introducing… bearniez
We sat down with Bearniez, an Italian-Indonesian pop artist who wants her music to represent the movies and stories that live in her head, the feelings she gets from those and how she interprets the world surrounding her.
@rozanmae via Bearniez’s instagram "@bearniez’’
1.Introduce yourself
I’m Bearniez, a half italian and half indonesian singer-songwriter and producer based in Barcelona. I was born and raised in Milan, lived some years in London and now built my home studio in Barcelona.
2. What inspires your songwriting process, and how do you come up with new ideas?
I try to envision my life as a movie and when I write my own music, I try to give different movies in my head a soundtrack, something that people can have as a background song while having a certain experience. I try to think about a certain experience or feeling I want people to hear about and through a mental movie, give it an interpretation and story.
3. What inspired your most recent track (as of interview) “Villain”?
“Villain” has been to me a song about learning how to let go of some people in life. It explains how sometimes choices you make bring you to becoming a Villain to the sight of everyone else, just based on an exterior judgement. This for me was a topic that had touched me in the period I wrote it so I wanted to present this through a chorus which to me is closest to the film
“Joker”; “laughing and crying for no reason” and “loving and hating all my own seasons and versions”.
4. What inspired you to write music in the first place?
I’ve always loved personal expression through arts and writing music for me has always been the closest form of connection I felt. The whole process behind creating a track, the collaboration with other artists who vision the same topic yet in different forms has always been very fascinating. Every step of the creation of a song is mesmerizing to me and being able to be part of this whole intertwining of creative thoughts and feelings is what inspires me to write.
5. How has your music style evolved over the years?
I started off with my first single being synth-pop oriented. I’ve then managed to merge with other team members who had experience in the dance industry and it has moved in that direction, making it possible to try different inputs and directions and evolve to what I do now. Artists, being eclectic, like to fluctuate a lot based on what inspires them in that period so I’ve had some more funky songs too on the way and plan to put my input on more music styles.
6. What got you into production?
My father has been working quite some years in the music industry and, although he tried to find a different work path, I’ve always been very much into music. I’ve always been fascinated by the amount of work there is in creating the top hits you hear on billboard, the idea of working in teams and creating something big has gotten me into starting sound engineering and music production.
7. Tell us 5 beginner tips for self production!
Have a good listening system
Always use references
Work with different artists and producers to amplify your horizons
Either learn how to play an instrument or find someone loyal for good samples
All DAW’s are okay, as long as you’re confident with one of them enough to make what you want!
8. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I do have quite a lot, also because I’ve gone from
listening to more genres during my growth, considering the fact that my father grew me with metal music and my
mum with a lot of japanese music. I do look up to Jorja Smith, Khalid, Casiopea and Kaytranada lately.
9. What's your favorite part about performing live?
The energy the audience shares in the same room while listening to what you want to tell them through music. The whole jamming situation that is created with the band is also very pleasing.
10. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable concert experience?
In terms of live sound engineer, I have a very funny one where I got dressed as left shark for a festival and made sound for the band with it. Everyone was very hyped about it and it made me very happy, also as the sound came just as everyone was looking for from the band!
11. What challenges do you face as an artist and how do you overcome these challenges?
I feel the constant search for approval online through stream numbers and social media has been a big challenge for most artists, as many smaller artists have so much to offer yet being seen is so hard. It’s a constant psychological battle to find motivation in certain moments but a reminder is always why I’m making music to help me overcome this.
12. What role do you think social media plays in an artist's success, and how do you use it to connect with fans?
Social Media can both be your biggest luck or your biggest nightmare. It’s a great way to connect with new audience and interact with your fans which is the up side of it but when all the effort is put on these platforms without always having the wanted feedback can sometimes become a block for the creatives.
13. What music do you listen to in your free time?
This varies a lot, depending also on who’s surrounding me. I tend to listen to a lot of prog rock when I haven’t seen my brother for some time. I really like funky 80s music when I’m home alone but I always like sharing music listening moments with others and hear what they have to offer and what could inspire me for the next singles. Lately, as I’ve started collaborating with a South African producer, Amapiano has been on my playlists as well.
14. Amapiano is cool, what are your thoughts on it being the latest breakout genre?
The world really needed something new and Amapiano opens the door to so many other African genres and artists which I believe is an amazing opportunity for all the very talented artists that want to be heard globally.
15. How would you define success?
I feel for me success would be to work with and collaborate with a group of very talented artists and create music that is of a very high quality and gets recognition by people who can feel the song. I really appreciate team work and having to collaborate with those who work in the top level industry is a very big achievement.
16. If you weren't a singer, what job would you have?
Probably Ice cream maker, I love seeing people happy and connecting with them through ice cream. I’ve worked some time in an ice cream shop to learn about it and the interaction with customers and it personally gave me so much joy. I’d love to open a gelateria in my 50s.
17. What's your favourite ice cream flavour?
Yogurt is my favorite flavour, then probably also ricotta with fichi and lavender. I just like most flavors when the icecream is good.
18. Tell us about your favourite Italian dishes!
My favorite italian dishes are probably Pizzoccheri, Trofie al pesto and cacio e pepe. I’ve grown in Italy most of my life and these dishes meant home to me.
And Indonesian?
My favorite Indonesian ones instead are gado-gado, ketoprak, gudeg. Indonesian food has such a balanced mix of flavors and spices which makes it always so special. My mum always cooks me these dishes and it makes me feel home when I’ve been away for longer periods.
19. What's next for you in terms of music releases, tours, or collaborations?
I’m releasing a song in June with the producers of Dave Rodgers and Contini, which are between the main producers of Super Eurobeat, a genre that has been used a lot on anime Initial D. I have many songs on the way but these are all surprises so keep posted!
20. Do you have a final message for your fans?
Firstly, thanks to those who are supporting me daily and adding my songs to your playlists, I hope these will be soundtracks to some periods of your life. Secondly, eat gelato, the good one!
