5 MINUTES WITH… JADE BIRD
We have been obsessing over musician Jade Bird since we saw her in Pappy & Harriets in California. She has an absolutely unreal voice and is becoming more successful by the minute. We caught up with her while she was touring America to answer a few questions for all of you lovely readers…
For our followers who are new to your music, how would you describe your sound?
It’s kind of alternative, with a mix of everything. I love Alanis Morissette and have had a few comparisons to her, but you get piano ballads, rockers, and acoustic intimate moments in a set of mine.
You’ve been spending a lot of time on the road recently, what’s your favourite thing about traveling the States?
I love the way you cross state lines and it’s like you stumble across a whole new culture. New York is just a world away from LA, and the same from LA to Portland.
We came to watch you play at the iconic Pappy + Harriet’s in Pioneertown earlier in the year which was incredible! What’s been your favourite show in America so far? And what’s been the strangest?
I’ve really loved being on my headline tour, it’s so surreal. My favourite show in America has probably been Bonaroo, people just sung all the words and like let balloons go, it was mad.
We’ve noticed you love to rock a jumpsuit! Where did this love come from and do you remember your first jumpsuit?
My first jumpsuit was custom made for Stephen Colbert Show it was like a cool white shiny material. I was chatting to a friend and she described it as power dressing, that’s so on point – you feel so secure in it, and you can just jump around on stage.
The 70s is a very special decade for us, are there any artists from the 70s that you particularly admire?
There’s a lot that kind of cross over between the 60s and 70s, The Doors are a real favourite of mine, we were recording a few miles from Woodstock and I just put on a record of theirs in the living room and it blew my mind. Curtis Mayfield is also another incredible artist, driving through LA listening to his albums – wow.
What kind of music defines the teenage you?
Hmmm… it’s weird I never really had a phase probably Avril Lavigne … Mazzy Star … Dylan and Cash
We’d love to know one record that’s really influenced you?
Probably Alanis Morrisette Jagged little pill – I say it a lot but it’s the one record I fully gain something from, every listen gives me something new.
You’re an amazing songwriter, what inspires your lyrics?
Everything, it can be an advertisement on a train wall, or a sentence someone says. I remember I was coming out of an airport in Berlin and someone said “ah you bring the rain” and I went and wrote a song of the same title. Good words are key.
What is one song you’d wish you’d written?
Running up that hill – Kate bush
Our followers our big festival goers, what would be your dream festival to play?
Most people say Coachella but it’s actually extremely hot and dusty (spoilsport haha) … I think any bill that has a load of incredible artists like Beychella did this year would be awesome to be a part of!
And finally if you could be on the line up with any other band in history, who would you choose?
In history? Janis Joplin.
Photography: Austin Roa www.austinroa.com
Follow Jade on Instagram HERE
www.jade-bird.com