Meet James Berg

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful James Berg. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with James below.

James, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

I struggled as an artist when I was younger with perfection. I wanted everything I produced to be as impressive as the work that impressed me, but eventually I decided that to share only what’s very good sometimes means sharing nothing at all. It’s more fun to be a participating member of a vibrant community, finding your place and giving what you can without seeking admiration.

When I started connecting with musicians, I had a mentor who liked to describe music as “the great equalizer.” That resonated with me. It was liberating. I felt I was given permission to stop withholding. Music is a language that can be shared intuitively. Anyone can do it but only if the desire to listen is at least as strong as the impulse to perform.

The lessons learned as an artist carry over into my teaching. Generosity, for me, means offering what I have without waiting for it to be perfect. I can give my time and attention, remaining open to what each moment asks of me. My generosity comes from knowing that showing up and being useful is enough.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a teacher, and since the pandemic I’ve been teaching from the road. My students are back home in Chicago. They’ve chosen online classes for convenience and because they have family or work responsibilities. They’ve said they like that I’m taking them with me as I travel the world, and I appreciate how their presence keeps me grounded while I’m far from home.

I’ve taken students with me through the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans, along the St. Lawrence River from Kingston to the Gaspé Peninsula and all over Europe. I teach from motel rooms and hostel common areas. Sometimes I teach from a friend’s spare room, a peaceful cafe or a secluded terrace. It’s often a struggle to find a quiet space where I can talk freely.

I was in London recently while teaching Sherlock Holmes for my crime fiction class. I posted a video in front of the museum on Baker Street a few hours before our discussion of A Study in Scarlet. After returning to tour the museum, I had photos to share of the salon where Watson and Holmes wait for someone to knock with a mystery to solve and a call to adventure.

Because I can come to a city without an exit date, I’ve had time to join local open mics and feature at poetry events in Paris and elsewhere. I’ve organized concerts with other musicians when I’m in town. Sometimes a trip will include what I’ve been calling an ‘anchor event’ for which I might spend several weeks or months preparing. It gives the visit a purpose. I can get settled, find new patterns and focus on the work ahead.

I finished an album, Trouble, while I was traveling, and I’m working now on new music for an upcoming EP. I write song lyrics and poetry. I’m also writing a novel about a touring musician who’s writing a novel while traveling alone. The work mirrors the life, which mirrors the work. It’s an endless, joyful loop of uncertainty.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Follow your passion. If what you’re doing is interesting to you, that’s enough. It doesn’t matter what it is. Do it and do it well. Others will appreciate, and good things will come from that.

Surround yourself with people who are already doing what you want to do. This one is especially important. Make new friends, and let them teach you what they know.

Consistency generates momentum. This is a tough one for me, maybe for everybody. The people I admire most are able to focus on small, daily habits.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’d love to connect with writers or musicians in one of the cities I know well or someplace new. Drop me a DM. Let’s write something together. Let’s put on a show. Let’s do it anywhere and as soon as we can.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jamesfromtheusa.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jamesfromtheusa/
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/jamesfromtheusa
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jamesfromtheusa
• Other: Bandcamp:

  https://jamesberg.bandcamp.com/album/trouble

Image Credits

Sabine Dundure Photography
Lily Berg
Natalia Fontaiña
Graham Baker Photography