Towa Bird (born 30 March 1999) is an English singer-songwriter and guitar player. Bird released her first single, "Wild Heart", in 2023 with Interscope Records, which she signed under in 2021.[1] She was also the lead guitarist for Renée Rapp's Snow Hard Feelings Tour. In March 2024, Bird and Rapp made their couple debut at Vanity Fair’s Oscars afterparty.[2] Her debut album, American Hero, was released in June 2024.
Towa Bird | |
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| Born | 30 March 1999 |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2023-present |
| Musical career | |
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| Labels | Interscope |
| Website | www |
Early Life
editBird was born on 30 March 1999 in Hong Kong[3] to British and Filipino parents, though she also lived in Thailand and London while growing up. After learning to play electric guitar when she was 12, Bird decided to pursue a career in music. At 14, she formed a band called The Glass Onions and performed at dives in Hong Kong.[4] She studied at Goldsmiths, University of London, but dropped out after two years.[5]
Career
editBird initially rose to prominence on TikTok in 2020, where she played guitar riffs over other artists' songs. Soon after, she caught the attention of Jacob Epstein and Zack Morgenroth of Lighthouse Management & Media, and she signed with Interscope Records in 2021 before moving to Los Angeles.[6] In 2022, she worked with Olivia Rodrigo and played guitar on her Disney+ documentary, Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U.[7]
On 7 April 2023, Bird released her debut single, "Wild Heart", described as "an infectious indie-pop romp" by Guitar World.[8][9] In that same year, 2023, she opened for Reneé Rapp's Snow Hard Feelings tour.[10]
On June 28, 2024[11], Bird released her debut album American Hero[12], described by Rolling Stone as "a collection of 13 succinct pop-punk punches to the chin."[13] The album is 35 minutes long.[11]
References
edit- ^ Daly, Rhian (2023-04-07). "Towa Bird Makes Explosive Start With Debut Single 'Wild Heart'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Reneé Rapp and Musician Towa Bird May Have Hard-Launched Their Relationship at an Oscars After-Party". ELLE. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Meet the Artist: Towa Bird and representing two communities in May and June". ESPN. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Velasquez, Juan (26 February 2024). "Towa Bird is the Queer GUitar-Shredding Rock Star of Your Dreams". Then. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Who Is Reneé Rapp's Girlfriend? All About Towa Bird". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ Havens, Lyndsey (21 June 2024). "TOWA BIRD IS FINALLY LEARNING TO CELEBRATE HER OWN ART: 'IT'S JUST GOOD MUSIC — MAYBE'". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Tijerna, Daniel (27 June 2024). "Towa Bird Wants to Be a New Kind of Rock Star". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (7 April 2023). "Towa Bird Makes Explosive Start With Debut Single 'Wild Heart'". Udiscovermusic. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ "Essential guitar tracks – hear our bumper edition of the latest six-string bangers, all wrapped up in a Spotify playlist". Guitar World. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Havens, Lyndsey (2024-06-21). "Towa Bird Is Finally Learning to Celebrate Her Own Art: 'It's Just Good Music — Maybe'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ a b American Hero by Towa Bird on Apple Music, 2024-06-28, retrieved 2024-08-11
- ^ "Towa Bird Is Turning the Idea of the American Hero Inside Out". FLOOD. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (2024-06-26). "Towa Bird is Ready To Be Everyone's New Guitar Hero". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-08-11.