[1] Formerly part of the Fence Collective, Mathé first performed as Barbarossa in 2005, releasing his debut EP Sea Like Blood the same year.

Barbarossa employs a mainly minimalistic style to his music, combining delicate synthesizer sounds, ambient backdrops, and light beats throughout much of his first three albums.

Barbarossa released his third album Imager in 2015,[7][2] working with José González, Ash Workman, and Katy Young to create the record.

[8][9] A music video was released for the opening track of the album's namesake, depicting Barbarossa chasing replicas of himself in a forest.

In 2018, Barbarossa returned with his fourth album Lier with producer James Greenwood of Ghost Culture, releasing the track Don't Enter Fear as a teaser in January.

[17] In Season 6, Episode 18 of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother the song Stones from the album Sea Like Blood was used in the ending scene.