened to his audition, knowing there was some quality that couldn’t be duplicated. He wasn’t just reading, or performing—he was living, and then breathing life into my words.
Guy is, like me, a little beat up, a little broken, but stronger for it. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was the narrator for the Hebridean Shield, a series which strives to tell second-chance stories from flawed and relatable heroes.
THE PROCESS
Not only did I gain in Guy tremendous narration ability but the process of working with him was seamless. Along the way he even delivered the unexpected, performing my words with a depth and emotion even I hadn’t imagined as I wrote.
We developed a great rapport, and he really made the process fun. I didn’t have to worry about quality, editing, uploading—he did it all. The finished product far, far exceeds any expectation I had for this book.
The five star feedback I’ve received on his ability to immerse my readers in my writing world says it all.
He can do the guttural depths of Hector’s growl, the nasal haughtiness of my villain, the lilting beauty of Cara.
There is no one like him in the narration world, nobody.
MY FRIEND
Over the course of these last few months I’ve gotten to know Guy (that’s just my nature, I can’t work with a stranger) and I am proud to count him as one of my dearest friends. I cannot recommend him highly enough if you are looking for an audiobook producer. He is full of integrity, scrupulous, and someone you can put your trust in for any project.
I look forward to many more years of producing audiobooks for this series with him.
