With “Young Heart” Birdy is releasing an album for the first time since 2016. In the interview, she reveals why she took the long break.
More than ten years ago, Birdy (24) enchanted the world with her cover version of Bon Ivers “Skinny Love”, with “People Help the People” the then 15-year-old conquered the international charts just one year later. After a five-year hiatus, the talented British singer will release her fourth studio album, “Young Heart”, an ode to loneliness, on April 30th, 2021. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Birdy, bourgeois Jasmine van de Bogaerde, talks about being alone, her long break and her early success.
Congratulations on the new album “Young Heart”. Where does the title come from and what does the album mean to you?
Birdy: “Young Heart” was the first song I wrote for the album and it always felt like the heart of the record. I’ve heard a lot from Etta James and Nina Simone, so it feels very soulful. When I finished writing the song, I had a rough idea of what the rest of the album might sound like. The themes of the album are heartbreak and the struggle of navigating life alone for the first time. It feels like “Young Heart” sums it up well.
It is the first time that we have been hearing new music from you in the form of an album since 2016. Where were you?
Birdy: I felt like I needed a break before starting something new. I’ve been touring all the time since I was 14, releasing new music. It was good to take a break, experience normalcy and also experience things that I can then write about. I traveled to India for three months and found myself a little bit there again. The whole album has been quite a journey, a lot of the songs are about heartbreak and it took me some time to clear my head.
How did the writing process go? What was it like to be back in the studio after such a long time?
Birdy: I had no luck writing in London, so I went to Los Angeles. Somehow that made more sense to the music I wanted to make. Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake were very inspiring for this record.
Then it was off to Nashville, the heart of storytelling. Everyone you meet there is passionate about music and wants to have fun producing, which is totally refreshing. I met Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian there and we had some great days writing “Surrender”, “Voyager” and “River Song”. It was there that I later recorded my album with them. That was wonderful, but sometimes it was hard to let go of some of the songs after clinging to them for so long. One of the nicest moments of the recording was when we added the strings at the end – it feels so powerful and I always get emotional the first time I hear it.
Did the lockdown help you finish and record the album faster?
Birdy: We finished a lot of the record even before the lockdown, there was some vocal stuff that I had to record myself – in a makeshift studio closet at my home! It was good to have time to reflect on the songs again. I hardly wrote anything new in lockdown, but I drew and painted a lot.
Which song on the album are you particularly proud of?
Birdy: I’m proud of “Young Heart” because it’s the most sensitive song on the album. I recorded both the vocals and the piano at home alone when I was writing it. The song really reflects how I felt back then.
The second single on the album is called “Loneliness”. What is the story behind the song?
Birdy: For me the song is about two characters; one of them is led away by the other, somewhat mischievous, character. I am a very spiritual person and I feel very connected to things when I write. The song is also about the fact that even when you’re alone, you’re never really alone. It’s a love song to loneliness.
Is loneliness something you often feel in lockdown or in life in general?
Birdy: I spent a lot of time alone when touring or traveling. I’ve gotten very used to being alone. I think because I’m an introvert I need a lot of time for myself anyway. I wrote a lot of songs on this album in LA and Nashville and even though I’ve been very lonely there at times, I find it exciting, with no experience in one of these big city.
Heartbreak is a recurring theme in your new album. Did writing help heal existing pain?
Birdy: It’s always scary to write about something very private. I’m not sure if it will help heal heartache. The record is definitely the most demanding I’ve ever written, but it’s also my favorite.
Great Britain is moving forward with opening steps and some events are even expected to take place again this summer. Do you think you might go on tour this year?
Birdy: I’m playing a show in London in November and I’m so excited! It will be so great to be on stage again, in a room full of people. I really missed performing live and also being there as a spectator at shows. I don’t know if a tour will work out this year, but hopefully we can go on tour next year. I can’t wait to perform my new music!
You became a star almost overnight at the age of twelve and released three very successful albums at the age of only 23. How have you changed in recent years – as a person and as an artist?
Birdy: The way I write has changed a lot. Probably because I am now writing more about my own experiences. This album is lyrically much more direct than my previous records. As a person I’m much more confident now, I listened to my own instincts a lot when I wrote this album. A lot of people always want to give their opinion when doing something new. Sometimes it’s hard to listen to yourself.