A Chat with Frankie Bird (07.09.23)
From the age of 16, 23-year-old Frankie Bird has been honing her musical talent with several impressive live performances. Her confidence onstage is not only a draw for audiences, but the enthusiasm in her poetic lyricism has garnered a loyal following. We speak with the UK-based musician about her EP Grassroots, sub-genres, uncomfortable situations and future plans.
OSR: What drew you to the music industry? Why did you opt for a career in music?
Bird: I have always loved storytelling and to share my own stories through music is not only cathartic but really fun. Travelling around and going to gigs is probably one of my favourite parts though as I love the live music scene. It’s something I’ve been doing since I was 16 and I can’t imagine my life without it. I don’t know what I would do all day.
OSR: What inspires you to create music?
Bird: Lyrically, my songs are about my own personal real-life experiences and feelings. It sounds bad but I rarely write about other people. I value authenticity and honesty very highly and I like to think that’s reflected in my songs.
OSR: You recently released your debut EP Grassroots. What can you tell us about it?
Bird: That’s right. Grassroots was released on 25th August. It’s a four-track project and kind of a concept record as all the songs tie in together. They talk about my move to London and starting out in the music industry. It was recorded a few months ago in North London and I would describe it as an indie pop/ rock record. Lots of guitars!
OSR: What do you hope people take from the EP?
Bird: I have always wanted people to say they relate to my music. After releasing Grassroots, I’ve already had a few people say that they have felt the same way that I describe in the songs. That’s really rewarding.
OSR: Do you feel Grassroots is a representation of you as a person and artist?
Bird: I think so. It definitely encapsulates where I am in my life as a 23-year-old. Still figuring things out. In terms of me as an artist, it’s a perfect example of the type of music I love to listen to and love to create.
OSR: What makes you unique as an artist?
Bird: Hmm. I suppose I would say my music is in between being catchy pop music and more alternative indie. This is quite a difficult area to get to but I like to think I’ve done it.
OSR: Most artists don’t want to be labelled nowadays or placed into a specific genre. What is your opinion on categorising artists according to genre, and what is your opinion on the growing number of sub-genres?
Bird: I think it’s very difficult to box people in as most artists are inspired by a range of genres which is reflected in their musical output. I think this is a good thing as it produces some interesting and unique results. The growing number of sub-genres is another way to categorise artists as the traditional pop, rock, and rap perhaps don’t apply as much anymore. I don’t think it really matters having lots of sub-genres as it helps listeners find the specific type of music they are looking for.
OSR: If you could binge-watch any TV show what would the show be and why?
Bird: I love the TV show My Mad Fat Diary. The soundtrack is so me and I find the main character pretty relatable. I could easily watch that on repeat.
OSR: What is the most uncomfortable situation you’ve found yourself in and how did it play out?
Bird: I find having issues on stage e.g. sound problems, out-of-tune guitars, is a bit of a nightmare as there’s often expectant faces looking on. I just try and keep calm and make the best of it. It’s never the end of the world.
OSR: Do you have future plans as a musician?
Bird: Oh many. I’ll be promoting Grassroots probably for the rest of this year but 2024 is going to be an exciting one. The next thing is an album of course.
OSR: Do you have a message for our readers?
Bird: Yes, just to check out my latest release Grassroots and follow me on all the socials for any music updates. 😊
Many thanks to Frankie Bird for speaking with us! Find out more about Frankie Bird on her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
