Interview with Songbird: Learning to trust the process and your peers

Emerging artist Songbird opens up about the making of her debut EP Greener- a project rooted in reflection, change, and creative trust. We talked about how it all started, the challenges of finishing her first record, and what's next for this rising star.

Q: What was the first spark for your EP? What started it all off?

Songbird: It all began with Greener (A Side). I wanted to have an A side and a B side - the same song, but slightly different versions. Most of my music is finger-picky, emotional stuff, so I wrote the A side first. That came maybe 2020/2021- back when I was in college.

It was about moving to uni and feeling scared to leave home. The song's about appreciating what you have right now, even if it doesn't feel like much, because you never know how green the grass will really be on the other side.

I've been writing songs for as long as I can remember. My first one was when I was four or five, in my Nan's garden: "You turn the key, you open the door, say to me, you want more". So, yeah - the sparks have been sizzing for a while.

Q: You mentioned wanting two versions of "Greener." What inspired that idea?

Songbird: I love exploring different sides of a song. I always wanted a reimagined version - I just needed the right people to help bring it to life. When I met my housemate Anna, it just clicked. She completely understood my vision - it's like she lives in my brain.

Q: What track on your EP was the hardest to finish?

Songbird: Robbery, 100%. It's a fan favourite now, but it took forever to land. The EP was supposed to be acoustic up until B side, but with Robbery, we kept getting idea after idea, but it was really fun, but knowing when to put the logic mouse down was tough!

Q: What's the biggest lesson you've learned from creating your first EP?

Songbird: To trust the process - and trust the people you work with. It's so easy to micromanage your music, but it puts restraints on yourself. Giving others the skeleton of a song, you never know what you might get back. It's definitely something I've learnt, to take a step back and stop being so precious.

Q: You had such a great response on social media after the announcement of your EP. What moment stood out to you most?

Songbird: Okay, so my favourite moment - this is such a random story - was when my little sister decided I was officially famous. For context, my uncle is actually a world champion windsurfer (I know, completely unrelated, but stay with me).

I was at the park with my siblings, and my little sister turned to me and went, "Isn't it funny that we have two famous people in the family?" So I ask, "Who?" and she says, "You and Uncle John."

At this point, I'm already laughing, but I ask, "How am I famous?" And she goes, "Because your music is going to be on Roblox!"

So that was it - I've officially made it. Forget the charts, I'm going to be on Roblox.

Q: Who inspired your EP? Who's your biggest inspiration?

Songbird: It sounds cringy, but I'm such an empath, and whenever I look at people, I always see a younger version of them. It's not as if young me inspired the EP, but that's who I was doing it for.

I think it's always been for young me, and for my siblings to show them that it doesn't matter that you're not famous, just do something for you. If

you love it, sing it to a wall, sing it to yourself, that's fine.

As an artist, I love AK Patterson. I've got her tattooed. I enjoy a soft folk vocal, and I try to lean into her as an inspiration. My songwriting is inspired by Lizzie Mcapline. I'm really interested in storytelling, songwriting, and this is something she's really good at. I would love to mix this element into my music more.

Q: If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?

Songbird: C-Matt. No hesitation. I'd play the triangle, braid her hair - whatever she wanted! She's incredible!

If I could bring her onto one of my songs, maybe Miss Underdeveloped. It's a simple self-love song that doesn't get as much attention. I'd love to make a B-side version with her - just completely reinvent it.

Q: What's your favourite lyric you've ever written?

Songbird: You know what? It's got to be from Robbery. I love the lyrics so much. When I introduced it at my upcoming Tiny Desk session, I said, "This song's called Robbery. It's about a nightmare I had about a robbery... and my ex called Rob. So yeah, they were both pretty bad." Then I had to quickly add, "No! He wasn't a bad guy!".

The line, "Even then I might pretend we were better off as friends - the right place, just wrong time. Phone with no line, a house with no home and no one to call my own." is one of my favourites.

But my all-time favourite lyrics are in the second verse, where I describe the nightmare itself. I was really struggling with vivid dreams at the time, and it felt like there was no escape - awake or asleep. The lyric goes:

"I'll lie down, close my eyes. Dreams of guns and people's cries, people's screams, people's pleas, and they're pleading, "take my car, take my keys. Just take it all." They take the keys, open the tills. They take the bills, but we pay the price because they get a knife and stab me twice. They take my heart and take my life."

Not sunshine and rainbows, but it's an analogy of an actual robbery - the overall theme is that I'm being robbed of my heart, both physically and metaphorically, after the breakup. I didn't do anything wrong; it's something being imposed on me, and that was my take on it.

Q: If you could describe your EP in 3 words, what would they be?

Songbird: Cathartic. Reflective. Self-discovery.

Q: Finally, what's next for you?

Songbird: A lot! I have a Tiny Desk Performance coming out in October - it looks incredible, all scrapbook-themed. On October 20th, I'm releasing a Halloween song about a little ghost boy called Tommy Oakley.

There might be a Christmas song coming. Then next year - a full album. I want a chunky 12-song project with both new and old tracks. I wrote a song yesterday called 'Funeral Attire', which I think is making the cut.

Oh - and this is a secret - I'm doing a Sofar Sounds session this year! So, yeah, lots coming. I've got such an amazing team: Anna who produces with me, Sian, who gets me my gigs, and really pushed Greener forward. I've got a house band as well as a smaller acoustic set, which is me, Anna, and Keane. It really takes a village, but I'm loving every minute of it.

Songbird's debut EP 'Greener' is out now on all streaming platforms.