From Richmond to the Multiverse: A Chat with Steve Barnes of Sweet Child of Time
Episode #0022
Some voices just have that thing—resonance, presence, a kind of warmth that sneaks into your ears and stays there. Steve Barnes, host of Sweet Child of Time and creative force behind Introvoid, has exactly that kind of voice. But don’t let the soothing tones fool you—this guy’s story is anything but one-note.
In Episode #0022 of Whereabouts Tales, Steve joins Paul for a meandering, nostalgic, and beautifully honest chat that spans everything from low-fi music experiments to the shifting sense of community in America’s suburbs. And you know what? It’s the kind of episode that makes you want to pause whatever you’re doing, lean back, and just listen.
Neighborhood Blues and Bedroom Beats
Steve grew up in Richmond, Virginia—a place that's got grit, culture, and, as he jokes, a song about it that might as well be about him. But it’s not the skyline or the southern drawl that shaped him—it’s the apartment blocks of his childhood, the DIY ethic of his music scene, and, oddly enough, a four-track cassette recorder gifted by a longtime friend.
That four-track didn’t just record music. It launched a journey.
Introvoid—his solo project—is a mash of genres: synth, doom metal, horror rap, experimental noise. Or, as Steve puts it with his signature modesty: “low-fi, experimental, crappy.” But there’s power in that lo-fi sound. It’s music unshackled from expectations, built not for charts but for expression. “If you love it,” Steve says, “that’s all that matters. Someone else will love it too.”
Podcasting as a Portal
Steve’s other creative venture, Sweet Child of Time, started with a simple idea: introduce a friend to The Wheel of TimeTV series and document the journey. From there, it grew—season recaps, fan theories, even deep dives into lesser-known shows like 1899. The latter catapulted his podcast’s audience from dozens to thousands, purely because no one else was covering it at the time. It’s a lesson in niche power, consistency, and the accidental magic of timing.
But it’s not just about the shows. It’s about storytelling—the kind you can relive, dissect, argue about, and carry with you. “I only review things I like,” Steve says. “And I like giving myself homework.”
Balancing Art and Real Life (Hint: Time Audits Help)
Steve’s no full-time artist. He’s got a day job, a family, and the same 24 hours we all do. So how does he keep creating? Three words: time, intention, and trade-offs.
He cut back on scroll-time by using digital wellness apps to track it.
He turned static waiting time—like skate practice drop-offs—into creative time.
And when the edits started eating his days, he outsourced. “Money can’t buy happiness,” he says, “but it can buy you time.”
It’s a refreshingly unpretentious take on productivity. Less hustle, more harmony.
Community, Then and Now
One of the most touching threads in the conversation is about community—the one Steve grew up with in an apartment complex teeming with kids, single moms, and elderly neighbors. A place where everyone said hi, checked in, and picked each other up (literally—once, after Steve stepped on glass).
Now, decades later, it’s not quite the same. The suburbs are quieter. The streets emptier. “You don’t see kids outside anymore,” he notes. “Just houses, cars, and silence.”
But in some ways, podcasting has filled that gap. “I’ve talked to people from Australia, Norway, New Zealand… I’d never have these conversations without podcasting. It’s opened my eyes.”
Final Notes and Favorite Tracks
Toward the end, Steve shares two songs he’s most proud of: “Stone Broke,” a gritty, riff-heavy track, and “Wishing Well,” a hauntingly good cover featuring his cohost Lindsay. Both tracks reflect the core of what Introvoid is: personal, raw, and unfiltered.
Oh—and he does think about live shows. Maybe someday, with Lindsay or his wife on vocals (though she’s not into the spotlight). Until then, it’s all about joy. Not claps, not clicks. Just joy.
Want More?
Check out Steve’s work at sweetchildoftime.com or look up Introvoid and Sweet Child of Time wherever you get your music or podcasts. Trust us—you’ll want to stay for the story.
