- Words Notion Staff
Oxford star Jen Berkova chats about her love of Khalid and gold jewellery, dance parties at home and her skydiving ambitions.
Welcome to Fresh Face, a quick-fire interview series spotlighting the best rising talents in today’s youthful music scene. From biggest pet peeves to party tricks and death row meals, we’re stripping things back from the formal Q&A format. Think of it like speed dating, but with some of the freshest music makers worth discovering.
Oxford has been a fertile ground for some of the UK’s biggest music acts to get their break: Radiohead, Supergrass and Foals have all taken some of their first steps in the city. Jen Berkova, then, is walking in some mighty footsteps – but she’s up for the challenge.
Berkova was raised to prominence through a feature on the BBC Introducing strand in Oxfordshire, and she’s parlayed that success into her own headline show at The Mad Hatter, as well as a spot at the Truck Festival alongside Wolf Alice and Foals.
Her latest single, “Adventure time”, is a capsule of the playful and vibrant energy Berkova brings to the table, an imaginative adventure through chill R&B and synths, created from the totally blank canvas of bedroom isolation – the epitome of DIY.
With Berkova going from strength to strength, we sat down with her to chat about her big personal news, her love of red wine and her homebody nature.
One thing you want to change about the music industry?
Finish the sentence: I feel happiest…
What song always gets you hyped when you hear it in the club?
Which celebrity would you love to be friends with?
Wildest thing that’s happened to you lately?
Biggest goal for 2022?
There’s never really one. But I’d say, release more music and get married aha.
Never have I ever…
went skydiving, but I’d love to.
Who’s your style icon?
What are you currently obsessed with?