Barren is an emo rap artist from Massachusetts who began posting music on SoundCloud in 2016. He has crafted a unique blend of emo rap and Midwest emo, gaining recognition for his collaborations with artists such as killedmyself, ʎpoqou, ​yesterdaynj, and ​gizmo.

Barren was exposed to a diverse range of music through his family. His mother was a Bon Jovi fan, his father listened to The Grateful Dead, and his sister introduced him to pop music. In high school, he gravitated toward post-hardcore and emo acts like Counterparts, The Hotelier, and Touché Amoré, which heavily influenced his sound. He also played in his school’s jazz band, an experience he credits with deepening his appreciation for music and teaching him the intricacies of playing the guitar.