INTERVIEW WITH… GERMAN-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER M.BYRD TALKS DEBUT ALBUM + MORE
INTERVIEW WITH… GERMAN SINGER + MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST M. BYRD
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
MAGGIE LINDEMANN - “SABOTAGE” - SONG REVIEW
Maggie Lindemann is one of the fierce femmes from pop punk's newest evolution. Her latest is the introspective single Self Sabotage, a track steeping in angst and nostalgia. Lyrically, Lindemann goes through the inner workings of her mind and her bad habit of being her own worst enemy. The song is off her new album, SUCKERPUNCH. This album takes you on her emotional journey of healing from the toxicity of a bad relationship. I got to speak with her about this new project during a small presser. When I asked her what is one thing people are generally surprised to find out about you, Seeing how social media can be a veneer for many things, including people. Lindemann's response was quite like what many of us would say, that she is more than what she is perceived to be online. Sometimes all the versatility we have as humans get lost in the social media clutter. So for fans of Maggie's, her latest album, SUCKERPUNCH, is truly only the tip of the iceberg.
STREAM MAGGIE LINDEMANN’S NEW ALBUM SUCKERPUNCH HERE
NIALL HORAN RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE "NICE TO MEET YA"
Singer Niall Horan is officially back with a new single "Nice to Meet Ya". It's the Capitol Records artist's first song he's released in nearly two years after his successful debut album Flicker. The former One Direction member also dropped a video (that is directed by The Young Astronauts) with it as well. "Nice To Meet Ya" sees Niall experimenting with his sound on the jazzy and soulful piano-driven pop-rock track. It is also the first single off his upcoming second record. "Nice To Meet Ya" was co-written with frequent collaborators Julian Bunetta (who produced it as well), Tobias Jesso, Jr., and Ruth-Anne Cunningham. You can stream the song and watch the video below!
Stream Niall Horan - "Nice To Meet Ya"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7jeYJA9bgY
Until then,
Brittney x
MYYLO // “CYBORG” - SINGLE REVIEW
Myylo, the Nashville based emerging pop singer-songwriter dropped his new single 'Cyborg' today. The uber catchy song mixes the singers penchant for idiosyncratic lyricism, catchy hooks, unique melodies and his notable falsetto. The song evokes the spirit screw ups in love and heartbreak oh so well leaning into the singers whimsical vibe, where he often draws inspiration from not only classic 70s singer-songwriters like Carole King to pop artists of today such as Kim Petras and Rex Orange County. The Twilight Zone intro to the song says it all and truly introduces you to Myylo as an artist.
"One thing I'm proud of with this song is that it manages to address something heavy while sounding joyful. I'm literally wishing I could talk to God to figure out why I F'd things up with my ex. Its like, yeah, my personal life may be a dumpster fire right now, but we're still gonna dance about it and laugh through the tears." - Myylo
Listen to Myylo ‘Cyborg’ -https://open.spotify.com/track/29zBLebxWlO4CBuZp59ZJZ?si=ldKUSnfqR7aHmx32uTqQ4gMyylo Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myylomusic/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/myylomusicFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyyloMusic/
