Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Berger
Richard, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started writing music when I was a teenager. After college, I was in an original band called Shrinking Violets. We played in the East Village in NYC and some other spots in NJ. While I had always had that dream of being discovered and signing that ever-so-coveted record deal, I decided to pursue music as a part-time hobby and focus on a “real” career at the intersection of entertainment and technology.
While working full-time as a technology executive, I continued to write and record music for years, but it wasn’t until 2018 that I released my first EP “Not There”, and I have been releasing music consistently every year since then. My second and latest album, “Retrovert” was released last May in 2024, and I just released my new single, “Look Around” a few weeks ago in February 2025.
Now that I am older, I can reflect back on my journey as an artist and while I don’t have any regrets, I sometimes wonder what might have been if I took the leap and decided to pursue music full-time. I suppose it doesn’t really matter now, so I am looking forward, not backward.
Looking ahead, I think the dream for me remains living the life of a full-time artist…in a way where I don’t have to worry about making money.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think when I decided to put music on the back burner and focus on my “real” career, there were long stretches when I completely lost the creative flow. Between raising a family and working a full-time job, it was hard to find time to focus on music.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a songwriter/producer first, keyboard player second, and initially reluctant but now maybe just a shy vocalist. While I’m still working on becoming known for my music, I am most proud of my songwriting. In a recent review from The MIC Mag (themicmg.com), they said, “Berger’s music transcends decades, blending genres into an intricate tapestry of indie, neo-psychedelic synth pop, alternative modern rock, jazz, and R&B.”
My dual life as an artist/technology executive gives me a unique perspective when creating music. My appreciation for “the retro” combined with a modern sensibility helps me to create something I think is unique. And, I think I am still a late bloomer. I have more inspiration and more to say now than ever before in my life. I can’t wait to work on the next song. And I am working to form a new original band to play live again. It has been too long.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Well, as I mentioned earlier…aside from being a songwriter/artist, I have always kept my “day job” – where I currently serve as the CEO of MovieLabs, a technology JV of the major motion picture studios (Disney, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal and Warner Bros.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/RBerger
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardbergermusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rberger25/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@richardbergermusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/63h8Z4eF860KJ1M83WHiVu?si=VBDoZEhLTjCe0cP95335BQ
Image Credits
Isaac Berger
