CYNICS might say that these photos look like Bird were just messing about on Crosby beach with their mums’ net curtains.
Cynics, and the band themselves, as it turns out.
“Yes we did that photoshoot in the freezing cold sea in the middle of December, wrapped in my mum's net curtains,” laughs singer Adele Emmas.
The three piece – Adele, Sian Williams (guitar, harmonies) and Alexis Samata (drums) – are refreshingly un-showbiz, despite being championed by Rob Da Bank, Stuart Maconie, Mark Radcliffe and Tom Robinson.
After meeting each other through a friend of a friend, Adele and Sian (the pair in the photos) bonded over their mutual love for artists such as Leonard Cohen, Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins, Warpaint, and Fleetwood Mac.
The girls swapped numbers and soon after songwriter Adele and drummer Alexis invited Sian along for a jam.
Since signing to Jack To Phono Records, playing a UK tour and a sold-out EP launch back in 2011, the band have built up a large, loyal fan base in Liverpool and around the country, releasing their EP Shadows in August last year.
Their sound has an otherwordly quality – something Adele credits to their roots in the city.
“We all love being near the sea,” she says. “It makes us feel a sense of clarity and nostalgia, maybe that's why a lot of our songs are based around the water. My favourite memory is going on the ferry across the Mersey when I was a child.”
The band are also big fans of the city’s music offering – both the shops and the venues. They launched their new EP Ophelia upstairs at Leaf on Bold Street.
It’s been a whirlwind few months, with Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music all booking them in for sessions. They have also had their music featured on Channel 4, played at Abbey Road and former Cocteau Twin and label owner Simon Raymonde chose Bird as one of his favourite bands of the year.
They’re going down a storm in London, but it’s the north that really matters to them.
“London is great because it has a big crowd,” says Adele.
“But Liverpool and Manchester are always the friendliest.”
The new EP Ophelia has been produced by Bill Ryder Jones from The Coral.
But like Bill – who toured around the world playing in one of the best bands of his generation – Bird are still impressively laidback about the whole fame/fortune/rockstar thing. Take their backstage rider...
“Erm, beer, red wine, cups of tea and chocolate – very healthy as you can see,” laughs Adele.
“We also love the large boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts that you get at every service station, we always buy a big box of them and then feel incredibly guilty afterwards.”
Jade Wright
