John Berge

John Berge from Oslo, Norway enters the music

scene with the singles «Start to Wish» and «Devil May Care», released on Spiked Records.

Along with renowned English producer Robbie Bronnimann (Sugababes, Nicki Minaj, Andy Hunter, Howard Jones) he’s been working on a selection of tracks from a well of over 150 songs.

– That’s a lot of songs!

– Yes, I know. And there might be 150 unfinished ones. Amazingly, the tracks we ended up with were all written either quite early in my songwriting timeline or just recently. I’m very content with releasing «Start to Wish» as the first single. It’s a happy, high-spirited song that catches me at my most upbeat, Berge says.

The tracks have all been recorded in Bronnimann’s studio in Somerset, England, where also all the vocals have been performed during Berge’s various trips to the home country of pop music.

- Robbie’s been a total pro in enhancing the essence of each song, and his coaching has really made my vocals better than ever, Berge says.

– I met Robbie through MYSPACE and we hit it off immediately after our first meeting.

The sound emerging from the UK recording sessions is both new and modern, although strong influences from pivotal acts in the pop canon shine through: The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Supertramp, ABBA, a-ha, Alphaville, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears – only to name a few, but also fresher artists such as Keane and Darren Hayes.

Nevertheless, the final expression is Berge’s very own. No one sounds quite like him on today’s music scene – while at the same time sporting such apparent references to the pop classics. 

The producer puts it this way:

– John had a body of quality pop songs which I realised were just waiting to have their potential unlocked. Added to that he has a voice which seems somehow familiar yet distinct in its own right. The combination of the two created a sound that has its roots firmly in the world of 80's pop & beyond yet manages to have a modern contemporary resonance, Robbie Bronnimann says and adds:

– He is truly passionate about his work.

As stated by Berge himself:

– I've been a pop music fan all my life. For me there’s simply no better music than what I refer to as «classical pop» – it’s a work of art for me. I don’t try to mimic any of those legendary acts, rather I stay true to my own visions. And quite often people hear the influences in my melody lines, and I can't say anything else to being honoured by such compliments.

Releases by John Berge:

© Spiked Records 2011