Media coverage of “Wired for Music”

(For book events, click here.)

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

“Thoroughly researched and tenderly written, [Wired for Music] blends neuroscience and history with [Barton’s] own personal reflections and encounters with musicians across the globe.”

Feature interview, Oct. 10, 2022. Read here.

BBC SCIENCE FOCUS

“How do we learn music, and is it ever too late to pick up an instrument? We speak to cellist turned health writer Adriana Barton to find out.”

Interview with BBC Science Focus Magazine’s Instant Genius podcast, Oct. 10, 2022. Listen here.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

An “impressive debut”… Witty and soulful, this will delight music fans.”

Advance review, Jul. 27, 2022. Read here.

THE BOSTON GLOBE

“The ‘Mozart Effect’ is bunk. But your brain on music is still a wondrous thing.”

Book excerpt in “Ideas” section, Dec. 21, 2022. Read here.

QUILL & QUIRE

“Wired for Music showcases [Barton’s] journalistic skill, presenting an exhaustively researched exploration of science’s latest discoveries... This erudite study is interwoven with Barton’s achingly honest and inspirational quest to determine how music could enrich her life, spirit, and soul.”

Author profile, Oct. 5, 2022. View here.

THE TIMES RADIO (UK)

Live interview on the Evening Edition with Kait Borsay.

Oct. 24, 2022 (replay unavailable).

CTV’S “THE SOCIAL”

Live appearance on Canada’s national daytime talk show.

Aired Oct. 27, 2022. View replay here.

The Big issue (UK)

“A fascinating investigation into the physical and mental effects of music.” Wired for Music named one of seven “best books of 2022” from independent publishers (not self-published).

Posted Dec. 16, 2022. Read here.

Also in The Big Issue: “Top 5 books about the power of music, chosen by Adriana Barton.” Posted Nov. 27, 2022. View here.

The Guardian

Wired for Music recommended in “The big idea: could we use music like medicine?” by science writer David Robson.

Published Sept. 18, 2023. Read here.

GLOBAL TELEVISION

“Journalist Adriana Barton has released a new book ‘Wired for Music.’ She talks to Emily Lazatin about the science behind music and some of the untapped benefits it has for people.”

Aired Oct. 22, 2022. View here.

CBC’s “The Next chapter”

In conversation with Shelagh Rogers, books columnist Vish Khanna described Wired for Music as “the great Canadian counterpart” to Bob Dylan’s new book The Philosophy of Modern Song.

Mar. 25, 2023. Listen here.

Winnipeg free press

“A riveting refrain: Connections between music and the mind made in compelling chronicle.”

Book review, Nov. 5, 2022. Read here.

CBC RADIO: NORTH BY NORTHWEST

Interview on Wired for Music with host Margaret Gallagher.

Jan. 29, 2023. Listen to the replay here.

CBC RADIO: ALBERTA AT NOON

How has music made a difference in your life? Hour-long call-in show on Wired for Music.

Oct. 31, 2022. Listen here.

CBC RADIO (SYNDICATED)

On the launch day of Wired for Music, I did 17 interviews back-to-back with radio hosts in cities including Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Oct. 11, 2022. (Replays unavailable.)

CBC MUSIC

Interview with CBC associate producer Andrea Warner on the science behind “scary” music.

Posted Oct. 26, 2023. View here.

UK Health radio

Guest appearance on “The Healthy Debate Show” hosted by chartered psychologist Andra Stanoiu.

Released Nov. 30, 2022. Listen here.

BC BOOKWORLD

“[Barton] does a great service for those whose relationship with music has been warped by the Western conservatory system, with its emphasis on technical excellence over enjoyment and expression. …they’ll be consoled and inspired by this text.”

For the full-page preview, scroll through the Autumn 2022 edition here.

BEST HEALTH MAGAZINE

“Health journalist Adriana Barton explores music’s effects on our brain and body.” Excerpt from Wired for Music covering music-based interventions for depression, stress and anxiety.

Published Aug. 1, 2022. View article here.

Val 202 public radio (slovenia)

Interview with science journalist Maja Ratej (overdubbed in Slovenian).

Aired Dec. 8, 2022. Replay available here.

Good reading (Australia)

Reviewer Mark Parry describes Wired for Music as “an enjoyable way to engage with the mysteries of music with extensive notes, references, and an index.”

Published April 2024. View here.

THE TYEE

“Music is a powerful river, able to carve deep channels in the human brain from before we’re born until we slip this mortal coil and go spinning off into the cosmos yodelling disco anthems…Wired for Music brings many of these experiences back in all of their orchestral splendour.”

Review, Oct. 17, 2022. View here.

Also in The Tyee: Wired for Music selected in a list of “novel ideas for your holiday giving.”

Published Dec. 8, 2022. Read here.

The British Columbia Review

“Wired for Music will be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in our connection to music and the physiological and cultural reasoning behind it. Barton’s life experiences contribute a great deal to the content, but it’s her steering of musical subjects through an analytical lens of research and discussion that make for such a great marriage.”

Review, Dec. 16, 2022. Read here.

“make america healthy” on VoiceAmerica radio

Guest appearance on the weekly radio series hosted by Beth Shaw.

Aired Dec. 7, 2022. Listen here.

zoomer radio

Interview with Go-To Grandma host Kathy Buckworth on how music can support healthy aging.

Aired Jan. 14, 2023. Listen to replay to here.

musicworks magazine

“Barton makes a compelling case for music as an essential element of human life and a powerful tool for calming, learning, creating, healing, and connecting.”

Review published in Winter 2022/2023 edition. Read here.

CKNW Radio

Interview about Wired for Music on the Jill Bennett Show.

Aired Oct. 20, 2022. (Replay unavailable.)

the peterborough examiner

Wired for Music named one of five “gift ideas for book lovers.”

Published Dec. 20, 2022. View here.

CBC RADIO

On CBC’s The Current national news and affairs show, host Matt Galloway interviewed me about music for anxiety.

April 3, 2020. Read the transcript here.

Podcasts and websites featuring “Wired for Music”

La scena musicale

Wired for Music described as “required reading for teachers in training, health professionals, and parents” in a review by Andrea Rush (B.Mus, L.Mus, LLM, RMT, and member of the American Musicological Society and Music Critics Association of North America).

Posted Jun. 5, 2024. View here.

science writers and communicators of canada

Wired for Music shortlisted for the 2022 Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Book Awards.

Posted Jun. 5, 2023. View here.

Musical Pathways Foundation

Wired for Music chosen as holiday book recommendation for 2023. Posted Nov. 29, 2023. View here.

my views are my own podcast

Conversation about Wired for Music with Nashville-based podcaster Doug McDonald.

Aired Apr. 23, 2023. Listen here.

artidote podcast (UK)

Interview with Vashik Armenikus, a former broadcast journalist and tech-industry specialist in London, England, whose podcast explores art and philosophy as antidotes to malaise in the modern world.

Posted Dec. 14, 2022. Links to listen here.

telus talks with tamara taggart

Guest appearance on the YouTube series hosted by journalist and media presenter Tamara Taggart.

Posted Mar. 21, 2023. View here.

BIGGER THAN ME PODCAST

Interview on Wired for Music with host Aaron Pete.

Posted May 1, 2023. View here.

NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE SERIES “MEDICINE, ARTS AND #LIFE”

Interview with Dr. Jillian Horton in the episode “Wired with Adriana Barton: Why music changes our brains, and our lives.”

Aired June 9, 2022. View the interview here or listen to the podcast version here.

DEAN’S GRAND ROUNDS (University of Manitoba)

Online discussion of Wired for Music with interviewer Dr. Susan Wingert, in a talk for students and faculty in medicine, healthcare and humanities.

Nov. 28, 2022. View replay here.

key ideas podcast

Conversation on music training and the health benefits of music with piano educator and host Leila Viss.

Posted Feb. 3, 2023. Listen here.

Science for the people podcast

What is music for, how did it come about, and what do we get from it? Interview on Wired for Music with American science journalist and musician Bethany Brookshire.

Released Jan. 30, 2023. Listen here.

the walled garden podcast

Conversation about Wired for Music, new possibilities in music education and the value of reviving Dionysian-style music-making, with Australian poet, musician and philosopher Simon Drew.

Recorded Jan. 24, 2023. Listen here.

MENTAL HEALTH DISCOVERY & RECOVERY PODCAST

Interview with host Mary Joye, a licensed mental health counselor based in Florida.

Posted February 26, 2023. Listen here.

Banyen Books online event and podcast

Guest appearance on the popular “Branches of Wisdom” series produced by Banyen Books (founded in 1970).

Aired Nov. 17, 2022. View here.

“ZERO LIMITS LIVING” vodcast

Guest appearance on the popular series hosted by author, musician and inspirational speaker Joe Vitale.

Posted Dec. 2, 2022. View here.

“Music Buddy” Podcast

“In her remarkable debut book Wired for Music: A Search for Health and Joy Through the Science of Sound, author Adriana Barton guides us through her own personal musical journey, and the many ways in which the brain and music work in harmony.”

Released Nov. 9, 2022. Listen here.

“WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE” PODCAST

Interview with Suzy Rosenstein (“the midlife coach”) in the episode “Making Music Matter More in Midlife with Adriana Barton.”

Aired July 7, 2022. Listen here.

JANEFRIEDMAN.COM

Behind-the-scenes look at the structural devices used in Wired for Music, in a guest post hosted by American author and publishing-industry specialist Jane Friedman.

Posted Mar. 16, 2023. View here.

THE MIRAMICHI READER

Feature Q&A and review of Wired for Music by bestselling B.C. author Bill Arnott.

Q&A posted Apr. 28, 2023. View here. Review posted May 22, 2023. View here.

MUSIC I MISSED (ROCK BLOG)

“Adriana Barton has created quite a wonder here—a book that works well as both a very deep and comprehensive dive into why we humans connect with music and as a frank and personal discussion of Barton’s often painful experiences… It’s that mix that makes this a rewarding read.”

Posted Jan. 14, 2023. Read here.

49thshelf.com

Wired for Music chosen as a prize giveaway by the popular website dedicated to Canadian publishing, along with a list of “Great Books: Music, Science and Memoir” by Adriana Barton.

Posted Jan. 23, 2023. View here.

Book Q&As with Deborah kalb

Interview with American journalist, editor and author Deborah Kalb for her wide-ranging book blog launched in 2012.

Published Dec. 12, 2022. Read here.

DAILY HIve

Wired for Music included in list of “22 truly outstanding Vancouver holiday gift ideas.”

Published Nov. 18, 2022. View here.

legal nomads

Wired for Music chosen as one of five “best nonfiction books of 2022” by lawyer turned traveler and influencer Jodi Ettenberg: “A beautifully-crafted book about how music helps us feel more connected, including how it helps us process social challenges like anxiety and isolation.”

Posted Dec. 20, 2022. Read here.

At the end of the day (substack)

Wired for Music included in “holiday reading list” by journalist, entrepreneur and podcaster Hannah Sung. “Deeply fascinating... It’s filled with musicology research and is also a deliciously readable memoir.”

Posted Dec. 17, 2022. Read here. 

CHAPTERS INDIGO

Wired for Music named one of 16 “Most Anticipated Science” books for Fall 2022.

Sept 5, 2022. View here.