The Mojo of Music featuring Ber
Three hours north of Minneapolis, nestled within 10,000 lakes and adjacent to Paul Bunyan State Forest, lies the city of Walker, population 966. Wikipedia nicknames it “The Big Place”, and notable people include Mary Welsh Hemingway (wife of Ernest Hemmingway), Jimmy Darts (social media personality), and the Mojo behind his article, musician Berit Dybing, aka Ber.
Ber quickly identifies her hometown as a jeans and flannel kinda place, with the exception that everyone has a tee-shirt that has some sort of saying about a lake on it. Add a baseball cap and jacket, and quintessential “lake life” fashion was the standard look. Growing up Ber admits her daily uniform involved a pair of Uggs, leggings, and a flannel every day. There was no pressure to dress outside that template. Ber shares that she’s never been a very girly girl and comfort has always been the top priority. That small-town upbringing fostered a sense of ease in embracing casual wear.
Known for her introspective lyrics and heartfelt melodies, Ber has always approached fashion as an extension of her identity—one that's grounded in comfort, authenticity, and a touch of nostalgia. Her early relationship with fashion was far from conventional though. She fondly recalls how her younger brother, Soren, acted as her childhood “fashion advisor.”
““We would go shopping and my brother would pick out the things I would end up wearing. Even when my mother would buy me clothes, what I would actually wear to school was whatever Soren’s hand-me-downs were. We were the same size. I think I wore his flannels and a scarf every day to high school for 4 years straight.”
-Ber
The most transformative time in both her music and style came from moving to England for a music college. All of sudden, not only was she on her own for the first time trying to discover herself in that way, she was surrounded by people that were very alternative. Ber shares how fun it was to be in the middle of that for once and feel like the odd one out by dressing so casual. She began to explore fashion as a form of self-expression. She dared herself to push those boundaries, revealing there’s a big difference between American and European casual fashion.
The shift wasn’t drastic, but it was intentional. Ber swapped her Uggs for Doc Martens, a staple she’s carried back to Minnesota. The experience taught her to embrace individuality while staying true to her roots. While at the same time, her songwriting and music were developing. Ber was finding an avenue for her emotions and turning real life relationships into lyrics.
When it comes to influences, Ber draws inspiration from fellow musicians who use fashion to tell their stories. She admires artists like Griff, who designs her own clothes, Holly Humberstone, and beabadoobee, who exudes a carefree yet intentional aesthetic. All UK artists. However, Ber’s own approach remains grounded. "I’m not Lady Gaga or Beyoncé," she admitted with a laugh. "I would kill to live in that world, but for me, it’s about feeling like myself."
The past year Ber has generated a ton of buzz behind her music. With a lot more eyeballs and ears focused her way, Ber shares that pressure is a double edged sword.
“I feel more pressured to lean into my own self and just look like who I perceive myself to be. If my fans see a photo of me, I want them to think, oh, I know her. I think it has to do with the fact that the music is so vulnerable. For me, I marry the two casually, more like we’re all in my living room. I’m singing these songs to you vibe, as opposed to something a bit more performative.”
-Ber
Just hours before headlining the iconic First Avenue, Ber still wasn’t completely sure of what the final outfit would all entail. Stepping onstage to a backdrop of northern pines, Ber channeled a Minnesotan north woodsy, cozy aura, capped with snow falling outside the venue. Kicking off the set with “Better Man”, fresh off her newest EP Room For You, allowed everyone to settle in as the band creep into the lush chorus.
If you were an outsider to the 17-song set, you’d immediately be awakened by the potency of her lyrics. Her ability to juxtapose phrases and words build a contrast in her lyrics that also finds a space where you can’t forget them. “It’s Impressive”, “Halfway” and “Better Man” are prime examples of this.
The second thing you’d notice is the rhetoric in all of her songs authentically connect to an audience of all ages. So even though some songs are about promiscuous boys, hitting your ex with a car, celebrating a slutphase, or wishing someone has bad internet, there’s a universal language that transcends just young adults. Watching a sold out audience sing along to almost every song is all you need to understand why Ber continues to be a rising star.
Ber’s stage presence reflects that music, vulnerable, relatable, and unpretentious. Wearing a red BDG Jeans jacket from Urban Outfitters, denim shorts, and shin-high tights, balanced with black Doc Martens, Ber represents that casual vibe aesthetic. She shared the intent was to recreate the red coat for the poster for the show.
Ber’s wardrobe is an eclectic mix of thrifted gems and sentimental pieces. She raves about local spots like the Daily Dose Retro in St. Paul and Bro Bros Closet in Minneapolis, where she recently scored some unexpected finds. While she occasionally shops at Urban Outfitters for convenience, she prefers the charm of vintage and second-hand items. Her own closet is a treasure trove of memories. "I have a hard time getting rid of things," she admitted. One standout piece is a green-and-blue knit sweater that’s become a fan favorite in her photos and videos.
“There’s this one green and blue striped sweater that I’ve worn in all of my press shots, and I wear it out all the time. I’m constantly taking selfies and posting on Instagram in that sweater. I think people must think that’s the only piece of clothing that I own at this point.”
-Ber
As her career gains traction, Ber acknowledges the subtle pressure to craft a cohesive image for marketability. Admitting she’s a rather insecure person when it comes to stuff like that, Ber prioritizes her own mental health and focuses on just feeling normal in clothes. It’s been a continuing journey in fashion, which she still doesn’t think she has a strong sense of. “Am I okay going out in front of a thousand people dressed like this? That’s what matters most.”
In just over 3 years, Ber has artfully expanded her range in songwriting and sounds with a collection of songs that complement each other. Witnessing this at First Avenue and how the setlist expertly navigated these chapters was beautiful. “Oh, to be Cool” and “Slutphase” added a dancy stage to the evening, while sitting down at the keyboard for “It’s Impressive” and “Room For You” showed the extent on how Ber can attach to an audience. While going solo on “Meant to Be” and bringing out openers Chutes onstage for a song solidifies the excitement at her announcement of a debut full length album in 2025.
For anyone standing in that sold out crowd, there was something to hold onto and leave with. You can emotionally relive your own mistakes while celebrating being able to move on. There’s lyrical earworms that stick out and help you remember each song. And if you’re Minnesotan, we all can relate on having lake life clothes, just like Ber.
As Ber continues to navigate her path as an artist, one thing is clear: her fashion—like her music—will always be a reflection of who she is at her core.
Check out the links below for ways to follow Ber and all the topics we mentioned above.
Ber Instagram - Ber YouTube - Chutes - Griff - Beabadoobee - BDG Jeans - Daily Dose Retro - Bro Bros Closet
