Born in Dublin, Made in Berlin — with Persephone Kianka
Tell us about yourself, who are you?
I’m Persephone, a writer and musician from Dublin, Ireland. I have been songwriting and playing guitar since I was thirteen, which I balanced with a wide range of other passions, including dance, spirituality, and fiction. I have also always had an interest in other cultures and languages, fueling my desire to travel and have new experiences, which led me here, to BIMM Berlin.
Why your chosen course?
I had considered studying songwriting at BIMM for my BA, but decided to do a joint honours degree in music and English literature at University College Cork to have a more traditional university experience and keep my options open. My desire to work in the music industry persisted, however, and an MA in Popular Music Practice seemed the best way for me to advance my music career with the support of BIMM’s faculty, resources, and connections.
What is your impression of Berlin as a project?
There is also a BIMM in Dublin, but I had always wanted to study abroad, and among all the other BIMM locations, Berlin appealed to me the most. Though I had never been here before and didn’t even know much about the city, it called to me. Before coming here, my impression was that it was a cool, artsy place full of free-spirited, creative people, and after arriving, it didn’t disappoint. It felt like my whole world opened up because of the sheer size of the city, as well as its vibrant energy, modern architecture, and impressive public transport system.
How does Berlin’s music scene differ from that of your home?
The music scene here definitely feels more experimental and hardcore than back home. Though Dubliners like to have their fun, the musical spaces and culture I’ve experienced there feel relatively laid-back with a focus on acoustic performance. Here, with Berlin’s techno culture and clubbing scene, the energy and experimentation are on another level. This extends to fashion and self-expression as well; I feel that more musicians here unapologetically project distinct artist identities, which is really inspiring and fun to see, heightening the whole creative impact of the city.
What bands are you obsessed with right now and why?
I recently got into J-pop music, which has become part of my creative work and focus for my major project at BIMM. I’ve been loving bands like King Gnu and Radwimps because of their thought-provoking lyrics, unconventional song structures, and meandering chord progressions, which subvert Western expectations of modern pop.
