A one woman dawn chorus, Birdy is the little girl with the colossal voice, shy temperament, uncontainable potential and prodigious talent.
Jasmine van den Bogaerde speaks very softly. Hiding her clear, blue eyes behind a mane of tumbling, golden brown tresses, she is a freshly-bloomed English rose. Nicknamed Birdy by her parents, when she was a baby, a young Jasmine would open her mouth wide when chowing down in her high-chair at tea-time, just like a little bird. As soon as she was able to walk and talk, Birdy took to the piano, sitting side-by-side with her Mother, learning to sing and play classical scores. Quickly grasping the basics, she went on to attempt to write her own material and it soon became clear her talent and aptitude lay far beyond her years. Splicing together footage of herself performing before releasing the D.I.Y videos onto the world via YouTube, interest in the then twelve-year-old songstress soon peaked and Atlantic Records came a-knocking.
Shortly after recording her demo, a cover of Bon Iver’s ‘Skinny Lover’, Radio One picked up this New Forest born beauty’s outstanding musical abilities. Catapulted into the Top 20 of the UK singles chart, her viral video count quickly topped ten million in the months that followed. Quietly encouraged by this incredible surge of support, Birdy went on to release a series of covers onto the web-waves, in which she pays homage to artists ranging from The xx to Cherry Ghost, The National to James Taylor. Arranging original interpretations of well-known, modern tracks, Birdy remains true to her traditionally learned techniques by reaching deep and singing from the very bottom of her innocent, young heart. Filling a room from the very first bar, her soft and feminine features are beautifully complimented by the brave and bold sound she projects, all while perched pensively at the piano.
Recently returned from L.A. where she’s been collaborating with with top producers Rich Costey (Muse, TV On The Radio), James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, The Klaxons) and Jim Abbiss (Adele), Birdy is proud to announce the arrival of her first full studio album. Cherry-picking a selection of songs which have inspired and influenced her, the pre-GCSE student has recorded a collection of covers ahead of her first self-written album, set for release next year. Describing the new material, the little bird gushes excitedly, “I’ve got loads, but they’re not finished. They’re just sketches of songs that I have in my head. I can’t wait to start putting them together, and to see what people think of them.”
Still a homebody at heart, Jasmine is continuing at school, taking time out to play and appear for shows and interviews. Travelling all over the world in her spare time, she is hugely in demand but remains totally grounded. Always accompanied by her father along the way, she is interested only in people enjoying her talent and sharing in the awe-inspiring sound. i-D online travelled down to Kensal Rise to find our feathered friend tickling the ivories in a dusty gig room, off the beaten track. Hold your breath or be prepared to lose it, i-D online proudly presents, Birdy.
youtube.com/user/officialbirdy
Birdy’s debut album ‘Birdy’ is out now. Head here to see more from i-D online’s i-N Session series.
Text: Milly McMahon
Film: Asylum Films
Photography: Mark Kean
Make-up: Lucy Bridge using Laura Mercier
