As a pioneer of children’s music, Laurie Berkner has been performing and writing music for the past 25 years. She recently launched her 11th album Superhero that’s comprised of all-new and original songs. As an artist that’s always evolving, Berkner is also writing the music and lyrics for her third Off-Broadway children’s musical and working on a series of picture books based on her songs, which will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the release of the song, “We Are the Dinosaurs.” With a few shows in the New York area, we can’t wait to listen to check out her new album and rock out to the songs at an upcoming show. To learn more about Berkner, we had the pleasure to interview her where we discussed everything from her new album and upcoming tour. Read on and be sure to catch Berkner at an upcoming show!
Laurie Berkner Interview
The Weekend Jaunts: What do you love about performing for kids/families?
Laurie Berkner: I love how kids immediately respond to music. While it can take some of them time to warm up at a concert (espeicially if it’s their first time) most kids will just start dancing and moving right away. I don’t have to wait for them to get to their third drink — like I used to when I played in bars and clubs.
I also love watching parents watch their kids. They get so much joy just from being there together and realizing their children are having a blast. (Sometimes I see the adults literally beaming.) It’s even more amazing when parents and kids are dancing, doing hand motions or singing together. I feel privileged to be a part of creating a special experience for them to share as a family.
The Weekend Jaunts: What is the songwriting process like for you?
Laurie Berkner: It’s really different for every song. Most songs start with an idea of what they will be about. Then it could go in many directions. Sometimes I hear a melody in my head, and I try to sing lyrics over it. (I record myself since I never know what’s going to come out, and I have an even harder time remembering afterwards!) Or I might already have some lyrics, so I’ll start strumming on the guitar or plunking away at the piano and see what music takes shape. Sometimes I get lucky, and a phrase or a chorus will come into my head fully formed, along with the music. Walking, biking, or really any kind of moving around, helps free up my creativity a lot. I think the physical rhythm of moving my body inspires ideas. And so does listening to what kids are saying! They are such natural songwriters. (Which means we all are — or at least we all were at one time.)
The Weekend Jaunts. Tell us about your new album? What are some of your favorite songs?
Laurie Berkner: It’s called Superhero. It had been eight years since I released an album where I wrote a completely new batch of songs, and this year it felt like it was time. Superhero has 21 new songs, plus two bonus tracks that were previously recorded but not released on any other albums: “Pool Safely” and “We Are The Dinosaurs – Dance Remix.” (Yes, it is exactly what you think it is). I didn’t set out to write any specific kinds of songs, I just made a list of ideas that I thought would be fun to write and sing about (and that I hoped kids would like as well) and started letting the ideas come. Some songs popped out that were not on my original list like, “I’ve Got So Much To Give.” That was one that came to me fully formed. And others that were on the list never really materialized into full-fledged songs, like one called “Oh Jack, Whoa Jack.” As I always say at the end of the writing process – next album!
The Weekend Jaunts: Where has been your most favorite place to perform?
Laurie Berkner: there have been so many incredible places and amazing audiences that I could give you a long list. Here’s the first one that comes to mind: playing at Central Park’s Summerstage. I had been going to concerts there for years and had always dreamed of performing there. When I played that show I was 8 months pregnant, and it was my last concert before my daughter was born. I just remember feeling jubilant and so grateful to be doing what I was doing, loving being outdoors and enjoying being on that special stage so much. I had the feeling that the people who came to that show were having one of those wonderful experiences that I had had as an audience member at Summerstage, and that I was lucky enough to be a part of making that happen.
The Weekend Jaunts. What are some other projects that you are working on?
Laurie Berkner: Right now I’m working hard on finishing the music for a new family musical called Interstellar Cinderella, adapted from the picture book of the same name by Deborah Underwood. I also have a picture book coming out on March 21st based on my song, “We Are the Dinosaurs.” The release coincides with the 20th anniversary of the album that song was originally recorded for, called “Whaddaya Thing of That?” Additionally, I’m making more audio shorts called “Music You Can Move To” with musical yogini, Kira Willey, that will be airing on Sirius XM’s Kids’ Place Live, and of course, I’m working on a new album!
Laurie Bernkner’s upcoming NYC area shows:
Peekskill, NY: Saturday, April 8 – 11:00 a.m. Paramount Hudson Valley, 1008 Brown Street, Peekskill, NY. Solo show
Princeton, NJ: Saturday, April 29 — 3:00 p.m. McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ. Full band show.
For more info, please visit: https://laurieberkner.com
