Bairi - Fire Siren Interview
Bairi’s debut album Fire Siren was released 22-4-24 and is a beautifully crafted project around 7 years in the making, with a poetically constructed track list. Her immersive sound is stylistically experimental with an enchanting vocal range and emotionally charged productions.
In a heartfelt interview with Wordplay, Bairi goes into her journey with music; drawing inspiration from real experiences, defying convention and sharing some of her personal story navigating through life’s lessons.
When Wordplay asked who wants the interview, I didn't give anyone else a chance to say them. Because your song, Spring Cleaning, it's not on the album, but it really resonated. Sorry, I wanted to get my fan-girl moment out the way!
“(laughs) It's mine, so I appreciate it. I really didn't know that song was gonna touch so much, it was cathartic for me, so I'm glad that it should do that for you.”
Thank you! So your debut album Fire Siren, it's absolutely brilliant I've been loving it, the tracks are so different. Like Come My Way, Paraíso, the contrast between them. You did mention on IG this project was 7 years in the making; what’s the background of that journey and how you stayed motivated through that process?
“Girl! (laughs). Well, I had like my first EP in 2016 and we don't have to talk about that because that was pre-Bairi, but that was when I really decided to finally commit to being an artist. Once that dropped, I was like, oh I feel so good I'm going to drop an album in 2017. The first song that I recorded was Ways in either 2017 or the beginning of 2018, I had just graduated college in 2017. You deal with post-grad depression, you deal with real life, and really coming to terms with okay, I don't have a plan and not only do I not have a plan, but my dream is not to gain stability right now. So for a few years I kind of struggled with committing because it was scary. I moved back home to Pennsylvania and was a server trying to make money to get by. All the time I was committing to that was distracting myself from my reality. I wasn't putting enough time into the music in hindsight, I didn't feel like I had the luxury of doing so. So the reason why [the album] has taken so long is first of all, just generally me getting in my own way. I think a lot of us can identify with that. But just really understanding that my life isn't going to look conventional. And finally, during the pandemic in 2020 that was the last job I had as server or cocktail waitress and I just committed and stayed in the studio. I would say 2020 is when I started to actually get good. My love was continually resurging throughout all of these years with music, with recording and being affirmed helped a lot. There were a few times where I did want to quit, but even so, I can't even imagine a life without this, and when I did [try life without music] it did not work for me (laughs). So that was my process, it was really finding myself through everything. While I do wish I could have gotten this project out earlier, everything happens for a reason. If I didn't drop this project right now, I might not have had the wisdom to put Paraíso as the outro. This project tells the story of me finding my purpose and Paraíso perfectly puts the period on that era.”
Bairi - Paraíso (Orchestral)
You can feel the flow of it… I think that's what makes [Fire Siren] all the more special. Something you did on your IG I loved is you broke down each track listing all the people that were involved. You've traveled about quite a lot in that period of finding; so how important was it building your community around you and the right creative team to support bringing your vision to life?
“Oh my gosh, I mean just the way that the world opened you know, during the pandemic. On Twitter really getting that support again pushed me to continue and keep going. Not only that, I think I've learned a lot about myself especially this year that I need to keep people around me that do truly believe in me and wanna see me win, not just something that can benefit them. That takes a vetting process, it takes years. Something I really want to stress to people is choose people that choose you, but also people you know can feed the purpose; it's not just about me, it's about the purpose. I've been so blessed, you know, some people didn't [truly support] that I had to learn myself through, but then getting the reward of having people that actually cared, it's so incredibly important. I would not be here without Baylee, without all of the producers, the writers. Even like the A&Rs, everybody that’s had a piece in it. I am just a small piece in the scale of everything. While I do understand I'm the front runner, I'm the artist, it's just one piece, just like everything else is. It's very important that everybody in the industry knows that- even if their role isn't in the spotlight it's just as important, if not more.”
I love that, knowing the importance of people around you. When you do music, at different times you might resonate with different things, but please go into you finding your own unique sound. In one of your previous interviews you mentioned your technical ability and using your voice as an instrument, and I just loved that, that phrase.
“People like producers ask me to use my voice as a sample or background vocals and I feel so happy to be like, my voice is your instrument. I try to really humble myself, I am just one piece. In terms of voices and instruments, I remember either somebody was heralding Beyoncé or she spoke about it, how she emulates specific instruments to play around with her voice. And Nathi, who's on [the track] Ways, she has this song called I Am where she plays with her voice as if it's a trumpet. I just think it's so fascinating what your voice can do. Seeing as this is the gift that God gave me, I want to push it and experiment and play. That's one part of it, with finding my sound. I think a lot of ego is involved in being a singer up front, like you feel you have to prove yourself, but I'm so glad I'm getting over that for the most part. Because I didn't believe that I could sing for the longest time, even though I loved it. When I finally just decided to believe in myself, I understood that while my instrument doesn't sound like anybody else's, it's mine. That opened the door for me so much, just to play and understand like, oh, these are the type of songs that I like and push myself. In vocal lessons, I was trying to do Beyoncé's Sweet Dreams medley from Vegas, and that shit was so hard, but it was so fulfilling. And, for example, Come My Way, again, synergy is so important, 'cause I had been listening to Kelela’s Raven album for a year just religiously. And when I first came to LA, I got into the studio with Dave [Marx] and Sian [McMullen]- the first beat that they played was like this dance track. It felt so synergized 'cause I'm like, I have been enjoying Kelela’s dance influence for so long, so for that to show up right in front of me, it was my opportunity to actually test out my pen, my instrument with something that I was finding joy in. So yeah, I get influenced from the likes of Jhené [Aiko], SZA, Kanye, Beyoncé - I love traditional RnB, but I think that lucidity and being genre-bending is something that I find joy in.”
It leads nicely into the next thing I wanted to explore. Technically you'd probably be categorized as alternative R&B, but I know there's been public discussion around like SZA and Mariah the Scientist about being classified in certain ways by default, or questioning the reasoning for classifications. Sometimes it has to happen, but for example with your album, you've got different types of sounds, can it really be only classed as RnB; what are your feelings and thoughts on that?
“You know, I had a conversation with Chat GPT about this (both laugh) because I felt like I needed to figure out a way I could honor RnB and soul while also making it clear I'm not one thing. I do understand the frustration, because it's like if you're making a 100% pop song, then why is why is it considered RnB, I think it’s like respect the song outside of who I am as an artist. In my bio, I've made sure to add this little excerpt of, ‘I'm rooted in RnB and soul,’ but I like to experiment. If somebody wants to classify me as RnB, I'm happy to accept it. I think that there are classes, there are people who feel like they need to have that structure to understand a person at first. And I am just starting out, you know what I mean? And I think that SZA being so genre-bending, it is really confusing, it's good that she can speak on it; she's one of the biggest examples. Eventually, something good will come out of it. I just hate that she gets shit on for it, because she's valid in how she feels… Like you don't know what to call Beyoncé anymore- she's rooted in RnB/soul but [now] she is just an artist. Genres really also come from a perspective of awards and the industry. All of us are in that game that we have to deal with, whether we want to believe it or not. But as long as we have the freedom to go back and forth and people aren't typecasting us, it is what it is. You could be RnB one day, you could be pop another day. Some people might still see you as RnB, and that's okay.”
Yeah, I feel like it's opening up as well. Before it's mostly independent artists that felt like they had that freedom, but I feel like more labels realize that actually you can get more out of artists by allowing them to have that creative freedom, which is what makes people gravitate towards [artists] in the first place.
“Exactly! I remember the reason why I love SZA, Frank [Ocean], Jhené, all of them, it was intriguing because you couldn't really put your like finger on exactly what it was. When SZA dropped Z, and I heard Babylon with her and Kendrick [Lamar], just that entire project is so incredible to me. I guess it's RnB, but she gave me the permission to be weird, I would say. I say that in the most positive way; I don't think it's a bad word. I am so grateful for her because at that time Beyoncé was still very much RnB and she was my GOAT you know, but it was experimental artists that allowed me to have a bigger palette for myself, and I appreciate that.”
You've done some incredible live performances recently, you did South by Southwest, the Apollo Theater in New York, Essence Music Festival- brilliant performances in iconic places. Are you someone that thrives on live performance, or do you prefer the studio?
“I… let me think about that for a second… Okay- the way that I get lost in the studio is so amazing to me. I love the studio, I love making my own music, I love playing around with vocals and stuff, but I will say that it is my dream to really be like the performer. I have a long, long way to go. One day, I will much prefer to be on stage. The power that I felt up there was really amazing, it's hard for me to say truly. I think it’s like an ego thing or like fear rather, because I know I’m not where I want to be in terms of production, in terms of like ability, but I would like to say that I'm pretty good up there, where I am, but yeah. It's hard, I have to plead the 5th, um… let's just say the stage (both laugh). It’s really fun-”
I feel like you are a little bit too humble; like I would say you've got an amazing body of work already, but I know as a creative we can be very… we know what we envision and because we've not quite done certain things in the vision yet, you sort of don't give yourself the credence, like yeah…
“I’m working on it; (both laugh) it's just there's so much greatness around me and I think that moving to LA has been so wonderful for me and being in like dance classes for example, it's like, oh my god, there's so many fucking- sorry, if I'm not allowed to swear!”
It's fine! (both laugh)
“Okay, (laughs). There's so much talent and so much star power. But for the first time in one of the dance studios here, I'm like, that doesn't take anything away from me. And it's sad to me to realize that my whole life has been feeling like, wow, there's so many stars around me, I feel so small. But it's like, no, you're in it for a reason, everybody's a mirror and it's reflected. I'm just so grateful to finally be aware like, ‘girl stop humbling yourself so much.’ Because I do understand how big I can be, I also have to be able to understand that it is so powerful being who I am right now. So I appreciate you saying that, thank you.”
It's okay! You've previously mentioned being unable to suppress your creativity, so you just took the risk. One of your quotes that I love is, ‘I'm the woman of my dreams’ and ‘who am I to be so brilliant?’ That beautiful resonance within your music, and you've got more lighthearted tracks, the variety of dynamics. Were there any tracks in particular where you can think of like an interesting or crazy story leading up to the making of it on the album?
“…Goodness, I don't know. Some of them are a little crazy (both laugh). Karma probably, yeah, Karma! So this project was like right after graduation and instead of just focusing on music, I was focused on being a server. I was focused on men, unfortunately. Love them, hate them, you know, whatever. But I was talking to this one guy and putting way too much stock into it. And I remember one day I was visiting friends and I traveled like an hour from there back to my hometown where he was. And I was so excited. I was like, oh my God, I'm gonna see him. We made plans. I go home, I get ready, I'm like, you know, grooming everything- and you know how long that takes; it's not only wash day, it's like wash day times 10, and um, girl… So I get ready, I'm excited, simping, annoying. And then I go get wine. As soon as I'm walking out of the liquor store, I get a text from him and he's like, ‘oh, it's my ex's birthday and I’m gonna hang out with her for a little bit, but like, you can come over later’…”
(gasps) Right!…
“Literally! Wine in hand, phone in the other, I had to stop in my tracks before I walked back to my car. I was like, ‘no fucking way, no way am I dealing with this right now.’ I went to my car, mind you, I was five, ten minutes from my place at that point. I kinda blacked out and I did not leave the liquor store; I was in the car, put on a YouTube beat and I wrote the entirety of Karma in that parking lot with my little bottle of wine. And then, um, I ended up going and hanging out with him that night anyway, so yeah (both laugh). I feel like the whole song itself is just about me being a hypocrite. It's just so crazy because I put a lot of my vulnerability, my demons, my darkness into my music, just like that song. I told him about himself, and then I told myself about myself, and then I went to go do the stupid shit anyway (both laugh). You know, I'm human, like my prefrontal cortex wasn't like developed yet, so yeah.”
Bairi - Karma (Medicine)
That is a great story. And you know what? This is why, like I said, music has resonance, but some people pretend like they don't be doing that kind of stuff. Like, don't pretend, don't lie-
“C’mon girl, be fucking for real, be so for real! (both laugh). So I really want to continue to be that vulnerable and transparent. I remember I tweeted about it one time. I was like; this song is for the dumb bitches like me. I didn't mean we're actually dumb. Somebody's like, ‘oh don't say that, you're not dumb.’ I was like no, the action was stupid. But you know, it's all lessons. And I'm grateful that I can alchemise them into art so that girls can listen to me like, ooh, yeah, maybe I have some work to do (laughs).”
Something you’ve spoken about before is your value outside of creating. How do you ensure value outside of being Bairi the artist?
“You know, this is an interesting question because I think that my therapist actually gave me a value sheet a few years ago and I, it's like, have you ever done a value sheet?”
Defo, yeah.
“There's 60 values and you have to choose like six out of them. The first time I did it a few years ago I was like wow. I had based my entire value system and personality off ‘this is why I want to be an artist.’ And I realized like, no, I was pushing myself to be something that I wasn't because I felt like my entire value was being an artist and a musician. I felt like if I did not kill myself and commit everything to Bairi that I would not be worthy, I wouldn't be good enough. I'm understanding even more every day that before Bairi there was Brianna. There's the little girl who still has those dreams and I’m still meant for this thing, but you have to take care of yourself and go through life living as a person to be that artist. It's so funny, my first value sheet was like self-improvement, self-discipline, self this, self that and I was like girl, it's not about that. But I realized what also really matters to me is safety, respect, curiosity, creativity, spirituality and freedom- those are my six. And I have to live my life with all of those things specifically, even when it comes to music. Music and artistry contribute to all of those things. I want respect as an artist, I want to be safe and free to create. Music helps me get all of those things and feeding myself in all of those ways helped me create in an equivalent exchange, understanding it's one of the best relationships I have, and I have to nurture it.”
All those little aspects that make you, but not making it the definition, but part of -
“Exactly. What am I going to do? Write music about music constantly? No, that's not how that works. It’s about my entire personality, so yeah.”
I hear you. So what do you want your listeners, your audience to take away from the album Fire Siren as a whole?
“Understanding we all make mistakes and we all go through darkness, but it's all constantly a search of truth and purpose and just follow it. Don't be scared of dealing with the darkness and looking at yourself because when you don't, that’s when you keep dealing with stupid shit like going to buy wine and then, you know, getting rejected and going back to a person who doesn't make you feel great. So don't be afraid of the dark and just search for God, search for purpose, keep doing what you enjoy.”
I love that. Last question; the album is 10 tracks, when did you feel like okay now it's complete? Because I know with creativity sometimes it can go on and on, so when did you realize okay, this is the album?
“When I tell you, I took a step back a few months ago and realized that I was working on three projects at once. So I'm like, I have way too much music. I think it's a matter of understanding that there's a process- there's creativity, there's editing, there's curation and allowing yourself to play around with track lists. Like I have Untitled, Untitled was a God-send to me because I put all my stuff in there just rearranging and I was like, hmm, feels like there's something missing. You have to go through a track list so many times, but thank God for Untitled and Disco, I could really play around with that and figure it out. But again, I have two projects I'm working on after this because I did not know when to stop for a long time. Also peer reviews are super helpful- I think even if you're in a room with somebody and you show them the music, like you can almost feel it in your body more when something feels complete or not, because you're trying to get an objective perspective, so yeah.”
I hear you, the creative process!
Thank you so much for such a great conversation with Wordplay!
