On her forthcoming concert at Hofstra University, Berkner said, “Hopefully, there will be lots of dancing and jumping around for the kids. I will definitely do a lot of hits that people come to hear, and then I will be excited to add a couple of new songs that I have been working on. Hopefully, I will have a lot of fun with the kids, and I hope they come ready to dance and sing.”
With this show taking place one week after Father’s Day, the songstress revealed that she will be performing “I Love You Daddy” at Hofstra University.
Earlier this year, Berkner played at The Paramount in Huntington on Long Island. “It was great. I have never been there before. At first it looked more like a nightclub than a theater, but it felt great. The energy in that room was super vibrant and awesome, and people seemed like they were having a good time, and that made me feel good to be there. I really enjoyed it there,” she said.
Her show at Hofstra University will have a different set-list than The Paramount since she looks at the set-lists of shows that she has played in the same area. “I start building the new set-list with the core songs such as ‘Victor Vito,’ ‘The Goldfish’ and ‘Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)’ and ‘We Are The Dinosaurs’) and then, I switch up to the less iconic songs to try to get in ones that people who come to both shows wouldn’t have heard the previous time,” she explained.
Her career in the contemporary music scene has spanned over two decades. Regarding the key to longevity in the music business, Berkner said, “Feeling like every time I sing one of those songs, even though I’ve done them a hundred times before, it still feels new to me. It is fresh every time. I hope that it infuses the experience for everybody. That keeps me excited, and hopefully, the people that are listening too.”
For young musicians, her advice is as follows: “Do what you love, and if you have creative ideas or thoughts, remember to somehow record them on your phone or write them down, or tell them to somebody. Make them real, since it is the sharing of those ideas, the music and the creativity that allows them to grow.”
Many media outlets such as USA Today and The New York Times have described Berkner as the “Queen of Children’s Music.” “That is great,” she said, with a sweet laugh.
She defined success as “Being able to continue to make things, and to affect people in a positive way.”
Digital transformation of music industry
On the impact of technology on the music business, Berkner said, “That has been a real interesting journey. I started with cassette tapes, so in 20 years, the change has been incredible. In the last year in particular, there is a huge number of people going into streaming. Enough people have pushed and now things are changing with streaming, where it can support artists and people feel more free to listen to music. In a very small way, that is still directly supporting an artist, and that is an incredible thing.”
To learn more about Laurie Berkner, her music and her upcoming shows, check out her official website, and Facebook page.
