Barbara was started by Derek Stephens, a classically trained pianist and folk singer, and Frank Eybsen, a hip-hop producer working a day job in a cubicle.

Before starting the band, Derek, originally from New Mexico, spent a few years traveling the US and writing about his experiences in a series of notebooks. His journeys eventually brought him to California where Frank had been making hip-hop beats for underground rappers for a couple years. After spending some time tinkering with Frank's equiptment in Santa Monica, they found that both their musical tastes had been moving towards experimental and electronic music. Seeing that some of the music they were able to create had some promise, Derek decided to move to Santa Monica and give it a shot.

Once situated, Derek and Frank began to lay the ground work for what would become the Robopopironica EP. They then enlisted the help of Betsy Moyer, who Frank knew from her hook singing on rap tunes. Betsy's voice was a perfect companion to Derek's and she was a welcome addition on the keyboards and glockenspiel.

Preparing for an eventual move to bring the sound to a live audience, Derek returned to New Mexico and brought back with him the drumming talents of Jerrod Thompson.

Now with all the pieces in place Barbara put the finishing touches on their debut EP. In a moment of boredom / drinking they released a Kid Cudi cover to the world to a huge response from the internet.

With the mixing and mastering completed on the Robopopironica EP Barbara has been hard at work writing songs for a full length album.