In an unceremonious, no-hard-feelings kind of way, local melodic-rock band Barcelona and major record label Universal/Motown parted ways. Defying stereotypes set before them by the indie bands of yore, Barcelona claims only to have gained from this one-year partnership and is now striding full-speed into their second record with high expectations.”We all were on a conference call together [when Universal told us they’re dropping us], and the guys from the label hung up and we all just started laughing,” guitarist Chris Bristol said. Chuckling and nodding in agreement, lead singer Brian Fennell added, “We were like, yes, we’re an indie band again!”Having signed on with the label in late 2008, the main concern for the band was to re-release their first record in the hopes of gaining a larger fan base. With full financial support from Universal, Barcelona spent much of the year on tour. In the midst of gaining the experience from their time away, the band learned of some of the difficulties in maintaining strong communication with the record company when their expected radio campaign never happened.”When we were independent, we did a radio campaign on our own for College Radio and Triple A and we had great response all over the country, and you’d think that radio from a major would be even better than that because they have big high friends in high places,” Fennell said. “[The Universal radio guy] was like, ‘We’re going to take over the radio,’ but then [the campaign] just went away.”Marking that as one of their only serious issues with the label, Barcelona seemed to understand the realities and the priorities of large record labels and, like they told SW when they first signed, they appreciated that the company treated and respected them as an indie band. After Barcelona asked to start and finish a second record with the label, however, Universal decided it was time to move on. “We definitely knew our sound wasn’t dominant on their roster, which we thought was a great position to be in … but where they’re making money is on the Kid Cudi release and the Drake release,” drummer Rhett Stonelake said. “It could have been different had Barcelona done a record from beginning to end with them, but for the re-release it was different, and we get that.”When we called Universal, they declined to comment on the drop.Moving on with only positive sentiments about their year with Universal, the band maintains high hopes for the future. When asked what they think most important about the past year and what they expect for the future of the band, each member emphasized different things. “I think a lot of bands have this idea of what it means to sign with a label, and it’s this total fantasy, and we knew that going into it that it wasn’t that kind of fantasy thing,” Bristol said. “But I think in the process of being on a major record label, we experienced first-hand what type of work needs to be put into this, and we realized that now where we’re at, the three of us can do that work on our own.”Stonelake chimed in, saying, “There are so many bands whose stories are ridiculous, like, they change members. We’re just so glad that it’s the original lineup and that there’s such a deep level of respect. And there’s more intimacy in our music; we’ve excelled in our instruments. We’re not college kids anymore, like we’ve seen a bit more life, and I think that’s coming out in how we relate with one another.”Fennell rounded it out, adding, “It was like we were waiting at the door of the second record, and everything’s that happened in the last two months has been like, boom, through the door. … It’s going to be a great year for Barcelona.”