Review: Sidney Bird Releases New Album ‘Desert Person’
DESERT PERSON IS A CAPTIVATING VARIED LANDSCAPE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS — Arizona-based artist Sidney Bird has released a ten track album that is an evocative influence of “cactus pop” that creates her very own sound that makes her unique in the music industry.
From the moment you press play on the album, it is clear that this record is something special. It feels like we are listening to Bird’s personal exploration of connections, whether it is with family, friends, lovers or even yourself. The singer’s songwriting is vulnerable and reflecting, offering listeners a glimpse into her world where connections strike as a highlight of it. Bird has once again proven her ability to translate emotions into music that can deeply resonate with listeners.
Born and raised in Arizona, the singer draws inspiration from the desert landscapes that have surrounded her for almost all of her life. The Arizona landscape is notable in each note of the album, whether it's the vast expanses of the Southwest or the beautiful night sky that can be found, the listeners are transported to a world where the arid desert becomes a metaphor for the complexity of relationships.
Songs like “learning to love what I have” and “secret” show off Bird’s songwriting talent for writing authentic melodies and lyrics that are incredibly resonating. The influence of producer Jackson Hoffman is evident in each of the tracks, as it contains his organic style that perfectly compliments the album’s theme of personal growth. Each song on Desert Person feels like a nostalgic memory of past relationships and gives the feeling of hope in one’s personal growth.
The guitar and the sweeping strings from songs such as “son of a gun” or “something I'll never know” showcase the ability of the singer’s to create the perfect sound for “cactus pop” – a genre that feels as expansive as the desert landscapes that inspires it. The instruments in this album creates a cinematic aspect to it, making it the perfect soundtrack to a quiet night watching under Arizona’s stars or just soaking under the warm sun of that same state.
Bird’s vocals throughout the ten track album are incredibly powerful and vulnerable, which draws warmth and comfort to listeners. Her voice perfectly carries the emotions she wants to give out in each of the songs, whether it's bittersweet nostalgia, to the hopefulness of platonic relationships, the album’s reflection on relationships is captured perfectly. Her ability to maintain the essence of her life in Arizona in music is one of the highlights of this collection of songs.
Drawing comparisons to artists like Kacey Musgraves and Maggie Rogers, she has a unique sound that still differentiates her from these big names.
As the album unfolds, it becomes clear that Bird is not afraid to explore the uniqueness that the different relationships in her life bring to her and the complexity of them. Her ability to balance out her personal feelings with universal emotions is what makes her a great songwriter. While Desert Person is a very clear personal project, its themes of love and loss can resonate perfectly with her wide audience. She offers a window to fans into her world while at the same time allowing them to see their own experiences reflected back to them, allowing a connection to happen, as the singer draws in more listeners and immerses them in her emotional journey.
Desert Person is a deeply personal and rich sound album that perfectly captures connections with sincerity. Whether you are drawn to the cinematic soundscapes, the lyricism of the melodies in the songs, this album is a must listen and a reminder of the powerful voice she will become in the music industry.
