INTERVIEW WITH… GERMAN-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER M.BYRD TALKS DEBUT ALBUM + MORE
Photo credit: Miriam Marlene
M. Byrd is a German-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter whose stark, inspired, and confessional pop-inspired folk-rock music. The artist is turning heads and opening ears with his intense and contemplative sound, which marks his debut album, The Seed. A body of work that is out now and happens to be a deeply personal collection of songs for him, as it was also a healing process for him. For the listener, M. Byrd hopes the aptly named record plants a seed and encourages the listeners’ evolution or growth in some way, as it did for him. I got to interview M. Byrd about his debut record and much more. You can read his answers below.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Let's start with learning a bit about your background. Did music always have a role in your life? Did you always know you wanted to pursue this path professionally?
M. BYRD: My grandfather collected jazz records, so I early on became interested in swing music by e.g. Duke Ellington. Music had always played a huge role when I grew up in a small town - it presented me with a new language that would always be a companion.
I never made a conscious choice to pursue music professionally, it was more of an accident that we made some songs that people responded to. I think, even if I changed career paths you’d still find me in the studio experimenting - it’s just such a big part of my life
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How has your year been so far both professionally and personally?
M. BYRD: It’s been a wild ride so far - I didn’t get to spend a lot of time at one spot and have been traveling back and forth in Europe playing shows or recording. This makes it possible for me to visit a lot of friends that I otherwise wouldn’t see too often and I am very grateful to combine these things!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: You just released your debut album, The Seed. What’s a typical creative and writing process like for you? And was it any different to record this record?
M. BYRD: I like to start with a very rough voice memo. My voice memos really are like little, grainy, old photographs that I take during my travels. When I start working on one of these days’ ideas, I like to have people in the room, that see the same potential in these little ideas as I do - everything from there is an open field of experimentation, and whatever instruments work best at that moment.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Was there a track on The Seed that you found particularly challenging to craft? One that came together quite easily?
M. BYRD: Pyrrhula was quite challenging because it’s played completely live and not on a grid or anything that could lead my timing. I recorded a loooot of versions of this until I stuck with one of the initial takes.
Flood came together quite easily - I remember the process as a fun day of playing with sounds and structure.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I did some digging and discovered that you played bass in a band called, Ilgen-Nur. Was there anything from that time playing and touring that you brought with you into this current solo project?
M. BYRD: Well, Ilgen is a super talented writer - she has a calm but very sharp sense of observation, which really inspires me. Also, the end everybody really encouraged me to release my own songs!
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: The visuals to your songs really emphasize the emotion felt in your music. Is that something you were keen to get across?
M. BYRD: Absolutely! Glad you recognized.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?
M. BYRD: That changes a lot. I’ve lately been digging Daniel Norgren’s music, in case you haven’t heard it. It’s all recorded to tape and sounds super analogue. On the other hand, I am also digging into Cocteau Twins’ discography a lot. Oh, and there’s a lot of Japanese ambient music out there (e.g. Haruomi Hosono) that I’ve been listening to.
THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Lastly, what is next up on the horizon for M. Byrd?
M. BYRD: EU Tour in September and October! Come to the shows and say hi if you read this interview :-)!
M. Byrd’s “The Seed” is out so stream now
