THERE is always a song. No matter the situation – joyous, tragic and everything in between – there is always a song that speaks to the moment.

For many, the feeling is geared towards a period in time: the soundtrack to the summer, an ode to a significant other, or a reminder that everything will be okay again.

Pain and suffering can be great motivators and for songwriters they can be spark something comforting. If anything were to come from tragedy or heartache, it would be a safety net for those dealing with the same problems. For some, it may prove pivotal.

Cameron Barnes has been writing songs for years, drawing on his own experiences. The Fife man has been a piper, an actor, a musician and is always one to reach out and try new things.

For all his exploits, he has never forgotten his routes and those who knew him before he knew himself.

His latest single Old Friend was released last week and tells the tale of enduring friendship. It explores childhood relationships and how two people can drift apart over time.

At its core is a reminder than no matter the distance, no matter how long it has been since two old pals had spoken, there is always an unbreakable bond.

And, perhaps most importantly, it is never too late to ask for help.

"Life is a beautiful gift," Barnes tells The Weekender as he delves into growing concerns that many people don't ask for support when they so need it most. Man-up culture may well have cost so much anguish as toxic masculinity continues to serve as a barrier for oceans of struggling men.

"It's becoming all too common now," he continues. "That's definitely the message I want people to take. When you feel awful you only see the negatives in your head. Speaking to people helps you see the positives."

Old Friend was a long time coming: Two years with countless revisions in that time. Barnes admits that finishing the song proved difficult as he couldn't quite get the sentiment right.

It was released last Friday and put a fire under audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Barnes adds: "I think because the song was so personal to me, I really struggled to finish it. I played it at my sold out King Tuts show because my pal came to the gig, even though the song wasn't finished, and people connected with it.

"I totally bluffed the second verse and made it up on the spot – I don't recommend this! It luckily worked out for me and we done a grand job."

The singer continues: "This has been a strange release for me, in all honesty, I'm normally super excited but I'm more nervous about this and I've recorded it the way I have for different reasons! I've thrown everything at it – I'm hoping the song can really resonate with people."

Over lockdown, Barnes has been fusing ideas from Scottish folk with Americana and traditional country. It was an idea borne from curiosity but soon found a welcome home with users on TikTok. Before long, he had picked up 70,000 followers who were drawn by the unique tones and flavour.

He recalls: "When I started covering country songs on TikTok it all clicked that folk music and country and really not that far apart. It all made sense..."

The Fife man then found his work on its way to Nashville to be get the proper country treatment.

"I've been lucky enough to visit the states a few times over the years and there's one thing I've noticed and that is they love Scottish and Irish people," he says.

"Everyone has Celtic routes. Country with a Scottish accent, for me, was getting some attention on TikTok so I thought I would give this track a country twist.

"I had an incredible musician from Nashville play steel on the track and it was mastered there. Working with the country musicians has been a joy."

Barnes is well-known for his versatility and is never shy at working on new projects. With lockdown taking over, he paired up with actress Blythe Duff to record a cover of Fairytale of New York at Christmastime. It was another well-received effort, but there is always something else in the works.

The singer also recently took up the role of singing barber as a means to occupy his time and give him an excuse to let loose his need to entertain.

"I just tried to knuckle down and be as productive as possible," Barnes recalls.

"The Christmas song was so much fun. Me and Blythe genuinely had the best time recording and filming the video and the response was out of this world.

"And, to be honest, I always loved the idea of having a barber shop. Somewhere to put my guitars – a cool social hub. Somewhere for people to come socialise, vent their troubles, moan about the world, listen to music, and leave with a cracking haircut. I feel barbering can go hand in hand with music. When all my gigs got cancelled this was the prime time to put the wee side dream into action."

Indeed, much like everyone else, Covid robbed Barnes of some huge shows over the last year or so. The Mash House was already sold out and ready to go, but his fanbase will have to wait until later this year.

However, it's not just his solo music career that the performer is excited about as he has plans to get back into theatre in the near future as well.

He says: "My shows have now been moved to October; I'm feeling positive this time, though. Fingers crossed.

Being on stage is my favourite thing," he continues. "I love performing, whether that's with music/theatre/barbering. I genuinely just love the show. It's the biggest buzz and best feeling in the world.

"I've been dancing in my flat for two years haha! My moves are on point! I'm ready when the stage is."

On his return to theatre, he adds: "I was meant to be touring with the National Theatre of Scotland's productions of Cheviots and The Black Oil, so that's getting re-arranged and I will be singing at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland for a few weeks which is exciting."

Cameron Barnes will play a sold-out show at The Mash House in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 16.

Tickets are currently available for his gig at The Tunnels, Aberdeen on Friday, October 15.

Cameron Barnes – Old Friend is available now.