Bishop Briggs: Award winning singer-songwriter on creative transformation after loss

Summary

Podcast Summary: Design Better Episode featuring Bishop Briggs

Episode Information

• Title: Design Better
• Host/Author: The Curiosity Department, LLC
• Episode: Bishop Briggs: Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter on Creative Transformation After Loss
• Release Date: December 4, 2024

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of Design Better, hosts Eli Woolery and Aaron Walter engage in an intimate conversation with Bishop Briggs, an award-winning singer-songwriter renowned for her evocative music and powerful performances. The episode delves deep into Bishop's journey of creative transformation following personal loss, the evolution of her creative process, her approach to consistency in her work, her connection with her audience, and her innovative experiments with generative AI in music creation.

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Early Life and Musical Influences

Bishop Briggs opens up about her eclectic upbringing, moving from the UK to Tokyo and then Hong Kong during her formative years. This multicultural upbringing served as a "huge playground for creativity," significantly shaping her artistic perspective.

Bishop Briggs [00:49]: "I think that childlike wonder is so important to nurture as an adult and as a parent because I'm so glad that I had that encouragement over something that truly brought me joy."

Her early exposure to diverse cultures introduced her to various musical genres. In Japan, Bishop's introduction to music blossomed as she frequented karaoke bars with her father singing Frank Sinatra. These experiences ignited her passion for music, leading her to pursue singing lessons for over a decade.

Bishop Briggs [07:48]: "I just enjoyed it. I thought, wow, this is an amazing song."

Her parents, hailing from Glasgow, infused her household with a rich musical heritage, filled with the Beatles and other iconic artists. This environment fostered a deep appreciation for music and storytelling.

Bishop Briggs [10:27]: "Our home was filled with the Beatles. It was filled with these iconic artists at all times."

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Creative Process and Songwriting

Bishop attributes her songwriting prowess to her early education and personal experiences. Attending Catholic school and Sunday school provided her with ample material to express through music.

Bishop Briggs [11:01]: "I had a lot to write about, which I feel like I need to do some investigation about. But that really became the starting point, was relaying what happened in my day."

Her songwriting is deeply rooted in emotion and self-expression, serving as a therapeutic outlet to navigate her feelings and experiences.

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Personal Transformation and Loss

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Bishop shares her profound loss—the untimely passing of her sister in 2021. This tragic event plunged her into intense periods of grieving and depression, profoundly impacting her creative journey.

Aaron Walter [01:11]: "Bishop Briggs... lost her sister at a young age in 2021 after a period of intense grieving and struggling with depression."

Despite the darkness, Bishop found a path to healing through creativity. Her son's birth in 2022 marked a new chapter, bringing both joy and a reevaluation of her life's priorities.

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Motherhood and Its Impact on Creativity

Becoming a mother significantly altered Bishop's approach to her craft. She reflects on the necessity of balancing her passion for music with her responsibilities as a parent.

Bishop Briggs [12:10]: "I think now that I have the baby, I think I have to have different standards for the things I'm willing to put time and energy into."

This shift led her to set more defined boundaries, allowing her to focus on projects that bring genuine fulfillment without overwhelming her. Embracing this change was both freeing and liberating, enabling her to prioritize her well-being and her son's upbringing.

Bishop Briggs [12:10]: "It was really freeing to realize... very liberating to release that."

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Connection with Audience and Generative AI Experiments

Bishop's journey through loss and motherhood deepened her connection with her audience. Her authenticity and vulnerability resonate deeply, fostering a loyal and empathetic fan base. Additionally, she has been exploring generative AI to enhance her music creation process, experimenting with new sounds and production techniques that push the boundaries of traditional songwriting.

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Conclusion

This episode of Design Better offers a heartfelt exploration of Bishop Briggs' resilience and adaptability in the face of personal tragedy. Her ability to transform pain into art, coupled with her dedication to nurturing creativity both personally and professionally, provides invaluable insights for creatives navigating their own challenges. Bishop's story is a testament to the healing power of art and the importance of evolving one's creative process in response to life's inevitable changes.

Notable Quotes

• Bishop Briggs [00:49]: "I think that childlike wonder is so important to nurture as an adult and as a parent because I'm so glad that I had that encouragement over something that truly brought me joy."

• Bishop Briggs [07:48]: "I just enjoyed it. I thought, wow, this is an amazing song."

• Bishop Briggs [10:27]: "Our home was filled with the Beatles. It was filled with these iconic artists at all times."

• Bishop Briggs [11:01]: "I had a lot to write about, which I feel like I need to do some investigation about. But that really became the starting point, was relaying what happened in my day."

• Bishop Briggs [12:10]: "I think now that I have the baby, I think I have to have different standards for the things I'm willing to put time and energy into."

• Bishop Briggs [12:10]: "It was really freeing to realize... very liberating to release that."

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This comprehensive discussion with Bishop Briggs not only highlights her artistic journey but also underscores the profound ways in which personal experiences can reshape one's creative endeavors. Whether you're a design enthusiast or a creative professional, Bishop's insights offer inspiration and guidance on harnessing creativity amidst life's challenges.

Transcript

[Aaron Walter]

Hi there, Aaron Walter here. If you're hearing this, you're not currently on our premium subscriber feed. Design Better Premium subscribers Enjoy weekly episodes.

[Eli Woolery]

Four episodes per month in total rather.

[Aaron Walter]

Than two, all ad free and invitations to our monthly AMAs with the smartest folks in design and tech. You'll hear a preview of this episode, but if you'd like to hear the full conversation, please consider becoming a premium [e-mail] subscribe. It's just $7 a month and it supports not only your personal growth, it also makes our work at Design Better possible. The podcast is available to everyone through our scholarship program. If you can't afford a subscription, email [e-mail] and we'll help you out.

[Bishop Briggs]

I think that childlike wonder is so important to nurture as an adult and as a parent because I'm so glad that I had that encouragement over something that truly brought me joy. It really was just a huge passion, and with that passion I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

[Eli Woolery]

Sometimes a creative transformation occurs after a painful experience in our lives. This certainly happened to our guest today, Bishop Briggs, who lost her sister at a young age in 2021 after a period of intense grieving and struggling with depression. Her son was born in 2022 and she went on to win the masked singer in 2023.

[Aaron Walter]

We spoke with Bishop about how her creative process evolved during these life changing events, as well as how she approaches creating with consistency, how she connects with her audience, and the surprising results of her experiments with generative AI. Also, just a quick note for anyone who might be sensitive about the topics of depression and suicidal thoughts, Bishop does discuss these topics during the course of our interview, most notably around the 10 minute mark of the episode this is.

[Eli Woolery]

Design Better where we explore creativity at the intersection of design and technology. I'm Eli Woolery.

[Aaron Walter]

And I'm Aaron Walter. You can get ad free episodes, discounted workshops, access to documentaries like Design Disruptors and our growing library of books, as well as our monthly AMA's with big names and Design and Tech by becoming a Design Better premium subscriber. It's also the best way to support the show. Visit designbetterpodcast.com subscribe to learn more. We'll return to the conversation after this quick break.

[Eli Woolery]

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[Aaron Walter]

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[Eli Woolery]

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[Aaron Walter]

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[Eli Woolery]

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[Aaron Walter]

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[Eli Woolery]

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[Aaron Walter]

And now back to the show.

[Eli Woolery]

Bishop Briggs, welcome to Design Better.

[Bishop Briggs]

Thank you, guys.

[Eli Woolery]

We're very excited to have you here. I've been listening to a lot of your music lately, and I'm loving it. I have to be fully honest. I wasn't too aware of you before I maybe heard the name, but I didn't really know your music, and I'm just really loving exploring what you do. It's very powerful, I think, just to give our audience a sense for your. Your background and where you grew up, just to know how that influenced your story. You grew up in a lot of different places. You were born in the uk but then when you're quite young, it sounds like you moved to Tokyo and then Hong Kong. So we're just curious how that influenced your perspective on creativity and culture.

[Bishop Briggs]

I mean, those places were just a huge playground for creativity. With Japan, it really was my introduction to music. I fell in love with music because at the time, it wasn't crazy or weird to go to a karaoke bar at age 4, which in hindsight is a little peculiar. And I would see my dad singing Frank Sinatra, and I just wanted whatever that was. And then with Hong Kong, it really was just the true teenage angst, and that was a perfect starting point for writing. Then it became such an escape and such an important part of my life.

[Aaron Walter]

Could you talk to us a little bit about what that experience was like? Because it sounds like when you're a kid. I mean, most kids, they don't really know what their special traits are, their special talents. But I've seen it with my kids, like, where they start to figure it out, like, oh, I can do a thing that other people can't, or they find a thing that just lights them up, which is such a fun thing to see. What was that like in that karaoke bar, you know, where you're singing in front of adults and people are enjoying what you're doing?

[Bishop Briggs]

Oh, my gosh. Well, the most special thing about childhood, and I feel like being a parent, is sometimes the delirium that comes with it. And so I want to be clear. When I was at the karaoke bar, I wasn't sounding like Christina Aguilera. People weren't going, wow, I have tears in my eyes. You know, I was doing Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston, not because I sounded like Whitney Houston at all, but exactly what you're saying, because I just enjoyed it. I thought, wow, this is an amazing song. I think that childlike wonder is so important to nurture as an adult, and As a parent, because I'm so glad that I had that encouragement over something that truly brought me joy. But it was still up in the air if there was a future for it. But what became my main focus as I got older was truly making it a craft. You know, I took singing lessons for over 10 years, and it really was just a huge passion. And with that passion, I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

[Aaron Walter]

So you have this moment where you fall in love with the performance, but was there also a moment where you realized, I've got a voice, that you liked the sound of your voice, and other people responded to that?

[Bishop Briggs]

Well, I grew up listening to a lot of Motown music. It was a lot of Etta James, Otis Redding. I was just.

[Eli Woolery]

I.

[Bishop Briggs]

And interestingly, in Japan, I had some time where I was in a gospel choir. And I think even auditioning and getting into said gospel choir. And the thing that I hold on to is I don't know about the sound, because I think that is so particular. But I will say it just filled my soul. And I think because I grew up listening to Motown music, you know, any interview you see of anyone from that time, there was just this urgency to express themselves in that way. You know, there isn't really, like, a discussion of talent or pitch or anything technical. It really is based in how does this make your body feel. And in turn, are you connecting with others by doing it?

[Eli Woolery]

You mentioned your dad, and I believe your parents are from Scotland, from Glasgow. Is that right?

[Bishop Briggs]

Yes.

[Eli Woolery]

Yeah. Are there any? I'm a huge Mark Knopler fan, and I also like Belle and Sebastian and some other.

[Bishop Briggs]

Oh, my gosh.

[Eli Woolery]

Some artists with Glaswegian origins. Are there. Did any of those folks inspire you in your early years?

[Bishop Briggs]

Yes. I mean, my mom and dad are huge music lovers and music fans, and Frightened Rabbit is one of my favorites.

[Eli Woolery]

Get out of my heart. Yeah.

[Bishop Briggs]

But that meant that our home was filled with the Beatles. It was filled with these iconic artists at all times. There really is a great music scene over there. And so where they're from, actually in Scotland is bishopriggs, hence the name.

[Aaron Walter]

You started writing songs at a pretty young age. What caused you to write songs? It's one thing to be excited as a kid to perform or, you know, do karaoke. It's a whole nother pathway to be someone who is writing your own songs.

[Bishop Briggs]

Well, so I have, you know, a Scottish mom, and we went to Catholic school, Sunday school. And so I found a lot of the writing came after the Sunday school. I Feel like I had a lot to write about, which I feel like I need to do some investigation about. But that really became the starting point, was relaying what happened in my day. And again, you know, I'm grateful that there was support, but it was all based in feeling, which was to express myself. Feels good, it feels helpful, and it feels like I can understand what's happening in my brain and in my body and in my spirit by expressing in this way.

[Eli Woolery]

Fast forwarding a little bit, and we'll, I'm sure, come back to other parts of your career. But recently, in 2022, you had your first child, I believe, a son.

[Bishop Briggs]

Yes.

[Eli Woolery]

And Aaron and I both have kids a little older. The best it is. And I think at least speaking personally influenced the way that I approach my work and my creativity. And I'm curious how it affected your career, the way you write, the way you perform.

[Bishop Briggs]

I actually had a big realization about this recently. I try my best to have an openness to opportunities that come in, and I would consider myself someone that works hard and has a strong work ethic. And I found myself at something where I had spent at this point. You know, it was hours away from my baby. And I think it was the first time that it really, really hit me that now that I have the baby, I think I have to have different standards for the things I'm willing to put time and energy into. And, you know, I've had other events that I've worked at where, you know, of course it's been longer than a few hours. You know, maybe it's been a day, but it has felt so positive. And I felt so proud after that. I couldn't wait to tell the baby about it. And. Yeah, and so I think my standards for time and energy have shifted. And I think it's such a heartbreaking way as a woman in music. There's also this element of perhaps trying to overcompensate. You know, nothing's changed since I had the baby. Nothing. You know, I'm. I'm down. I'm down. And I think it was really freeing to realize. Freeing, by the way, and shocking because I've lived my life in a very particular way, but. Yeah. But very liberating to release that. I also learned a bit of that lesson. You know, sometimes lessons come in whispers, and they get louder and louder. And I had that lesson with my sister, who really unexpectedly passed away, and I was in the hospital with her. It was right around Covid timeframe. So.

[Aaron Walter]

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