In Conversation With #252 - Bertie Newman
Singer-songwriter Bertie Newman explores relationships, anxiety and ADHD on new indie-folk EP ‘Thoughts So Loud’.
When there’s an invisible barrier between yourself and everyone else, how do you make your experiences heard and understood? Art is one such medium that can bridge the gap and music is an especially powerful conduit. This is something that 22-year-old singer-songwriter Bertie Newman discovered long before his ADHD diagnosis, which only happened at the age of 22. Feeling different and not knowing why, Bertie picked up his acoustic guitar and a pen to begin processing his individual experience. The resulting piece of work is his evocatively named Thoughts So Loud EP.
He took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Berite - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
I am doing well thank you, just trying to live the best I can. It feels amazing ! I didn’t honestly think I would have an actual body of work out ever, so it’s surreal for sure.
It is called ‘Thoughts So Loud’ - what is the meaning behind that?
The name originated directly from the song ‘I Will’ which says ‘Thoughts so loud’ within the second verse. I thought it was a perfect name as I had been diagnosed with ADHD just last year and it explained exactly how I have felt for my whole life. Its pretty self explanatory but also something I hadn’t really heard before !
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
So it was recorded between two home studios with two producers and I loved every second of it ! I think the best story was Wasted On Me, where we decided to do a session on the hottest day of the year last year with no aircon or fans, in what was the hottest studio ever. But even thought we were absolutely sweltering, we had the best time. Had to take many breaks just lying still on the floor lol.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
I really wanted to get across the notion of juxtaposition - I wanted to really highlight the lows that attract the highs, the hardships which then bring peace etc. I wanted to make it feel ultimately positive even with not so positive situations ! There were so many influences. Mainly lots of folk and country music.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Oooooo, I have actually thought about this before - I wanna say that it would be some dark romantic thriller kind of thing.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
I think it has to be “I’m just a machine and you’re all the parts that I will ever need”. I love it because it just explains perfectly what I was feeling at the time. It is interesting yet simple enough to understand.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
MORE MUSIC !!! Writing writing writing x
