Terri Nunn, the lead singer of the new wave and synth-pop band Berlin, chatted about her latest endeavors.
Music and songwriting inspirations
On her music and songwriting inspirations, Nunn said, “My life, hearing others making music that inspires me, that infiltrates my music and it gives me direction for it and new ways of approaching it. Hearing how others do is really inspiring to me.”
“Songwriting-wise, I am inspired by the music first, even though everybody is different. While Elton John is inspired by the words and putting the music to it, I am just the opposite, I get inspired by music and I write words to that,” she acknowledged.
Background on Berlin
Berlin was founded by lead vocalist and songwriter Terri Nunn, bassist John Crawford, and keyboard player David Diamond. It will forever be recognized as the American progenitor of electro-pop music. Few bands emerging from the era of Berlin have achieved as far-reaching and long-lasting an impact and, rarely, such a timeless array of musical grooves.
A Los Angeles-based band, Berlin made its first national impression with the provocative dance hit “Sex (I’m A…)” from the platinum-selling debut EP Pleasure Victim in 1982.
“The Metro” and “No More Words” were also chart toppers. It was the unforgettable, intimate, and strikingly beautiful love song, “Take My Breath Away” that took the band to another level.
Speaking of “The Metro,” she listed that as her personal favorite song in her Berlin catalog. “I never get tired for it, and the audience doesn’t either. They explode when that one comes on. It is fun to watch,” she admitted.
Key to longevity in music
On the key to longevity in the music industry all of these decades, Nunn said, “Loving it is probably No. 1 because I still love it. I love making music and I am a fan of music, and I still love it. I didn’t know if I would and I definitely didn’t know if audiences would still love Berlin.”
“Also, the audience is still coming to see us, that’s such a gift and we are so grateful,” she added.
‘Take My Breath Away’
The power-ballad “Take My Breath Away” had a defining role in the popular Tom Cruise film, “Top Gun,” and it helped solidify Berlin’s everlasting place in American pop-culture. “People love that song, and I love that too,” she admitted.
The song was a No. 1 international hit and received both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for “Best Original Song” in 1986.
Belin’s discography has yielded 12 gold and platinum album awards. They have put out nine studio albums, two live albums, six compilation albums, two extended plays (EPS), 15 singles, three promotional singles, and 11 music videos.
The digital age
On being an artist in the digital age, now with streaming and technology being so prevalent, Nunn said, “I love it, I really do for two reasons. First, it is so easy to get everything now, and that may be why Berlin is going so strong. More things are easily available now.”
“When I was a kid, my parents’ music wasn’t available, I couldn’t pull it up, I had to go buy it. Now, it is there, and you can pull up anything you want at any moment, and that’s fantastic,” she said.
“Also, another reason why I love the digital age is because you can’t digitize live shows. You can’t replace that live experience and that’s what I love most about music. I love doing concerts and I love going to concerts, they haven’t figured out a way to edge us out of that because the live experience is too unique,” she added.
Jones Beach Theater show
On July 23, Berlin will be performing at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on Long Island, New York, along with Boy George, Culture Club, and Howard Jones. “The fans can expect an evening that is completely unique,” Nunn said. “Culture Club and Howard Jones are two other great and iconic bands.”
“That’s one of the reasons I love doing shows with other bands especially because it is something that will never happen again. It’s an alchemy that happens when different bands play together,” she explained.
“From Berlin, the three original members are back together for a few years now, and there’s a magic that happens that really inspires me because it’s there with the three of us. The fans can expect that kind of alchemy happening as well,” she added.
Cruel World Festival
The band was invited back for a second time (the only band to be asked two years in a row) to perform at the Cruel World Festival alongside Siouxsie Sioux, Billy Idol, and Love and Rockets.
“That was really exciting to me. It was really special. I love that the electronic lovers were there with the goth lovers, especially because there are people that don’t usually come out in the light of day, so it was cool to see them all out,” she said with a sweet laugh.
Advice for hopefuls in music
For young and aspiring artists, Nunn said, “Be unique. Follow your own path and make it as different as you can. If you are unique, you are irreplaceable. If you are doing what something else is doing, then there’s two of you, and you are replaceable. I feel that is one way to have longevity: to do something that is its own thing.”
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Nunn said, “Getting to live long enough to appreciate it,” she explained. “I love that, I am glad I didn’t miss this part.”
Dream duet choice in music
Nunn listed Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails as her dream duet choice in music.
“I asked Trent Reznor once years ago but he turned me down. I did end up working with Andrew Eldritch from Sisters of Mercy. I asked them both at the same time. Andrew and I ended up having a hit together called ‘Under the Gun’ in the UK,” she said.
Success
Nunn defined the word success as “getting to follow her heart and being able to make a living doing it.”
“Thank you for the support, you are the reason why I get to be successful,” she told her dedicated fans. “We are fortunate because electronic music is here to stay.”
To learn more about Berlin, check out their official website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
