Minnesota-born, London-based alt-pop artist Ber has long enchanted audiences with her relatable storytelling and the yearning, deeply emotional quality of her sounds. Her breakout single, “Meant to Be” with Charlie Oriain, has been streamed nearly 100 million times, and she’s taking the next big step in her musical journey with the release of her debut, Good, Like It Should Be, on April 3.
Consisting of 12 tracks, the album integrates elements of country warmth into her usual alternative pop sound to weave a tale of her story so far. It showcases the strength she’s found in vulnerability as a songwriter as she discovers who she truly is and learns to welcome healthy, healing love back into her life after only knowing the sting of toxic relationships. It’s an ambitious, personal project about growth and personal evolution, settling into the happiness she’s always deserved as she learns to love herself and others, and that true love and joy really can be that simple.
After recently supporting SYML and Calum Scott on tour, she’ll also be heading out on her own U.S. headline tour of support in the album mid-April. Ahead of all of the excitement, we got the chance to chat with Ber to learn all about the new music and what makes her tick. Find out everything she revealed to us as our Woman Crush Wednesday in the interview below.
(Photo credit: Daniela Shella)
Name: Berit Dybing
Hometown: Bemidji, Minnesota
Birthday: April 7
Zodiac sign: Aries sun, Virgo moon, Cancer rising ⭐️
1. On April 3 (just days before her next birthday), Ber releases her debut album, Good, Like It Should Be.
Ber: To me, this album is about letting go and getting out of your own way in order to let the good stuff in. These songs came from an era of my life where I was falling in love for the first time after being really hurt the last time that happened, so the album really feels like a trustfall to me, almost like with each song I was giving myself permission to open the door to new and good possibilities, rather than holding on to things from the past too tightly. There’s songs about long distance, there’s songs about moving on, there’s songs about not taking yourself too seriously, about letting things come to you.
I’m a chronic people pleaser, I love to self sabotage, and I’ll admit, I tend to look for flaws in everything because I get scared of getting my hopes up too high. The title track was the last song we wrote for the album, and I remember just feeling like everything was finally said and it was the missing piece that made everything click into place, making it the perfect summation for the record.
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2. She says that this album feels like the closing of one chapter and the opening of another.
Ber: I’m really proud of this album! It feels very true to where I’ve been emotionally the last two years. It feels like the beginning of a chapter, but also the end. Like I’ve maybe finally accepted a piece of myself with writing it! Many of the songs reference Minneapolis and London, which is where I have split my time during this chapter. I love where the album landed sonically, of that I’m particularly proud I think. I feel like I really stretched myself in ways I never imagined possible, and I’m so grateful to my friends and collaborators who shaped the album with me, they made it all the more special.
3. She doesn’t have any pets, but she wishes she did.
Ber: I currently travel too much to have my own, (we talk about getting a cat all the time), but I’m a proud dog aunt to many lovely pups back home, and I absolutely love being home and spending time with them. My brother has a dog, Sylvi, she’s an adorable Aussie shepherd, and my aunt and uncle have a Portuguese water dog named Tilly, both of which I feel so lucky to have in my life. They are so cute.
4. Her favorite thing about herself is the curiosity she’s held for the world and its cultures since she was young.
Ber: I like that from a young age I’ve always been obsessed with languages and culture and learning about other places. My job allows me to travel quite a bit, it’s my absolute favorite part of my life and I feel so lucky every time I get to go somewhere new.
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5. Her all-time favorite movie is Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.
Ber: Although these days I’m a sucker for the prequels…
6. When she can, she loves to order black olives and pineapple on pizza.
Ber: But only if I’m on my own. Expecting someone to share a black olives and pineapple pizza left my mind a long time ago.
7. She’s had a number of fictional crushes over the years.
Ber: Anakin Skywalker, Edward Cullen, Matt Smith’s Doctor Who… haha
8. She says it’s impossible to name her very favorite song.
Ber: But probably “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA. Or “True” by the Spandau Ballet.
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9. Her current favorite style trend is the return of polka dots.
Ber: I love that polka dots are back. And brown. Anything brown. So chic
10. Her boyfriend, Duncan, makes her laugh more than anyone else.
Ber: He’s genuinely the funniest person I’ve ever met.
11. Ber says the one app she can’t live without is Maps.
Ber: Girl I would be so lost 😂
For even more on the artists who inspire us, click HERE to learn all about “double-edged sword” singer-songwriter Hailey Picardi.
