It had been a few years since Bird and I had last spoken, so when we connected over Zoom, catching up felt wonderfully warm and familiar. Before we even reached the subject of new music, our conversation wandered through life reflections, favourite records, memorable holidays and the simple pleasures that make us who we are.

Looking back at her younger self, Bird laughed as she recalled being completely obsessed with Radiohead at 21.

"The Bends was just on constantly," she said. "I listened to it non-stop until OK Computer came along."

Music remains central to her life, but so too does an appreciation for experiences that stay with you long after they happen. While many people chase sunshine and beaches, Bird finds herself drawn elsewhere.

"Iceland," she said without hesitation when discussing memorable destinations. The country's dramatic landscapes and the magic of the Northern Lights have left a far greater impression on her than any traditional beach holiday ever could.

Back on home soil, however, her tastes are delightfully straightforward. Bird absolutely loves everything about a roast dinner, and she speaks about it with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for career milestones. One thing she is particularly proud of is her ability to produce a proper Yorkshire pudding, a skill she has clearly mastered.

The conversation naturally turned back to music and performance, where Bird's passion for connection remained as strong as ever.

"Live music is all about connection," she reflected.



To illustrate the point, she recalled attending a Smashing Pumpkins concert years ago. The band members had apparently argued before taking to the stage and spent much of the performance facing away from one another.

"I felt cheated," she laughed. "I'd not had an argument with them."

It's a simple story but one that perfectly captures her philosophy. Audiences invest emotionally in live music, and artists owe them a genuine shared experience.

There are, of course, a few things she wishes she had approached differently. One lingering regret is that she didn't practise the cello more when she was younger. Yet any suggestion that this has hindered her creatively is quickly dispelled by the breadth of work she has produced throughout her career and the confidence with which she now approaches her craft.

You can hear that confidence on her forthcoming studio album, Held Here Together.

Rather than emerging from a singular concept or strict creative framework, the record came together through a collection of ideas and songs she had been developing over time. As those pieces accumulated, they gradually revealed themselves to be part of a larger whole.

"They became a really cohesive body of work," she explained.

It is not always how she works. Bird often sets herself creative challenges to push her songwriting in new directions. On previous projects she has recorded entire albums playing every instrument herself, a process that inevitably imposes limitations.

"If I'm playing everything, I have to be able to play everything that's in the songs," she said.

That restriction can be creatively rewarding, but for Held Here Together she deliberately allowed herself greater freedom. Without needing to perform every part personally, she was able to think on a much larger scale, embracing arrangements that were bolder, richer and more cinematic than she might otherwise have attempted.

As expansive as the album may be, Bird's approach to performing the songs live is almost the complete opposite.

With a run of record store performances on the horizon, followed later in the year by dates supporting Ward Thomas, she is already considering how these songs will evolve once they leave the studio.

For Bird, the live setting is not about recreating every detail of a recording. Instead, it is about stripping a song back to its essence.

"I want people to hear what the song sounds like in its purest form," she explained.

At its heart, that often means little more than a voice and a few chords. It's a philosophy that once again returns to that idea of connection — artist and audience sharing a moment together without unnecessary barriers.

Despite a career that continues to grow and evolve, Bird says her ambition has never fundamentally changed. Instead, it has expanded alongside her experience, opening up new possibilities and new goals.

When asked who she would most like to collaborate with, she admitted it is almost impossible to choose. There are simply too many inspiring artists she admires. More important than fame or profile, she believes the best collaborators are people from whom you can genuinely learn.

After some consideration, one name rose above the rest.

"I'd love to write and record with Dolly Parton," she said.

There was both admiration and urgency in her answer. Opportunities like that are finite, and Bird would relish the chance to work alongside one of music's greatest songwriters while the opportunity still exists.

As our conversation drew to a close, it became clear that Held Here Together represents far more than just another album release. It is a record built from accumulated experiences, creative freedom and a deeper understanding of what matters most.

Whether discussing Radiohead records, Yorkshire puddings, Icelandic skies or the intimacy of live performance, Bird's outlook remains rooted in authenticity and connection. Those qualities have guided her throughout her career and continue to shape the music she makes today.

And if Held Here Together is any indication, they will continue to do so for a long time yet.



Held Here Together is released on June 26.