‘Bird’ is the exquisitely beautiful new single from Norway-born, Los Angeles-based folk singer/songwriter Emma River. It’s her fifth official release to date and showcases an artist who continues to grow and elevate her musical soundscape. A delicate piano guides the song throughout and interweaves with the angelic voice of the songstress – and it’s this voice that stays with you long after the track is finished. I guess, having grown up singing in gospel choirs, one can expect a well-trained and polished vocal performance, but River simply takes it to the next level.
‘Bird’ was written during the worldwide lockdowns in the early days of the pandemic, and River says that, personally, the tune serves as, “a reminder to not stress out so much, and rather live in the moment.” Influenced by artists like The Staves, Lizzy McAlpine, and early Mariah Carey, Emma River is a force to be reckoned with!
‘Bird’ is a calming, ethereal, and deeply personal track from a supremely talented musician.
Indie top 39
What does the song mean to you?
When I wrote ‘Bird’ it was during covid, and I felt that everything was so up in the air. I found myself worrying a lot about things I couldn’t control, like things in the past or the future and I would sometimes lay awake at night worrying. The lyrics of ‘Bird’ talk about how worrying can limit yourself and you feel a little trapped. I, therefore, made the metaphor about being more like birds, who are free, don’t worry about tomorrow, and they seem satisfied with life.
Tell us about your creative process and how the song came to be?
I wrote this song together with my husband Esteban Obando. We usually come up with the melody and a hook first, and then we decide a topic for the lyrics. This song actually had quite a few lyric changes before we were happy with it. We knew we wanted to write about birds and “don’t worry about tomorrow”, but the poetry and flow of the music and lyrics can take a few tries before we feel it is approved.
Once the song was done we went ahead and laid down guitar and keys, and then we built the production and arrangement around that. ‘Bird’ is fully produced and arranged by the two of us, so that is very fulfilling.
What are your favourite lyrics in the song?
“would I care about the reasons, for the things I’m not meant to understand”?
I like it because it captures the essence of the song. I don’t think we are supposed to know everything that is happening in life, or how things will turn out, always. I am also a Christian, and I have faith that I can leave things to God, put them in his hands. There are so many things you really can’t control, so it is freeing to give away your worries to someone else.
When did you realise that music is what you wanted to do?
I have been playing piano and singing since I was 6 years old, and was involved with music and cultural life in the area where I grew up. I got recognized for my talent pretty early on and understood that I had that gift. When I started in High School I went to a music magnet high school and realized that this was something I could do professionally. Since then I built up to an actual career in music by finding a music college (Berklee College of Music, in Boston), and then later on moving to Los Angeles where I live now.
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Now you can listen to all the 39 songs in one place, right here on Spotify!
This coverage was created in collaboration with Musosoup as part of the #SustainableCurator movement.
