Lexi Berg
Interview: Amy Bell
Photo Credit: Parri Thomas
“In the summer, we have the ‘morgondopp’ ritual: getting up early, putting on our bathrobes and clogs, and heading out into the sea whatever the weather. I think everyone who spent lockdown in a city felt a particular appreciation when they escaped into nature. I hope this song moves the listener and reminds us of nature’s ability to heal and restore us emotionally with its magic.”
The Swedish-American singer-songwriter Lexi Berg has enjoyed a wave of discovery in recent months. Her haunting ballad ‘What If’ (produced with Faris Badwan of The Horrors) features in the critically acclaimed Netflix film ‘Pieces of A Woman’. The film has remained in the spotlight throughout award season, picking up countless key nominations at ceremonies including the Oscars, the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes.
By 11 she was performing in churches and concert venues to hundreds of people around her hometown of Stockholm. Just a year later she was a pop singer scouted by record companies but after a family tragedy, she fled to America, then Edinburgh via London, and slowly began to work out who she was as an artist away from the input of others. In 2019, she self-released her debut single What If, as Berg, a haunting ballad produced with ‘The Horrors' Faris Badwan that's since taken on a life of its own via the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed drama, Pieces of a Woman. Lexi is set to step fully into the spotlight as she shares her new single ‘Into the Sea’. ‘Into The Sea’ is taken from her upcoming EP ‘Empire of One’. The powerful track is the first release under a new deal with the Warner Music UK label East West Records.
Hi Lexi! Thanks for talking to ReVamp Magazine today. What inspired you to write ‘Into The Sea’ & ‘Midnight Sun'?
I grew up on a houseboat in Sweden, so I was always by the sea and amongst nature. Lockdown in London revealed how much we all relied on nature for our mental health. I wanted to write about the magical healing powers nature has. Both Into the Sea and Midnight Sun are my escapes to the Swedish landscape.
The music video to ‘Into The Sea’ is breathtaking and very picturesque. How did you come up with the idea? Where did the inspiration come from?
“Into the Sea” is about escaping the boundaries of the city and fleeing to the sea. Drew Cox, the director and I had many long conversations about the ancient and mystical character of the sea. We wanted something powerful and strong.
What would you want your listeners to take away from your music?
I would love my songs to open up the hearts of the listeners and allow them to feel emotions and perhaps even release them into the worlds of the songs.
Tell us about your upcoming EP…
The EP is a nostalgic reflection on the past year of lockdown. Each song is its own magical world.
Are there any artists who inspire you?
I love the classic music and songwriting of Fleetwood Mac, Abba, & Kate Bush.
Now, let’s talk about ‘What If’ being in the Netflix Film ‘Pieces of a Woman’. What was your reaction like when you found out your song is in a huge movie that has been nominated for Oscars, BAFTAs and the Golden Globes?
I was over the moon! So exciting to be part of such an amazing project on such an important topic.
Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you.
I have a degree in History with a focus on War and Genocide from Edinburgh University.
Lastly, is there anything you would like to tell your readers?
These songs are little pieces of my heart that I hope allow listeners to feel into their own emotions and escape into the music. I hope the music moves you.