Jade Bird | SXSW Top 25
Jade Bird was announced as the Grulke Prize Winner for Developing Non-US Act at this year’s SXSW, and rightly so after an impressive 13-show run over the 4 day festival. She performed with everyone from the likes of Universal Music, BBC Music, BMI, Waterloo Records, Pledge Music, and more, proving to be a favourite everywhere that she took her charm and grace.
Finding worldwide success off the back of a handful of songs after releasing her debut EP ‘Something American,’ she was already a favourite in the States for the prominent country influence she carries in her music, and SXSW just consolidated a fan base she had already attained.
Though her title track ‘Something American’ went amiss during her BBC Music performance, she still performed songs from the EP, such as ‘What Am I Here For,’ which is an “ode to my sad kid days,” she jokingly explained. Her latest single ‘Lottery’ was still a huge hit of the night, and many unreleased songs performed too just made us itch to see her future releases.
In particular, new song “Anniversary” was a favourite, which sees Bird take an admirably sassy but oh-so-relatable punchline “Baby thanks for leaving me, Happy Anniversary for the day that I escaped your love” being addictively charming, taking a different perspective to the cliché of an anniversary. Though unreleased, it is available to hear as part of her Pledge Music session from SXSW available on YouTube (It’s 11:15 minutes in. Trust, we’ve listened, a lot).
It appeared that Bird altered her set slightly so she could do more laid back acoustic songs where she was sitting on the piano stool and had less of a strain on her voice - she was clearly and understandable so knackered after an intense run of shows. The audience sympathised, but with the venue overflowing with people watching her set from the pavements, we still felt lucky as ever to see her live, and of course she still impressively pulled off a high calibre, high energy show in true Jade Bird style.
Bird left the festival as one of everyone’s favourite musicians, not to mention favourite person (her chat is so damn fun on stage, you just want to be her friend). It was special to be able to see Bird up close and personal whilst we still can, as I’m certain that she is well on her way to selling out large venues in the near future, having already sold out London’s Village Underground just prior to the festival, and New York City’s Bowery Ballroom just earlier this week on her current tour.
Signed to Glassnote Records, where label President Daniel Glass could not stop proudly gushing over the wonder that is Bird during his Q&A with the conference, make sure to check Bird out during her world domination.