Writing A New Chapter: Berna Interviewed

It’s been four years since Berna’s last full-length project and in that time, inevitably, his artistic and personal growth has elevated. A child of grime, we’ve watched as the East London wordsmith stood behind a mic in 2016 for his illustrious freestyle on BL@CKBOX proving his one-to-watch status. Now, a well-respected artist whose ability proceeds him. Berna is a student of the game whose authenticity speaks for itself. In a landscape filled with musical gimmicks, we’re appreciative of those who reign the art form back in its rightful place. Taking his time to experience everyday life and reflect on his career so far, his brand-new mixtape ‘East2Essex’ unravels a more candid side to his story. Documenting his twenty-somethings, Berna walks us through the fierce trials and tribulations, his pivotal move to Essex from Newham and the loss of his brother to where he is now: accomplished and thankful for life. 

Reputable for blending his love for fashion and music seamlessly, Berna recently attended Skepta’s London Fashion Week show for Mains and Ahluwalia’s show with the likes of AJ Tracey, Odeal, Wretch 32, Grace Carter, and more. Officially hanging up his coat and returning to normal duties, the 25-year-old expressed his intentions with consistency and further features, no longer leaving his supporters waiting in anticipation. CLASH got the chance to catch up with Berna in the run up to his latest mixtape, tap in below to see what he had to say.

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Growing up in East London, what kind of music were you introduced to at a younger age? 

Grime, I’m a grime baby! A lot of old school UK rap like Benny Banks, Joe Black, and a lot of American music from people like 50 Cent – but it was mostly grime I won’t lie. My older brother was listening to a lot of UK rap so that’s what I caught onto, but grime was something that I actually enjoyed.

At which point did you start discovering your love for rap?

This goes back to school days. When I was in Primary school, we all used to freestyle on the playground. One of the first things I ever wrote to was Bobby Shmurda’s track ‘Hot N*gga’ and I thought it sounded cold! I had everyone on the playground on their BlackBerrys listening to my remix of it, it was lit! That was the first time I was really freestyling on a beat. 

In your earlier years, were there any artists in particular that helped shape your sound?

When I first started and dropped my BL@CKBOX freestyle I was still very grime influenced. A lot of the bigger grime guys helped shape my sound: Ghetts, Chip, Skepta, D Double E, Wiley, and the whole of BBK. However, I was really influenced by American artists like Meek Mill, who is my favourite. They’ve all influenced how I flow and rhyme. 

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You’re soon to be releasing your ‘East2Essex’ mixtape. Tell us a bit more about what we can expect from it?

I started my career by doing a lot of freestyles and then by dropping one or two songs. When you are freestyling, you are trying to say some of the maddest, hardest, and sickest things quickly in the coolest way possible. When I started to make actual music, I found my sound. The project explores the evolution of me from when I started music, how I came into it and where I’m at now. It will cement who Berna is in people’s heads, what he stands for and how he spits – this is me! When I lived in East London my life was very different to how I live now in Essex. It’s the beginning of where I am now, it’s not an origin story, I’m just showing you every side of me whilst incorporating different experiences.

What was the biggest motivation behind this project?

The biggest motivation was letting the old Berna go. This needed to drop for people to understand that I am no longer the 16-year-old boy that dropped a freestyle in 2016. It illustrates my change from a boy to a man. I needed to close that chapter, and without closing it I don’t think I could continue. 

Walk me through your intentions with ‘Rap Saved Me’, it’s a very candid and vulnerable track. 

It’s a big tune. It simplifies what I’m saying in the entire project but in one track. My life has changed so much since I was 16 and it’s all because I started doing music. Without the music there wouldn’t be a ‘Berna’, it’s understanding, realizing and portraying that to the world. I don’t drop music regularly either and people might think I have a job on the side, but the reality is music has changed my life for the better and that’s what the track details. 

You’ve got Tiny Boost on the project, a real OG in UK rap. What sparked this collaboration? Tiny Boost, he’s a legend and highly credible. I’ve always said that I’m stuck between old-school and new school – I’m in the middle. I can be considered as a new artist, but I’ve been around for a very long time because of how I’ve managed to stay in music. Tiny Boost is someone who’s got a lot of respect from the older generation and someone who if the younger generation haven’t heard yet, will be wowed and think he’s hard.  

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Let’s talk about the visuals for ‘Different’, where was this shot? This collaboration with Glizz has been well received online… 

Fact! It’s one of my favourite tracks on the project. I’ve been listening to Glizz for a while, I really respect his music, and we get on well together. The reason why people like it so much – from the feedback I’ve received – is because what we’re illustrating in the bars, it doesn’t matter what line of work you are in illegal or legal, we’re all different people with different lives and trying to reach the same goal which is success and stability. We shot the visuals somewhere in South London, we kept it simple and effective. A cool white boy next to a black boy, it already screams different! X10 went crazy on the production. It’s funny because at first Glizz didn’t like the track but maybe a month or two later after we made it, he turned around and said it was hard! [laughs] People have been saying we should drop a whole mixtape together, who knows… 

How does this project differ from ‘Poor Little Rich Kid’? 

No one’s asked me that before – hmm! I was still figuring out who I was as a person and an artist in ‘Poor Little Rich Kid’. I was confused. Whereas now, this project has a clear meaning, direction and purpose. People are going to be able to see clearly the evolution that I am getting across. I’m 25 now, I was 21 when I made ‘Poor Little Rich Kid’ – I was still up to bullshit and no good! [laughs] I was closer to the 16-year-old Berna whereas now I am very far from it, and you can hear it. This is the first time I am making continuous music in one state of mind. I’ve bought a product this time around!

I’ve heard you like to refer to yourself as an old man in a younger man’s body, enlighten me… 

I had to grow up quickly! When my brother passed when I was 14, I suddenly became the oldest in the house. My mum would come to me if there was an issue, I  had to pattern up quicker than a lot of people. In terms of the music, because it was still in that grime era I had a lot of older people around me. I was one of the youngest doing it!

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You like to mix both your love for fashion and music into one! What is your go-to clothing brands now? 

I’ve been wearing a lot of Jordan recently. I wear Nike all the time, if it’s not Nike – I mean, I don’t really wear Adidas. Jordan is something I am always rocking. If it’s not the shoes, then I’ve got a tracksuit. On a day-to-day I’m in a tracksuit, as long as it’s comfortable I’m good! I really like Supreme and a lot of streetwear brands. In terms of designer clothing, I love Burberry – I’m tryna go hard with that one! I’ve even got a little nickname I can run with “Burberry Berna” [laughs] I’d like to get into the more bait ones such as Louis Vuitton and Prada. I’m not so picky with clothing, I like to think I can put anything together!

Would you ever make your own clothing line? 

Yeah, 100%! I’ve been plotting, in my head, but it needs to come at the right time. Fashion is something that I love and that’s always the goal for someone who loves clothes. Maybe once people see the consistency in the music, I’ll have more of a leg to stand on with dropping a clothing brand. I’m in no rush, people are always going to need clothes on their back!

Putting the music aside, what do you like to do for fun?

PlayStation, I’m on mine 24/7! I’m very competitive but I’m not a sore loser, I don’t mind taking second place if I wasn’t good enough. Chilling with the mandem, watching Netflix, or playing football. I’m a typical boy still! [laughs]

What else can we expect to see from you this year? 

Definitely a headline show this year it’s been a long time coming. Expect to see a lot more national and international collabs once the project has dropped. The most important thing for me is consistency, I don’t want to let a month or two slide and you haven’t seen Berna!

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‘East2Essex’ is out now.

Words: Elle Evans // @elleevans98

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