Artist Spotlight: Bert
A sprawling concoction of refined warmth, Bert’s voice greets you like an old friend, spinning their tales of inconvenience and endearment over a £3.30 pint of Carling.
The Brighton-born, Leeds-based multi-talented artist has recently dropped his debut EP It’s all gd dw via Pit favourite label Well Overdue. A rich, intricate and vivid trek through grassy narratives, Bert stumbles through his young adult life with familiar unease, passion and wonderment. The light, colourful soundscapes dilute some of the deeper lyrical themes, allowing the listener to subjectively appreciate Bert’s introspection and journey towards contentment. He is a charismatic story-teller whose honest musings about love, loss and life come wrapped up in nonchalantly blasé vocal performances, creating an easy going and engaging style.
I sat down with Bert to discuss his wide ranging style and influences, his inwardly looking writing style, and his charming new EP.
Musically, who significantly influences you?
I take influence from a weird blend of hip hop, singer/ songwriter and Indie music. A Tribe Called Quest, Mac Miller, The Streets, Little Simz, Laura Marling, Nick Drake, Thom Yorke to name a few.
Where do you see yourself within the UK scene?
Right now it’s hard to define as I feel a bit under the radar, but I think once the EP has lived a little and as I play more shows, I hope to be popping up and collaborating wherever possible.
You are impossible to pin down to a specific genre. Do you consciously try to stand out stylistically or do you simply create and it turns out that way?
I think it’s a bit of both, I listen to a lot of UK Hip Hop and I love it but I think a lot of the Boom Bap stuff can blur into one so I wanted to distance myself from that and put my own touch on it. Saying that, I also think it’s just a natural outpour; I don’t really have a particular planned out vision when I’m writing.
How did being brought up in Brighton shape your musical and personal outlook?
Well I’m actually from a town just outside of Brighton called Lewes but yeah I think it massively shaped what I create now. My mum is a musician/dancer and my dad is a clown (genuinely) so I was surrounded by music and creative environments when growing up. Brighton is full of amazing artists who I definitely took inspiration from, especially Concept Of Thought and Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn. Also shout out Illiterate and Yogocop for putting me on since day one.
There is a subtle and gentle approach to your tunes, does the timbre of your music represent you as a person?
I would say yes in the sense that when I’m feeling down or vulnerable this is mirrored in my music, but my mates would probably say no because I can be loud and annoying haha.
The new EP is seriously impressive. What are the main themes and motifs?
Thank you very much! I think the project as a whole is an honest expression of my thoughts, feelings, mental health, separation, self-dependence, family and everyday life, while still trying to have some beats that make your head bop.
Talk me through the reasoning of the EP title ’It’s all good, dw’?
I found myself often sending or receiving those words in a text. Often when someone asks if I’m ok and I don’t want to unpack all the mess I will bat it off with ‘It’s all gd, dw’ and vice/versa. This stuck with me and I feel like it fits with a lot of the topics on the EP.
The production is so varied! What was the recording process?
Most of the tracks have been made in various bedrooms across Leeds over the past 2 and a bit years, many hours of noodling about and deleting things until it sounds good. I study Music Production so also have access to the studios at my uni which is where most of the mixing occurred - shout out to my tutors Chris Milnes and Tom Trueman who both taught me a lot and are a big part of why the EP doesn’t sound like shit haha.
To me, the EP feels really personal and inward looking. Do you find it easier to express yourself through music?
Yeah for sure. It’s cheesy but music is my therapy (as well as actual therapy, that shit works), the hard stuff just comes out when I’m writing, and almost always feel better after getting it out and turning it into something creative.
Most of your tracks seem narrative driven lyrically. Do you channel events of your past to create these stories?
I won’t dive into details but yes, each song is based off my own experiences, relationships, family and struggles I have with my mental health. I try to be honest and real in my lyrics and hopefully that is heard by the listener and they can relate to it.
My personal favourite from the EP is Rest. Talk me through the process and ideas behind the song?
That track is one of the first ones I wrote, it came from moving to Leeds and being blown away by the people that surrounded me and the support I felt and wanted to give back. I love jungle/dnb so I guess the switch up at the end is a little nod to that.
Really liked the features on the project, why did you choose to feature Swifty Blu and Adam Ash?
They’re both stupidly talented artists who happen to be my best friends! Me and Michael (Swifty Blu) went to school together and have been making music together for years. We wrote ‘Tagliatelle’ when we were living together in Leeds, that song holds a very special place in my heart as it’s a symbol of a truly lovely time in my life. Adam Ash is another old friend and collaborator, he showed me what is now the chorus for stars and I instantly wanted to do something with it.
Who’s your dream collaboration?
There’s a long list haha, but let’s say quickly, quickly because I’m addicted to his album.
If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?
I think I’d play them 44 Save All, it covers all bases.
When and where can we see you live?
The EP launch show is at Next Door Records was 17th Feb, after that I’ve got a few things in the pipeline so keep your eyes peeled!
What’s to come from you?
Already working on some new stuff with some exciting collabs, planning to play a bunch more shows this year and just keep moving!