On June 28th, Towa Bird, an alt rock/pop artist, released her debut album, American Hero. The best gift one could give to gay people for pride month!
Thank you, Towa!
Towa Bird is a half Filipino, half English artist, who spent much of her childhood in Thailand and London. She dropped out of university to pursue music, and along the way, played for Olivia Rodrigo's “Brutal” in driving home 2 u, and opened for Reneé Rapp for both the North American and European legs of her Snow Hard Feelings Tour. At the start of the career, she also went viral on TikTok numerous times for her guitar covers, from Childish Gambino to Supertramp. She is currently signed to Interscope, with amazing supportive queer fans, and her mini tour already selling out in less than a day!
American Hero starts off with piano and a soft guitar, and transitions into electric guitar being the main sound with cheers and claps in the background., You can imagine a hero coming out to the stage, setting the image of the album. The contrast between all of her vulnerable, sapphic songs and the image of an American Hero, is quite intriguing!
Next song is "FML," filled with Bird chanting “Fuck my life” and rhythmical drums. Remind yourself of the time when you were so in love that you couldn’t imagine a life without them. This song is exactly that, capturing the raw emotions that comes with love.
My favorite line is
"Sit on the couch and watch Jennifer's Body / Tell you she's hot and then say that I'm sorry,"
Her mentioning Jennifer’s Body, a film with queer undertones, has altered my brain chemistry ultimately.
Next are some singles, “Drain Me!”, “Wild Heart” (her debut single), “Sorry Sorry”, and “B.I.L.L.S.”
“Drain Me!” is one of my favorites, as it explicitly talks about queer sex! “Sorry Sorry” gained attention on TikTok as fans were wondering whether Bird was saying “I see your big eyes staring at me” or “I see your big ass staring at me” (first one is correct).
"If we're starting something /
It'll be the start of the end / Don't want another lover/
If it means losing you as a friend"
Aside from the joke, it’s a vulnerable song of two best friends hesitating to make the move, a common occurrence seen in sapphics. Will undoubtedly tear you apart.
“B.I.L.L.S” is an anti-capitalistic anthem, we all should preach! Must listen when you do not want to pay rent and are feeling rebellious.
“Ew” is a song I could image it as a song straight out of the romcom in early 00s with y2k vibes. The song proceeds speedy and energetic with a mix of straightforward desperate lyrics and a dialogue.
The drum, her powerful vocals, and her shouting “Ew'' add on to the desperation and the raw emotions of self-embarrassment from being in love.
Love really is embarrassing sometimes.
"Love songs falling out my mouth
Trust me, I know how I sound
All I think about is you, I want you in my room
You’re so cute, I’m gonna puke
Like, 'Ew'"
“Last Dance” does a 180 from “Ew,” which caught me off guard in a pleasant way. Unlike the y2k vibes, it is more ballad-leaning with angsty lyrics.