The brainchild of Norwegian singer-songwriter Stian Fjelldal, Birds are better brings a unique slant to folk music with a fusion of traditional folk, power-pop, synth-rock and indie-pop. The Other Side Reviews describes the project as a meeting between Charlie Puth and Mumford and Sons while Of Monsters and Men comes to the minds of Nordic Music Central and Music To Blame. Fjelldal himself is a huge fan of artists like Fleet Foxes and Loney Dear and you might be able to spot Birds are better somewhere in between. Having released two singles the fall of 2022, "Super Highway" is the third single and the debut album is scheduled for May 2023. The song is about coming home, whether it’s an end or a new beginning.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Birds are better, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hi Kamil! Nice talking to you. Somehow I believe it’s the other way around, music got into me. At an early age. I’ve played instruments and sung since I can remember and I started making songs quite early as well.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
I work as a communication advisor at the The Office of the Auditor General in Norway, a somehow predictable job when it comes to working hours (I used to be a journalist, which is the opposite of predictable), and music gives me energy, so whenever I have time and inspiration, I will go about playing and creating in my home studio in Oslo.
Your latest song is 'Super Highway'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
The most unusual thing that happened during the process of making “Super Highway”, and in fact all the songs on the upcoming album, was the pandemic. I had made these demos and my plan was to record them in a studio in Firenze with producer Haakon Gebhardt the spring of 2020, but as you can imagine, things turned out a bit different. We started working online instead. I recorded and produced the songs from my home studio, sent the tracks to Haakon who added stuff, he sent mixes back to me and so on. I learned a lot during the process, especially that I can do quite a lot myself, which is a nice feeling.
How do you find yourself in the music business? When you started out in music, did you know it would be like this?
I got a record deal with Warner Music Norway in 2010. I had played in bands and sung my own songs prior to that, and the A&R in Warner, Terje Pedersen, had responded well to the demos I had sent him. One day he asked me if I could try to write something in Norwegian. I gave it ago, and the single “Håbløs” was born – which gave me the contract with Warner, a lot of air play on Norwegian radio and quite a lot of buzz. But I didn’t manage to follow up “Håbløs” and a few years later Warner let me go after one album and a few single releases. I then signed to an indie label called MTG Music and released two albums with them before I decided to try things out on my own. A bit of a roller coaster career wise, and I have picked up a few things about the business, but the most important part I’ve learned is that I really suck at making songs I think people want to hear, they must come from within me.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I am not sure if I have a music career just yet, I have always had a day job and just occasionally been on a leave to make or perform my music, so I’ll guess I would have done the same thing as I do today.
How do you know when a work is finished?
That is a tough one, because I never know, and if I don’t draw a line I can work on a song for ages. So I guess it’s more about discipline and setting up a schedule than knowledge.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Music is my only hobby and my main passion besides my loved ones, but I like to read, walk and watch sports.
What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
I’m not a very emotional guy (although I’ve improved somewhat getting older), but music triggers something deep inside me which is quite hard to explain, but it’s definitely a drug I can’t escape.
Who is your favourite musician?
My all time favourite musician and songwriter is Neil Finn from Crowded House.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans now is to release my debut album in English with my new project Birds are Better and see where it takes me. I’m really looking forward to the flight.