J. Bernardt on making the perfect break up album (Bonus)

The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

Is there anything more cliche than a sad boi crooning about a lost love? Well….probably not, actually, but it’s that self-awareness that shines through on J. Bernardt’s latest effort, Contigo. With this moniker, my friend, Jinte Deprez (of Belgian indie rock legends Balthazar) has crafted the perfect break-up album. Yes, there’s whining, sweeping string sections, and catching numbers, but what makes Contigo excel is Jinte’s constant desire to “go there.” Listening to this album for the first time stopped me dead in my tracks on multiple occasions, because in all honesty, hearing a man be so bare and direct about his feelings felt starkly refreshing to me. Throughout the album’s runtime, Jinte never attempts to hide behind a veil, and in doing so he’s willing to expose a lonely, confused (and sometimes petulant) crooner who’s in the throes of an identity crisis. It’s a beautiful album full of character, whimsy, and wit, and it’s such a privilege that we got to explore it in depth for the first bonus episode of season 8.

J. Bernardt will be going on tour throughout Europe this autumn, starting on September 29th in Denmark. Be sure to visit https://www.jbernardt.com for all tour dates.