Name: Amain Berhane aka Berhana
Nationality: American-Ethopian
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Current release: Berhana's new single "Break Bread" is out via EQT. Full-length album Amén: የዘላን ህልም will follow on October 20th 2023. Pre-save here, and order a physical copy or merchandise at the Berhana store.
Recommendations: Wede Harer Guzo by Hailu Mergia

If you enjoyed this Berhana interview and would like to keep up to date with his music, visit his official homepage. He is also on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, and Soundcloud.



When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

It just depends. I don’t experience music the same way every time I listen. Sometimes colors, sometimes a scene, other times a memory.

What were your very first steps in music like and how would you rate the gains made through experience - can one train/learn being an artist?

Something like feeling my way through a dark room. I think you can always train and learn whatever you do.

I think for me something that was important was learning to let go and allow space for ideas to come up on their own.

According to scientific studies, we make our deepest and most incisive musical experiences between the ages of 13-16. What did music mean to you at that age and what’s changed since then?

At that time, I was always listening to music. Headphones on everywhere I went.

I don’t think too much has changed other than my taste which has expanded a bit.

To quote a question by the great Bruce Duffie: When you come up with a musical idea, have you created the idea or have you discovered the idea?

Discovered.

What, would you say, are the key ideas behind your approach to music and what motivates you to create?

I guess authenticity feels most important.

I’m not sure what motivates me other than I just feel like I have to.

Paul Simon said “the way that I listen to my own records is not for the chords or the lyrics - my first impression is of the overall sound.” What's your own take on that and how would you define your personal sound?

I get that.

For me, I think it’s a feeling that Im looking for. That’s what I get from the overall sound.

Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you've had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?

I’ve always loved birds.

How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? Can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?

I think we can learn a lot about ourselves through music - or really art in general.

From very deep/high/loud/quiet sounds to very long/short/simple/complex compositions - are there extremes in music you feel drawn to and what response do they elicit?

I’ve always liked opposites coming together. Things you maybe think shouldn’t work, but for some reason do.

Could you describe your creative process on the basis of one of your pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?

With this album, I tried not to think too much while in the beginning.

It wasn’t until closer to the end where I started to consciously tighten everything up.

Do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?

Sometimes it can be fun to make your own prompts while creating and see what happens.

If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?

I don’t think I have one.

Every time I listen to "Albedo 0.39" by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a way that you can't explain?

Sometimes words get in the way.

Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru is an artist in particular that always gets to me. A lot of classical/jazz pieces are like that as well.