Interview: Sidney Bird
Interview by Carson Huffer
With bright energy and a variety of new looks, Sidney Bird has smashed out onto the pop scene with her newest single “On Brand”, out now. I received the fantastic opportunity to sit down with Sidney pre-release to discuss her music career and the process of finding her brand as a musician and artist.
Born and raised in Arizona but currently living in New York City, Sidney Bird has explored a variety of experiences and identities in her life. With a sonic sound that she described as “a pop disco in the desert”, Sidney pulls inspiration from artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, and Harry Styles to culminate her own style. Her musical journey is a more recent one, however, as Bird has not always been a musician by trade.
PHOTO CREDIT: SKY HELLIE
“I’ve been releasing my pop and folk inspired music for two and a half years. Before music, I had been in the acting world, specifically sketch comedy. After a while, I kind of just pivoted just to experiment just to see how this would go. I’m having a lot of fun!” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
Her pivot into music has led to a variety of releases over the last two years, with “On Brand” being the most experimental track in her wheelhouse yet. Lamenting on an identity crisis and the loss of self within the music industry, “On Brand” finds Bird exploring a variety of styles visually.
“When I came up with the song it was a lot of just being sad on my piano. I was feeling really lost about the industry. When I finished writing the song, I was just like “How drastic can I make this song and video.” I knew throughout the music video I wanted to be a pop princess, a rock and roll character, a soul r&b artist that turned into a spin off of Billie Eilish, a classical cello player, and an EDM DJ character. Once we hit the bridge though, you can find me in cowboy boots, a sundress, and some light makeup. That’s me finding myself. That’s Sidney Bird.” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
The experimentation shown in the video’s styling is apparent within the track itself, which is distinctly different from a lot of Bird’s discography. Moving through ballad moments with explosions of rhyme and synth, “On Brand” challenges Sidney’s comfort zone of genre to create a more expansive and innovative creation of sound.
PHOTO CREDIT: SKY HELLIE
“Sonically and with the production, I wanted to experiment with Louis The Child’s style of synths and drums, so not super western and folk. I really wanted to go more LA pop. We experimented with a bunch of different instruments and vocal stacks, and I think it created something really cool.” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
Even though the whole point of “On Brand” is to challenge the boxes the music industry and the world attempts to place her in, Sidney admits to still being nervous about the song’s release.
“The song and especially the music video express my journey of feeling lost as an artist and trying to find my sound, my aesthetic, and my brand, and the video is very theatrical. It really let me act again and I'm playing so many characters, but it's a bit jarring in its creation. I’m really excited because it can really relate to anyone who is feeling lost in their identity in general and trying to find their true self, but it’s always nerve-wracking to explore in a new way like this.” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
Despite the fear of being so open and exaggerated, Bird did not hold back lyrically in “On Brand”. Commenting on her online presence, musical sound, and personality, “On Brand” finds Sidney cutting into anyone that attempts to restrict her.
PHOTO CREDIT: SKY HELLIE
“My favorite lyric is the am I edgy enough?/ is it bad i’m in love? When I first started in music, I noticed that a lot of indie pop girls don't show their boyfriends and have this mysterious it girl persona. The aesthetic online is just so disconnected from where I'm at. I like to show a lot of different parts of my life online. There's a part of me that thinks this is all really silly because of my comedy background. I just want to put it all out there.” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
Looking to the future, Sidney has an exciting remainder of 2022. With two more singles coming later this summer, a full album releasing in November, and a mini-tour to New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Bird is moving at full speed in her career. At this pivotal moment in her music journey, I asked if there was any advice she wished she had received when beginning her music career.
“Really experiment with social media. Don’t take it too seriously or be too afraid to post. It's such a gift, especially as an independent artist, to be able to promote yourself like that. I’ve made so many friends since I started really using social media and taking it seriously. Also, say yes to any opportunity that comes to you. Go out! Meet people! Write all the time and just collaborate.” - Sidney Bird, for Tongue Tied Magazine
Be sure to stream “On Brand” on Spotify and watch the music video on YouTube. You can also follow and make sure to catch up with Sidney on Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date with new releases and tour dates!
