Wallis Bird spreads her wings in Berlin
She shrugs when asked if coming out was a tough decision. In her personal life, the Wexford singer isn’t one for melodrama. She is who she is — if others wish to make a song and dance, that’s their business.
“I don’t give a shit,” she says, laughing. “People can say what they want. I think your personality will show eventually anyway. If I continue as I am and just be myself and do what I do and work hard… I am happy. You are going to be judged, whatever happens.”
Our interview takes place several days after U2’s surprise album giveaway, via iTunes. Bird takes issue at the means by which Songs Of Innocence was distributed — dispatched to the inbox of iTunes customers without their permission. “If they can put music onto your computer without your say so what else can they do?” she wonders. “What else can they see? It is worrying. I don’t approve.”
Such a view is left of centre in this part of the world. However, in Germany, where Bird has lived for several years, it is mainstream. Many Germans have first hand experience of a police state and are suspicious when corporations take it upon themselves to compromise their customers’ privacy. Bird moved to Berlin in 2012, escaping a failing relationship and looking for a new direction in her life.
“I was in London and it was not working out for the last year we were together,” she says. “I decided to upsticks and you know, fuck it, move to another city. I went there and the first person I met, it was like ‘Oh my god’.”
Bird mock-swoons as she says this. From a whirlpool of emotion — heartache mixed with the thrill of new love — emerged her fourth album, Architect. With its cool contours and crisp melodies, the project vibrates with the energy of Berlin’s nightclub scene — though the record isn’t quite the electronic reinvention many have mistaken it for.
“I went about writing a really lame techno album,” she says. “I was spending so much time in clubs, getting all the negative energy out of my system. I started composing techno tunes… all beats and melody. In the end I discovered that synthesising sound is not my bag.
“My album was made using real instruments that sound electronic.”
Of Berlin, she says “it is definitely a place where people connect. It is young and vibrant. You go over and have a totally new life, get the head blown off you. I really needed that”.
In her early 30s, Bird has had the usual roller-coaster career. Her first album was released on Island, part of the Universal Records empire.
She is glad of the experience though wouldn’t go back for anything.
“You had far too many people working on one project. There was too much delegation. You wanted something to be changed, you had to go through 20 people. It tried it and picked up a lot, but we ultimately discovered that communication was our priority. I love the freedom of doing stuff for myself and being the one in control.”
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