Sydney-based alt-pop star BIRDEE 王煒 is performing in Manila, Jakarta, and Singapore for her Southeast Asia “On My Own” tour.
In an online media roundtable on August 9, she shared her longtime passion for creativity and performing, her motivations and experiences as a rising artist, and her future plans for her career in the music industry as she is in the process of introducing herself to a global audience.
“My entire life, I’ve known that I wanted to do music. I’ve wanted to do something creative,” she said, recalling that she had been a natural performer since the age of 3, growing an interest in playing the piano and dancing. She pursued studying music in a university in Sydney, which pushed her to start her career as a professional artist towards a journey that could hopefully carve the way to her dream of performing across the globe, selling out shows, and hearing people sing her songs back to her.
As a songwriter, BIRDEE 王煒 pulls inspiration from the experiences she goes through, may it be from the conversations she makes with others and learning about their stories or her personal emotions and realizations in life. Ultimately, she takes on a very humane way of making music, with her main goal of simply being able to connect and resonate with audiences and make them feel understood through the songs she releases.
“I want BIRDEE’s identity to be known as an artist who just wants to spread love and goodness and understanding and connection to all kinds of people, no matter what race, or gender, or sex, or anything like that. I think that her identity is just to spread positivity and bring people together as one,” she said.
She revealed that her artistry involves expanding and exploring music styles and genres beyond her comfort zone. Being exposed to different genres of music at a young age, from classical and jazz to grunge and rock, helped her find her own artistic style, and now is inclined to alternative pop and electronic pop.
“I think there’s so many outlets and ways of making alternative pop. It’s not just one kind of sound to it. I think that allows me to be creative and to get out of my comfort zone and make whatever it is that I want to make,” she shared.
Part of her Southeast Asian tour is her desire to promote her newest single, “Best Mistake I Never Made,” which was inspired by a personal experience of choosing herself amidst a failed relationship, giving in to the emotions of drawing healthy boundaries and nurturing self-respect. Compared to her other songs she created previously, she shared that this track ventured more into an electronic pop style instead of sticking to the usual alt pop. She revealed that the songwriting was more “short and sweet” and gets to the point, deviating from her previous metaphorical way of writing.
Given her Asian roots, she expressed her excitement towards her “On My Own” Southeast Asian shows and the feeling of reaching people who are part of her culture. She said that this is a great experience to be able to get in touch with who she is as a person and as an artist. When asked about whether the Filipino audience would resonate with her music, she said, “You guys are just so positive and so vibrant and energetic and happy, and so loving people. I think my music, that is very upbeat and positive and light. I think that’s what connects with you guys.”
While she expects to feel the lively energy of the Filipinos in her Manila shows, she also wants her songs to make them feel inspired to achieve their own dreams and goals in life, and make them realize that life is enjoyable through the ups and downs.
Despite the commercial nature of the music industry, BIRDEE 王煒 remains steadfast in making music that is authentic and true to herself, reflecting the stories about things she had gone through and go through. She did not hesitate to show her confidence that she can push her artistry out into a global stage.
“My drive comes from within, of what I want to do next in life, where I want to take my career, and how I’m going to do that,” she said. “I’m not gonna sit here and say, ‘I’m the best singer, and I’m all that.’ I just know and I believe that my music comes from my authentic self, from my heart. All I want is for that to be connected to everyone in the world.”
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