Speaking on the story behind the song, Bird said: “Burn The Hard Drive was a song I wrote while still in my last relationship. I think my subconscious knew before I did that it was over. But also, that the ending would be where so much more could begin. Working with Mura Masa has been the purest process. When I got emotional hearing it back after the breakup, he helped me finish it and not erase it, fittingly like everything else.”

“I wanted to get something close to the emotions I had been feeling this past 18 months, and when I see me, hand in hand with a ghost, it hits hard“, she added.

As Bird suggests, not only do we end up having to remove people from our physical spaces, but our digital ones too. For the best part of a decade, the internet was always viewed as a place to escape from the real world, but in recent years, it now seems that the real world offers an escape from the internet, especially during the aftermath of a relationship.

The accompanying music video expresses this very sentiment, presenting a world that is half physical and half pixelated, with momentary flashes of Bird, people and places, illustrating how photographs, video and social media are so deeply intertwined in our real lives, just as memories and past moments reappear in certain places that we walk or drive by. A summer picnic playing out on an icy, barren meadow; seeing someone’s silhouette in the corner of a once beloved pub, or holding hands with their ghost on a park bench. Bird posed an emotional question to fans about the video’s concept, asking them: “All those places have a new meaning now. Where’s a place you just can’t go to anymore?!”

Bird begins the video journeying in a car on a blistering, dirt road, looking back at her past self in the rear view mirror. Shot in various locations, she walks alongside the ghost of an ex-lover, watching as they slowly fade away. Expertly and lovingly crafted, the video was directed by Aries Moross, who Bird has previously worked with on her album visuals. The singer spoke on working with Moross in an Instagram post announcing the single, commenting: “Aries Moross has been my hero and favourite collaborator since my debut video ‘Lottery’ (they shot that too!), there’s something that feels amazing about shooting this new era with them. I’m floored by their work and ability to put together the most incredible people on the daily.”

The collaboration between the pair perfectly captures the same sense of longing and sorrow woven into Bird’s lyrics, while also demonstrating the power in being able to detach from these feelings, move on with your life in a healthy way and cherish new people and new memories.

‘Burn The Hard Drive’ is a glimpse into what is perhaps Bird’s most nuanced sound yet, beguiling us as she flits between softer and rockier vocals. Relishing in her signature raspy tone, Bird plays with a sultry, percussive folk melody no longer filled with darkness or yearning, but with acceptance, relief and new beginnings.

‘Burn The Hard Drive’ is out now.

The English singer-songwriter talks about her new work, which includes already released songs such as ‘Houdini’ and ‘Open Up the Heavens’: ‘Different Kinds of Light’ is ‘at its most basic is about falling in love, and at its most complex [is about] the chaos of trying to get away from your past. I’ve written about fictional characters, about myself and people who don’t exist or at least only exist in my mind, memory and imagination.’

She also explained the genesis of the record: ‘This record started in Japan, a small getaway from a busy year. We took it to Mexico, to Nashville and to upstate New York adding pieces of songs along the way until it became the different phases of who I am, what my relationship is and what my relationship to other people has become. It’s been a big exploration through evenings and mornings spent under strange skies. With ‘Different Kinds of Light’ came different kinds of clarity in my life.’

After having worked with a team of professionals – such as Jason Isbell, Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile – she starts to identify herself as an artist: ‘I never felt like I could call myself an artist, whereas I know that’s my occupation now. That’s who I am, and that’s incredibly reassuring’ she said.

Speaking to Mac on the show, Bird said: “I spent the whole night getting the song down, writing the song… it’s just my favourite, cause it’s like electric guitar, it’s so punchy – the vocals are the highest I’ve ever hit.”

“It’s a lot to do with being present, I think. On stage sometimes when you’re touring all the time, you have to really engage, or find a way that you’re not going into autopilot, and it started with I Get No Joy off my last record, because when I wrote that song I was like, I have to engage to sing that… I think with the other one, I have to focus so hard to sing this record, it’s ridiculous – I have to go full Mariah Carey!”

Bird also said that she is waiting to announce details of her second album. Although the album is finished, she told Mac that she wants to release it when playing live is a possibility once again. This as-of-yet untitled album is due to come out at some point later this year.

Bird released her first EP Something American in 2017, and supported bands such as London Grammar and First Aid Kit. She followed with her first single Lottery the next year, and appeared as a finalist on BBC Sound of 2018. Following the release of her debut album, Bird was nominated for the Americana Music Honors & Awards, and won an AIM Independent Music Award.

Despite her 2020 tour being cancelled, Bird has been streaming live shows via the internet during the pandemic. She teamed up with Microsoft to perform a livestreamed concert named RE:Surface in May 2020, and she played a concert for the Come Together Mental Health Music Festival in October that year. In 2021, Bird has performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, played on clothing brand Gap’s Instagram, and streamed her own live gig.

Jade shared a video of herself recording the vocals for Headstart on Instagram, saying; “Feels a little embarrassing to share something so raw but here’s me tracking the vocals for Headstart. I’m so grateful to see you guys listening and loving the song. There’s so much more to come!”

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(SOUND ON ) Feels a little embarrassing to share something so raw but here’s me tracking the vocals for Headstart. I’m so grateful to see you guys listening and loving the song. There’s so much more to come!

A post shared by Jade Bird (@jadebirdmusic) on Nov 5, 2020 at 9:17am PST

Jade spoke to NME about how she felt “physically ill” about releasing music during a global pandemic. She said; “You don’t want to appear naive releasing something that’s actually quite cathartic and upbeat in a time that doesn’t follow that. I was just really reflecting on that and what that means, and I did come to the conclusion, as I have been doing with all this, that this new album was a lot of relief for me. There’s a lot of healing and getting back to knowing who I was, and my family were etc. So I really just hope that releasing this music gives other people – not to sound cliché – a bit energy, a bit of relief, a bit of a break.”

She concluded by saying; “It’s so difficult for everybody at the minute, I’m so aware of that. That’s what I’m thinking and why I’m keeping on releasing through this time. You can’t be silenced by the time – you’re in history, whether you like it or not.”

Jade released her debut, self-titled album in 2019, which included her notable tracks like Lottery, Uh Huh and Does Anybody Know. The album led to her to tour Europe and North America, where she also opened for hit bands like The Lumineers and Hozier.

Headstart is out now on all platforms.

Taking place in Warrington’s Victoria Park from 28th-30th May next year, the line-up for the new day will include headliner Gerry Cinnamon, Circa Waves, The Zutons, Jade Bird, and Orla Gartland. To obtain tickets, head to the official website on Friday 11th September from 9.30am (BST). If fans have already purchased weekend tickets prior to Sunday 6th September, they are eligible to gain exclusive access to tickets from today.

For the first time ever #NBHDWKND21 will expand across 3 days with a huge main stage Friday eve lineup including @GerryCinnamon @CircaWaves @ZutonsThe @jadebird & @orlagartland

If you’ve already purchased a weekend ticket you will have exclusive access to the pre-sale! pic.twitter.com/jwj3LjM2A3

— NBHD Weekender (@nbhdweekender) September 7, 2020

Alongside the new acts, the festival will also see the likes of Ian Brown, Sam Fender, and Easy Life on Saturday, and Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Wombats, Tom Walker, Sea Girls, and Sports Team on Sunday. Indie-rock band Circa Waves commented, “We will be playing Neighbourhood Weekender May 2021!! We can’t wait to be playing live again!!”

We will be playing @nbhdweekender May 2021!! We can’t wait to be playing live again!! pic.twitter.com/wcsjunjYuj

— (@CircaWaves) September 7, 2020

The 2020 festival was sadly cancelled in just its third year due to Covid-19 guidelines, so bands, fans, and organisers are all incredibly excited to begin holding live shows again. Organisers released a statement which said, “We are delighted that the vast majority of artists playing at the festival have confirmed they will return. Everyone involved in the festival and the artists that are playing are working really hard to give you the festival you wanted.”

Neighbourhood Weekender Festival began in 2018 in Warrington as an expansion of Manchester’s festal of the same name. Past years have seen acts such as George Ezra, Primal Scream, and Richard Ashcroft.

The Northumbria-born, London-based singer released her debut EP ‘Something American’, in July 2017, which was followed by several singles including ‘Love Has All Been Done Before’. The EP caused a stir in America, where Rolling Stone coined her an artist you need to know. The singers British take on Americana has had her labelled as a country singer, which Bird has has deemed a little restrictive.

Speaking about the album, Bird said: “This album is my experience, direct and undiluted, of the past two years. Every decision I’ve made has culminated into this magical process, just as every word I’ve written has spun into these songs. It changes in style, like most of my music, and tries to dodge boxes and genres but the consistency is me – a young woman really trying to figure it out’.

Bird spoke to NME last year about how moving t0 New York City to record her debut album “clarified everything” for her following an “anxious phase in London”. The US has been an “idealistic” place for her to be creative, where, she said, there was a “freedom of eccentricity that I feel is sometimes a bit shunned in the UK”.

Bird has been playing since the tender age of 12, when she first picked up her grandmother’s guitar. She has been writing for several years, to date she’s filled three notebooks with lyrics and ideas. During her teens, Bird played at scores of open mic nights, before winning a place at the notorious performing arts Brit School in London. Jade Bird plays London’s The Garage on January 29 and Paradise Noord in Amsterdam on February 13. Get your tickets here.

Track listing:

‘Ruins’
‘Lottery’
‘I Get No Joy’
‘Side Effects’
‘Uh Huh’
‘My Motto’
’17’
‘Good At It’
‘Does Anybody Know’
‘Love Has All Been Done Before’
‘Going Gone’
‘If I Die’