Interview with Berner Trail

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? 

• It was a mixture of our parents and video games. Nate would be live-streaming on Twitch, Spencer would be a Kaczynski-esque hermit hiding away (minus the mailing of bombs), and Aaron would be a disc jockey in some no-name hell-hole. 

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• Spencer dreams of concrete, Nate is glued to his computer and Aaron moves skids around, as you can probably imagine, this doesn’t influence our music. Our influences are environmental. 

How long has your band been around? 

• The group was started in 2015 and went through multiple sound and line-up changes over the years. This resulted in the current sound and line-up, which has evolved over time. 

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

• Scarborough, Toronto’s dingy eastern quadrant. The environment has often been a catalyst for us lyrically. 

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• The Berner Trail name came about during a group discussion with friends. We grew up on that street, spent our formative years there with friends, and it’s where the first jam sessions happened. The name is a love-letter to our past and we wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• Our most memorable show was at The Baby G in Toronto. This one stuck out due to the caliber of talent on display. The three other bands were ones whose music we admired and whom we respect deeply (The Kaspers, Fighting Chance and The Howlin’ Gales). 

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• Our favorite venue to play at is either Toronto’s Lee’s Palace or Oshawa’s Atria. We’d love the chance to headline a show at Wembley Stadium. 

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• The Howlin’ Gales, Propter Hawk, Fighting Chance and Berner Trail…. at Wembley Stadium. 

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• Make an online presence your biggest priority, second only to being great at your instrument. As far as advice for our younger selves: Invest in Amazon stock, because the music journey isn’t cheap. 

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• Also invest in Tesla. 

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

• They all mean a lot to us, sometimes in different circumstances, but our lyrics and music are very personal. 

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• Our two favorite songs to play are ‘Sleep Till The Afternoon’ and ‘ Tell Me How You’re Doing’. Most requested is an old tune from our first CD which we don’t play anymore ‘It’s Okay John’.  

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• Writing music is the closest thing to being schizophrenic. The songs are like annoying inner voices that are constant and never ending. Writing music is painful but you hope what you write can bring others joy or inspiration. 

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• Hope during hopeless times, without being preachy or utopian. 

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• YES, every day. We get by by arguing, name-calling and the ultimate realization that we all want what’s best for the group, sometimes we just need convincing from other members. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• Making more music, we have tons of songs/music videos on the backburner. As for spotlighting things to come, we have a show at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern coming up on June 30th which we’re very excited for. Bands on the bill are: Oakridge Ave (from Kingston), Huttch (from Windsor), Vivienne Wilder (From Toronto) and yours truly Berner Trail (from Scarborough).

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• Our instagram (Berner_Trail) and our website (Bernertrail.com) is the best way to contact us or keep up to date with all things Berner Trail.