All Female, All Original Rock and Roll Band

l to r:
Kara, Marg, Julie, and Dianne in 1983

Back in 1983 Kara Barnard, Marg Herder and Dianne Steinmetz started playing in a band together. Kara played guitars, Marg played synths and guitars, and Dianne played drums. (Julie Huffaker later joined them on bass). The sound was rock and roll. The music was all original. Though venues that booked all original acts were few and far between at this time in Central Indiana, they managed to play quite a bit at Indianapolis clubs like Labyris, The Hummingbird and Second Story in Bloomington.

l to r: Tammy, Kara, Marg and Dianne

Tammy Decker joined the band in 1984, replacing Julie, playing bass and guitar. Their first cassette release, Software, was the first project recorded at Hit City recording studio in Indianapolis (released in 1984). The cassette featured ten guitar and synth tracks written by the three founding members.

In 1984 Software was selected to appear on the Performer Showcase at the National Women's Music Festival. It would be an understatement to say there was little interest in rock and roll in Women's music at the time. Even so, they packed the room and played a great set.

l to r:
Susan, Dianne and Marg

When Kara Barnard left the band late in 1984 the music became more synthesizer focused, and early in 1985 Susan Lowell was added to the band as a vocalist. While the instrumental focus of the music changed, the quality of musicianship stayed excellent. Their second and final cassette release Future Is Now was released in 1985.

Software playing their last gig live at The Vogue in Indianapolis, during the summer of 1985.

Late in 1985 the band performed their last live gig. Some recording work continued in the next year or two, but nothing else was released.

Listen to Software Music

Click here to download "Trust In Me" from their 1985 release Future is Now.
Sound recording (c) 1985 by Softsound.
Words and Music (c) 1985 by Marg Herder, additional lyrics by Dianne Steinmetz.

Click here to download "Someone is Waiting" also from their 1985 release Future is Now.
Sound recording (c) 1985 by Softsound.
Words and Music (c) 1985 by Marg Herder.

Click here to download "You Are Everywhere" from the 1984 release Software.
Sound recording (c) 1984 by Softsound.
Words and Music (c) 1985 by Marg Herder.

Click here to download "Plastic World" from the 1984 release Software.
Sound recording (c) 1984 by Softsound.
Words and Music (c) 1983 by Dianne Steinmetz, Marg Herder, and Kara Barnard.

Click here to download "Lonely Child" from the 1984 release Software.
Sound recording (c) 1984 by Softsound.
Words and Music (c) 1985 by Marg Herder.

All of the above sound recordings are made available for personal use only. Please do not duplicate or distribute these recordings without permission.
Click here for permission inquiry.

Where Are They Now?

Today Kara Barnard is a successful performer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with several release CDs to her credit. She owns Weed Patch Music Company, a unique music store in Nashville, Indiana.
Click here to visit her website, www.karabarnard.com.

Susan Lowell (now Susan Colin) is a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, engaging performer, worship service leader and Cantorial Soloist, with three release CDs to her credit. Susan is a guest artist in residence at synagogues and churches around the country.
Visit her website, www.susancolin.com, by clicking here.

Marg Herder is the owner of Softsound, an audio recording and consulting business, and CircleWebWorks, a web design business. In 1997 she released a solo recording working under the name of 3rd margaret.
Click here to visit her website, www.3rdmargaret.com.