Benjamin Bencasso Barnes

Benjamin Barnes, known professionally as Bencasso, is an American musician, artist, author, and mental health advocate based in San Francisco. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization Culture Scholar Corporation and the owner of Bencasso LLC. He is known for his work connecting art, music, and mental health, as well as for his autobiographical and educational publications.

Early life and education

Barnes was born on July 22, 1970, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His father, David Barnes, was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and his mother, Lillian La Fayette, was a painter. He began his musical education under the mentorship of Sherry Kloss, a student of violinist Jascha Heifetz. Barnes earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He also studied electric violin, jazz performance, and composition under David Balakrishnan of the Turtle Island String Quartet and obtained a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. In 2017, he served as a consultant for the United States Department of Education.

Career

Barnes was a violinist, lead singer, and songwriter for the band Deadweight, which performed at the Fuji Rock Festival and won the Lucky Strike Band Competition. The band released recordings on Alternative Tentacles and Nippon Columbia. He has collaborated with artists including Les Claypool, Mr. Bungle, The Coup, DJ Disk, Fishbone, Dead Prez, Jason Newsted, and Isaac Stern.

Barnes founded the Rilke String Quartet, which was a finalist in the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition. The quartet has released three studio albums and performs at concerts, private events, and educational programs.

Visual art

Barnes is also a visual artist, working under the name "Bencasso". He received a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission for an artistic project.

Publications

Barnes authored the autobiography Loosened Associations Jazz: Automemoirography of Music, Mischief, and Madness (2024). He also wrote Artistpreneur Economics: A Practical Guide to Thriving as a Creative Entrepreneur, a guide for artist-entrepreneurs.

Political activities

Barnes filed his candidacy for Mayor of San Francisco on March 28, 2023, but it was rejected due to incomplete documentation.