New York-based singer-songwriter Loren Berí has released his new single “Stagehand,” offering listeners a dreamy and thoughtful track that blends lush chamber textures with catchy indie songwriting, inventive storytelling and a charismatic performance style.
“Stagehand” explores the idea of letting go of exaggerated versions of yourself and discovering an unexpected sense of beauty and relief in simply being who you are. The song looks at the feeling of living backstage rather than taking centre stage, turning that experience into something reflective and deeply personal.
Loren Berí has received acclaim from publications including FLOOD Magazine, Atwood Magazine and 1883 Magazine, among others. FLOOD Magazine previously described his breakout single as a “wildly magnetic—and hilarious—homage to NYC,” highlighting its bubbly synths and clever lyricism.
Berí is a New York-based singer-songwriter whose music combines chamber-inspired textures with accessible indie songwriting. His work is characterised by inventive stories, distinctive characters and an energetic performance style.
His music has also been featured in TMRW Magazine, Earmilk, 1883 Magazine, Fault Magazine and Living Life Fearless. His recent creative collaborations include the song “Al Pacino” with Glassio, as well as contributions from Mauro Refosco, known for his work with David Byrne, Atoms For Peace and Dirty Projectors, throughout Berí’s album Alby’s Ghost.
Another track from Alby’s Ghost, “Greta’s Inn,” features Kishi Bashi and was included in Fortnite.
Beyond music, Berí has directed episodes for television on BRIC TV and holds a degree in Playwriting, experiences that have also influenced his approach to storytelling and character-driven songwriting.
“Stagehand” is the title track from Berí’s upcoming sophomore album, which is scheduled for release this year alongside a book of accompanying poems. The song itself takes the form of a dreamy chamber-pop piece built around the idea of a stagehand who believes he is actually a character in a play.
Explaining the inspiration behind the song, Berí says the idea came after late-night writing sessions. He imagined a stagehand who believes he is part of a play, unaware that his actual role is moving the set pieces around in the darkness while the characters wait for him to leave before beginning their scene.
As the song developed, Berí realised that the concept connected to the creative journey that began with Alby’s Ghost. While that album explored a larger-than-life character and the idea of confidence and performance, “Stagehand” moves in the opposite direction.
Rather than creating another exaggerated character, Berí turns inward. The song explores what he describes as the “smallest possible version of a self”—the version of ourselves we can sometimes create when we are trying to fit into a world where we are not sure we belong, or when we are trying to fit into someone else’s story.
At the same time, “Stagehand” does not necessarily treat this experience as entirely negative. Instead, the song finds something meaningful in stepping away from the need to perform and allowing the constructed versions of ourselves to disappear.
For Berí, that idea became a form of relief. After spending time writing through different characters and personas, “Stagehand” represents a more direct and personal approach to songwriting.
The new album therefore marks another stage in his creative development, moving away from some of the larger fictional personalities found in his earlier work and toward something more personal and stripped back.
Berí will celebrate the release with an album release performance on September 9 as part of National Sawdust’s official season. The performance will feature new songs from Stagehand alongside the string ensemble Ondine Quartet, bringing the chamber elements of the new material into a live setting.
With “Stagehand,” Loren Berí continues to explore the space where music, theatre and storytelling meet. The new single offers a quieter and more introspective perspective while retaining the inventive songwriting and distinctive musical character that have become part of his work.
Listen to “Stagehand” on Spotify:
Watch Stagehand here:
You can connect with Loren Berí through lorenberi.com, Instagram @loren_beri, and Bandcamp lorenberi.bandcamp.com
