Interview: Terri Nunn from Berlin

Remember that steamy scene in Top Gun? The angelic voice of Terri Nunn was the movie’s audio aphrodisiac as she and her band of electro-pop legends Berlin performed theme song Take My Breath Away. Not only did the serenade go down as one of the most romantic tracks of all time but it was also one of the reasons the original sextet split in 1987. Almost 30 years later and with the conflict well behind them, Berlin are preparing to hit our shores. We caught up the stunningly beautiful Terri Nunn to discuss everything from the Totally 80’s tour, the evolution of synth-pop to the unglamorous life of fame, and plans for the future.

What are you looking forward to most about coming to Australia? 

Pretty much everything! It’s been a long time and I have to say that one of the most exciting tours I ever did was the first one in Australia in 1984 because, well for a few reasons. Other than Japan, Australian people were the first to like us, to play our music and open your arms to us so it was a really big deal for me. Getting to come back and see everybody, and the hot guys – come on! Your guys are hot, and you also speak English so that makes it a lot easier (laughs).

I’m also looking forward to seeing Martika, and I know Stacey Q from the past – we were both in a tiny studio in 1979 doing demos. We met her there and she was adorable, and then she had that hit later on so I know who she is but I’ve never seen her play live. Real Life opened for us in the States on a tour we did so it will be great to see those guys again. As for the rest of them, I don’t think I’ve seen any of them… Oh, Men Without Hats! We’ve seen them and we’ve played with them at another show. They did Safety Dance; I know them! So yeah it’s going to be fun for me.

What can fans expect from your shows? 

Well besides the hits which of course everybody wants to hear – Take My Breath Away, No More Words and Dancing In Berlin, we will play a couple of songs from the new album. We also have a very visual show so there’s a lot to see as well as hear. We’ve got quite a bit planned for this one.

Do you ever get tired of singing the hits?

I think what I appreciate most about it is that those songs instantly connect with people and they have their own stories about them. If I’m tired and I don’t want to sing or whatever, then I look out at the people. They go into a zone especially with Take My Breath Away. It’s such a part of people’s lives in a way that is special to them. You know, I hear the stories – it was their first kiss or their first wedding song or it was when they had their first child when the song was playing. It’s like woven into their DNA and they love to tell me these stories. I just watch them go to those places when I’m singing that song and it’s fascinating to me.

How have you kept your voice in such good shape over the years?

Thank you. I stay as healthy as I can. I’m a vegan and find that raw food really keeps me become more energetic. I work out because wanting to look good after 30 makes it mandatory, and it’s also good for my health. So I work out four-five days a week, I try to stay happy because my mum has said to me early on that being happy is the greatest beautifier and she’s right; happy people are beautiful. They’re wonderful to be around and beautiful to look at and have great energy so I do my best to stay happy. I’ve also got a good guy in my life for 18 years now.

As a synth-pop band, has digital technology changed the way you now perform songs live? 

Completely. It’s amazing now! I mean, when we first started we had so many synthesiser keyboard sounds on each song and we needed two players to do it because we didn’t have the technology we have now where you have tracks, loops, and one guy can create 40 sounds if he wants to. That didn’t exist then. When we first started to play loops we had reel to reel tape that would break on stage – it would slow down because it was hot and it was awful. Now we can have whatever sounds we want on stage and it all comes from a computer so it’s a whole new world and it’s so much better, so much more exciting.

Many different artists have covered your songs over the years. Do you have a favourite rendition?

Yeah. There are two that come up when you say that. System of a Down did a great version of Metro and Peaches did a great version of Sex (I’m A). She played all the parts – she was the guy and the girl in the song, which I thought was brilliant!

Is life in the spotlight just as thrilling and glamorous as Berlin music videos make it seem?

No, not at all! (Laughs). It has good moments but no, I think the glamorous life is largely created by movie and record companies so you’ll buy their stuff. Videos make it look so great and the backstage documentaries look so exciting, it’s not. And backstages are mostly like locker rooms created by men. They have toilets but they’re awful and they don’t have trashcans. Once in a while you get a nice one but venues are usually just… I don’t know (laughs). They’re not glamorous!

What are you currently working on?

The most amazing thing I never saw this coming has happened. I’m writing a new album with the original Berlin three. John Crawford, David Diamond and I are writing new music together. They’re both back in my life and we’re writing together and this is just absolutely thrilling to me! So that’s what’s happening right now.

You’ve starred on both TV and movies, would you ever go back to acting?

No, I don’t see myself doing that but I really respect it. I did it for a little while and it’s a craft, I mean people make it look easy but it is not easy to do and is something that one needs to keep up and I haven’t. I would not degrade the profession and say, “oh yeah, now I’m famous I’ll go act again”. For me, I love music and I’m very grateful I still have a job in music and people still want to hear me, come to my shows and buy my records.

What is a piece of advice you can give to aspiring singers? 

The piece of advice that served me the best is to be as unique as possible. It’s not enough to be good, it’s not even enough to be great. You have to do something no one else is doing because if it’s a copy of someone else, it’s pretty and nice but there already is somebody out there and that means you’re replaceable. But if you’ve created something different than you have more longevity because you’re not as replaceable. That’s why I think Berlin lasted as long as it has.

When we first started there was nothing like us and it was hard in the beginning. It sucked because people were like, “What the f*ck is this?”. They didn’t know and they didn’t get it and we weren’t really that good yet so it was a lot of hard work, but that turned out to be our greatest blessing because once we did catch on and got good enough, then we were the only game in town.

What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?

A couple of things. I’m really excited about working with John and David again and so I would love to put out another record with them and tour with them. My second thing would be to travel more overseas. I’m so grateful Australia has opened their arms to us again and that we’re coming back there because I would love to do some more international travelling than I have done in the last 10 years. It’s really exciting to me so I would love to do more of that!

Totally 80s Tour

TUE 12 JULY
Eatons Hill, Brisbane
THU 14 JULY
Jupiters Theatre, Gold Coast
FRI 15 JULY
Polaris Theatre, Melbourne
SAT 16 JULY
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
SUN 17 JULY
Royal Theatre, Canberra
TUE 19 JULY
Astor Theatre, Perth
THU 21 JULY
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
FRI 22 JULY
Wrest Point, Hobart
SAT 23 JULY
The Palms of Crown, Melbourne
SUN 24 JULY
The Palms of Crown, Melbourne
WED 27 JULY
Revesby Workers Club, Revesby
THU 28 JULY
Civic Theatre, Newcastle
FRI 29 JULY
Penrith Panthers, Penrith
SAT 30 JULY
WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Get Tickets HERE