Wallis Bird is a powerhouse in the world of music. Fact. Releasing her seventh album today, HANDS is a project born from personal experiences and is a shining beam of self-expression. The Irish-born but now Berlin-based artist speaks loudly about trust, self-censorship, alcohol abuse and stagnation. It’s a formidable body of work that showcases the very best of Bird’s catalogue of work. We caught up with Wallis ahead of the album release to talk about finding inspiration, the release process and this year’s tour.
Hey Wallis, what have you been up to recently?
Long story or short story? The long of it is that I finished an album last November that has blown my own tits off because it’s the best thing I’ve done in years. I’m in Berlin and there has been war on my doorstep so that has been life changing and puts everything into perspective. I bought a farm in January with my partner and 2 other couples & we’re turning it into a countryside community retreat. And I’m about to release the album on Friday with an unbelievable amount of work behind me. It’s been a lot.
You’ve just released your new album Hands, how does it feel to get it out into the world?
Personally I’m honoured for the whole team. The response has been huge and I take that as a team win. Aside from the mammoth task it is to organise a release, the creative timeline for all of us has been one big fucking pleasure. Making the music has been free flowing and beautifully deep. Communication with the team has been caring and fun, we’ve made sure the run up is the most important thing and we’ve worked well and worked hard and it is replaying us.
Although this is your seventh album release, does the process ever get any easier?
You have to imagine that I am going to die making music. So god knows how many albums or songs or musical projects I will make or be involved in. I’ve devoted my life to developing and evolving and celebrating time passing through my music. That is specific to me. So as long as I’m challenging myself it should never come ‘easy’. BUT, the important way I approach my life and my music is that the big work should be well loved and well prepared. This makes pushing boundaries and challenging everything much easier. My aim as a developing artists is to always be a better communicator, a better collaborator, generous with my chances and knowledge and humble with my ego. That should make the overall picture easier but not the art. The art must challenge you, there is too much meaning and depth to our time on this earth to be complacent.
It’s quite a personal album, can you tell us more about that?
It’s personal because I’m not just speaking about myself, I’m speaking specifically about the time between 2019 – 2021. We have all gone through enormous change. One which has traumatised, energised and even radicalised us. I’m simply marking the events that have happened in that time, related them to my learning curve from my childhood to now and left it open ended and hopeful to encourage others to do the same. I think that the most surprising thing about the album is that it’s immediate and raw, still, so it speaks clearer to the listener.
How do you know when an experience can be turned into a song? Is it immediately? Or more about reflection and processing something?
My experience is that a song can be prophetic. If you’re really serving the music then you trust the process, and that includes understanding it later. Allowing the song to live its life and wait for you to get sense and understand. Or wait till you’ve lived the moment to understand it.
I’m not saying I write gibberish and allow it, but if there is a particularly biting, harsh political or social statement that ‘wants’ to get written despite my better judgement, I have to know that the music has plans which outlive my life. It becomes written but might not make any sense until 6 years down the line and you’re packing your shopping into your bag and getting bashed across the head with the meaning! My duty is to work hard to be an open, capable and detailed crafter in all aspects of the job. Fit body fit mind.
There’s some brilliant influences running throughout Hands, who would you say has been key to helping you broaden your artistry?
All my team. I’ve worked with them for 16 years and they’ve consistently pushed themselves and myself further. Philipp Milner was the driving force behind the sound of the record and has taken our world further because of it. And my beloved, it’s been an insular world these last few years and those I love have been my driving force, given me meaning in this time.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Bohemian Rhapsody. Basically just play the track and let everyone else sing for the whole thing!
And finally, can we see you on tour in the UK and Ireland soon?
HANDS TOUR 2022
27th Oct – Colours, London | 28th Oct – The Factory, Manchester | 4th Nov 22 – Roisin Dubh, Galway | 5th Nov 22 – Spirit Store, Dundalk | 6th Nov 22 – The Empire, Belfast | 7th Nov 22 – The Nerve Centre, Derry | 9th Nov 22 – Set Theatre, Kilkenny | 10th Nov 22 – Debarra’s, Clonakilty | 11th Nov 22 – Cyprus Avenue, Cork | 12th Nov 22 – Crown Live, Wexford | 16th Nov 22 – Kenny’s, Lahinch | 17th Nov 22 – Dolan’s, Limerick | 18th Nov 22 – Whelan’s, Dublin | 19th Nov 22 – Whelan’s, Dublin
Connect with Wallis Bird: