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July 2009 Featured Artist

OWOA member artist and composer FRED JONNY BERG takes time out of his busy schedule to share a little of himself and his work with us.

Where do you live?

I live in Saltdal, a valley surrounded by mountains, near the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway.

What is your medium?

Some instruments like the piano and the guitar. My main profession though, is composer.

What is your first memory of music?

I think the first song I remember is "Waterloo" by ABBA.

Did you grow up in an artistic environment? Is your family artistic?

Well, my grandfather, Ragnvald, (whom I have dedicated a symphonic poem) was active within theatre and music. He was, and still is, an extremely important person in my life. He always backed me up and shared his enthusiasm for arts and sports with me. When he died, the music from "About my Grandfather" came to me" - I guess as an instant response/obituary to the deep loss I felt.

How do you find inspiration... or rather where do you find it?

It is difficult to explain, but it feels like a breathing situation. I inhale what life has to offer, and exhale what I have to offer life. I often project my feelings concering nature and humanity. I find it natural to see the greatness in seemingly small aspects.

When you compose for film - do you watch the film first or do you have a concept in mind before you begin?

So far, I mostly have the music finished before even thinking of the script/storyboard of a movie. To me, there must be a subjective symbiosis between all artistic elements, e.g. like in the music- and fiction movies MONTAGNA CON FORZA and VICINO ALLA MONTAGNA (to be released this autumn).

What do you consider or remember as your first success as an artist? What was it like the first time you listened to someone else play music you wrote?

It is difficult to find a particular episode. To me, a work is a success if one person tells me he/she has "got it" - and found the inner layers of the music.

Of the roles listed on your CV - composer, textwriter, musician, artist, arranger, producer, stage manager, poet, lecturer, teacher, manager - what is the most challenging? what do you consider your 'first' profession?

The music is per today the fundament in all my activities. As a pictoral artist, I am fascinated by how the human being is surrounded by powerful, mystic nature, while simultaneously time is running out; death is inevitable. Several of these aspects can be found on the recent CD release, FLUTE MYSTERY.

According to your site you are very busy working on a new movie, an opera, a ballet, commissions and several chamberworks - what do you enjoy the most? Which is the most challenging?

The most challenging would be the projects where I have to cooperate with a lot of people. This is the opposite of composing, which I always do alone. But, so far, I still take every production as an interesting challenge - and not a problem.

What's one thing at this point in your life and in your career that you know, and that you wish you had known when you started out?

Things do take time. When I was young, I suffered from serious psychological problems, at the same time having this need to write music. A dynamic and difficult mixture when you wish to be running fast at the same time...

You have created a large body of work already at such a young age - what's next? where do you see yourself in 30 yrs?

If I still am around, I am working and living like I am now. Of course, I am not sure where I live. I feel working with art is more like a lifestyle than a profession anyway. Every day is exiting and full of new impressions waiting to be converted to expressions.

and some 'quick' ones... city or country?

Both, really. I write and breathe everywhere.

Beatles or Beethoven?

If I have to choose: Beethoven.

Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall?

All seasons have their own magic to me.

Glass half-empty or half-full?

Just now: Half-full.

Early bird or Night owl?

Both. So far, sleeping is something I do only when I have to. Quiet night in or night on the town? Mostly quiet nights.

sweet or salty?

Salty.