Bertie Newman has released his new EP ‘Thoughts So Loud’.
Speaking of his new EP, Bertie shared: “The idea for this being the name of the EP arose straight off ‘I Will’. When I first wrote that lyric, it just spoke very personally into my life. I was diagnosed with ADHD last year as a 22-year-old man, which is a relatively late diagnosis as it is usually diagnosed when people are kids as they haven’t had a chance to socially adapt and it seems far more present in their behaviour. Having 22 years of feeling like I was different and had qualities missing and also qualities present that others didn’t, it was a big relief and the start of a journey when I found out. I felt very little empathy but never knew that was the case until I met my partner. This started to form the basis of the EP as she showed me one of the most crucial parts of human existence – how to feel for others. Suddenly I felt anger and sadness on the behalf of this person and I truly had never felt that before.”
To celebrate the EP release, Bertie shared with us 5 tracks that influenced ‘Thoughts So Loud’.
Bon Iver – Skinny Love | Listen via Spotify
This has to be on the list as Bon Iver is my favourite artists ever, but also the choruses really have such a full and raw sound. This is was definitely something I wanted to encapsulate. The scratchy guitars and hard hitting lyrics also inspired me.
David Kushner – Miserable Man | Listen via Spotify
This song was a massive inspiration for ‘Home’ as the light verses and sensitive but full feeling choruses really took me. I also used the very introspective nature of the song to funnel what I was feeling.
The Lumineers – Ho Hey | Listen via Spotify
I really loved the lyrics of this song – the idea that “ I don’t know where I belong” but “I belong with you, you belong with me” was massive influence to me. The main concept of ‘Home’ being that life, no matter how fancy or amazing it is, would always be better with the person you love. This song, production wise also really inspiring with the powerful vocals and chorus feel. The limited instrumentation yet big sound was something I really tried to capture with ‘Home’.
Noah Kahan – Maine | Listen via Spotify
The beautiful simplicity of this song really just says it all. The lyrics describing that yearning to be back in your home town (in my case ‘Home’ personifying the town into a person). I love the soft verses and choruses that sound so sweet and desperate at the same time. I also love the use of the every day object in his lyrics which bring the song back to earth and make it relatable which I really wanted to do.
Sasha Alex Sloan – Hypochondriac | Listen via Spotify
I LOVE this song ! It is all about how she was since reckless and now she has me this person she has become a Hypochondriac’ because there is someone who is worth living for. I felt like I used this with home, trying to describe the feeling that I thought materialistic objects and success would make me happy, but now having found someone who makes me happy without any of that stuff. I love the soft guitars that persist throughout this song as well.
You can stream Bertie Newman’s new EP ‘Thoughts So Loud’ via Spotify below: