The ‘Pogo’ Alias
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I’m often asked how I came about the name Pogo. I’m generally useless at explaining things on the fly, but when I put pen to paper, it’s like I’ve swapped brains with a real intellectual. Here goes!
When I wasn’t impersonating Jim Carrey or Robin Williams as a hyperactive child at school, I was tossing my school work aside to draw comic strips instead. I was fascinated by story telling and loved getting my friends to laugh, and I found myself with an emerging ability to express myself by drawing my own cartoon characters. I weighed the idea of becoming a mathematician or scholar with becoming a creative artist, and at 10 years old, the choice was already a no-brainer. Strike 3 for the education system.
(Above) Some early sketches exploring the shapes of Pogos.
One day during a math test, I began sketching balls with big round eyes. Next, I gave them little arms and feet. I colored them a cadmium yellow to represent what they were made of, ‘squatch’, a dry, flexible goo that allowed them to suck in their appendages and roll around at super speeds. I thought it would be novel if they could change shape for advantages in combat, like forming a ring to escape an array of bullets, or spreading out like paper to smother their foes.
Finally, for reasons I can’t remember and I doubt I ever had, I gave these monsters a name. Pogos.
(Above) Vector traces of drawings I made in my school books.
Months went by, more and more school books filled up with comics and drawings, and after finally discovering my sound in the music scene, it was time for me to give myself a name before uploading my tracks to websites like Acid Planet and Number One Music. Looking through my comic strips one day, it took me a matter of seconds to decide on the alias that everyone knows me by today.
(Above) Assortment of doodles, featuring the concept of a Pogo transport unit.

(Above) Acquirable abilities in a ‘Pogos’ video game.
I wish I could say there is some elaborate, inspiring meaning behind my name as a producer, but really there’s no connection to it other than these little yellow critters that took residence in my mind one day at school. It’s short, catchy, and sure, has some kind of association with rhythm if you seriously want to go that far.
And there you have it! The hype to actuality ratio isn’t very impressive, but I hope I’ve helped quench everyone’s curiosity. Thanks for reading!

Dear Mr. Bertke,
I will one day collaborate with you. You truly are a very gifted producer as am i.
You’re achieving my near future.
Our passions for film and music alike are quite the same.
The way we see and interpret the world as well as moral values are almost identical.
It’s as if i have a twin on the other side of the world. It encourages me.
You are the inspiration i wish to be to others.
We will meet.
signed,
- Enfinite
P.S.
the only obstacle i face now is my indefinite foul luck with computers.
btw, it was very difficult for me to choose my alias. I threw away an infinite amount of ideas before coming to a final. It required a story. a tale. If i were to choose my name, it had to MEAN something. But nothing was strong enough.
So… Kirby meets Pikachu meets… The Wonder Twins?
Awesome.
first i want to say how inspiring and significant your music has been to me since I discovered you on Saturday.
this week has been a traumatic time for me to say the least. And your music is helping me through it. all those familiar sounds from my childhood are bringing back memories from happier times.
I’m an animator from the and UK. There is nothing on this earth that even comes close to the joy i get from drawing and making my drawings come to life. well nothing, except music. I listen to it all day and night I’m inspired by it and I couldn’t draw without it.
I want to create something for you. not for money or for fame, but to show my gratitude because your music has brought me so much joy and I want to return the favour. If there is anything I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask
-Ollie
This is so awesome !!! you got to really do something with this character !
physical structure as a superpower .. this is so rad !
ah, wow, i remember when i used to draw little characters for a video game, i used to be really into making video games when i was younger :)
except i knew nothing about making video games, i just wanted to make one xD
ahh, i too, switched from drawing and video games, to music, except, im not as, creative, and successful at making a quality piece like you :(
When i look at your old drawings reminds me of the game Boy and his blob XD where he can transform into anything sorta thing i liked playing that game when i was little x.x was fun~~ i think it is unique though its neat having such a neat name from your past reminds you of your childhood…..i use to have a friend when i was 14 and her name was Miss Turtle ^^ she was a graphic designer for a website….very popular too many of people followed her also~ But…….she got her name from when she was little also….she said she use to be like a turtle when she was little always hiding in her ‘shell’ she got the nickname from a teach i think….was a long time ago since i meet her…its nice to have some kind of nice background to your name makes it special and not something you just came up with just then….sadly kinda wish i had a name from my past guess it would be Thyme……-thinks- bleh im babbling ^^ its interesting you put it up there………..
Funny little critters they are!
Yes! that was ‘very lol’ about Pogo, each time I enter to your youtube channel
I can’t help myself to put a smile on my face, its just like ‘this guy really rocks’ haha
Pogo FTW!
Now explain Fagottron
Oh man: Now I want to play the Pogo video game!
Pogochute upgrade, ftw!
lol they’re a mix between Kirby and Pikachu :P
Interesting way to come up with that…
I guess I can tell you that I’m a pretty avid gamer, and I play merely for enjoyment of a title. Lately, I’ve put the controller down when it comes to this game, however, but nonetheless, you are being talked about on an Xbox LIVE game. Modern Warfare 2, specifically… The game gave me an option to create a 4 character clan tag to prefix my gamertag with, so, naturally, I went with something simple to accent ‘ApertureDreams’
When I’m talking to the people pregame and post, all they see is [Pogo] ApertureDreams, and if they ask, “Whats a Pogo?” I have something to tell them now. n_n
~ And I GUESS I could tell them about your music, after explaining all the Pogo ability upgrades ;D