Description
Ask Wallis Bird what changes shersquos experienced since 2016rsquos Home, her last album, and shersquoll offer a list. ldquoWell, the worldrsquos changed a lot,rdquo shersquoll begin, ldquoand Irsquove changed with it. The MeToo movement, lsquoRepeal The 8thrsquo, marriage equality in Australia, lsquoBlack Lives Matterrsquo, Trump, Brexit, the rise of racism, the death of countless musical icons, the environmental crisishellip And,rdquo shersquoll add, wryly, ldquoIrsquom 36 now, so Irsquom officially a womanhelliprdquo The answerrsquos typical of Bird short but substantial, as serious as it is witty. Shersquos released five albums since 2007, performing some 800 shows this past decade, but having surrendered a finger to a lawnmower at 18 months old, the Berlinbased Irish musician enjoys a unique perspective. This is reflected in her two Irish Meteor Awards, Irelandrsquos annual music prize ndash mostly recently for Best Female Artist ndash and her prestigious 2017 German ldquoMusikautorenpreisrdquo Music Author Prize, as well as two nominations for the Choice Music Prize, Irelandrsquos equivalent to Britainrsquos Mercury Prize. More importantly, her response refuses to differentiate between her life and the worldrsquos. This was never more important than on her sixth album, the timely Woman. A daring synthesis of Birdrsquos songwriter roots and passion for, among other genres, soul, itrsquos eleven songs long but 37 minutes short pointed, powerful, and packed with truths and levity. Most significantly, it insists our lives are inescapably intertwined. This time round, though, Bird knows therersquos more at stake. At Womanrsquos heart lies the concurrent urge to tackle injustice and celebrate the good in human nature, themes demanding immediate attention. ldquoI want more empathy in the world around me,rdquo she concludes, ldquoso Irsquove started by writing it into my life. I want to fill rooms with these words. I want to hear these sentiments uttered out loud, and for people to get used to hearing themselves say them. Ultimately, I want these words written into their lives.rdquo
