The inimitable Wallis Bird has returned with a brand new single 'What's Wrong With Changing', accompanied by a jubilant video which is premiered by Hot Press exclusively below.

The Irish-born, Berlin-based artist announced the release of upcoming album, Hands; with lead single ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ plus B-Side ‘Pretty Lies’, unveiled last Friday. Bird’s forthcoming album will arrive on May 27th this year.

Musically inspired by the rhythmic discipline of Janet Jackson circa her iconic Control, Rhythm Nation and janet eras, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ gives fans an early snippet of the uplifting and introspective approach Wallis has taken to writing her seventh studio album. The song epitomises the Meath native’s unapologetic style and demonstrates her trademark unapologetic personality.

Examining subject matter, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ concerns major milestones affecting Wallis’s life. The singer-songwriter deftly weaves personal tales of change with stories of societal transformation: from living in different countries and getting to know other cultures to Ireland becoming the first country in the world to vote in favour of legalising same-sex marriage. References to the Repeal the 8th referendum are also present, noting the traditionally starkly Catholic country’s move towards the separation of Church and State.

‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ is something of a sister song to ‘As The River Flows’ from Wallis’s 2019 album, Woman. Her new track sees Wallis striving to “think more and understand others a little more; not to ‘other’ each other but to create the idea that we are all one.”

Wallis Bird says: “The song is about the milestones of my life: living in London, getting to know other cultures as a young person, to Ireland breaking free from State and Church and voting in gay marriage in such a stark Catholic country. In my short life there have been huge changes and social structures have been dissolved and I have said over and over: what is wrong with changing? There is nothing in this world that is not changing, so I think let’s move with the change.”

The vibrant visuals see Bird dancing and using her body to express the meaning behind the song with the exact same poses transfixed into multiple locations and outfit changes. The consistent transformations in terms of wardrobe and setting parallel with the track's lyrics around progress and evolution.

"Identity plays a huge role in the song," Wallis adds, elaborating on the video's origins. "We can’t help what background, physicality, skin colour or what land we were born into but we can choose how we treat each other, how we learn. That to me is the making of the song: How you are not who you are. So I wanted to play with identity, surrounding, and keep it technically simplified- always the same scene setup in random locations."

Bird has released six albums since 2007, for which she’s won two Meteor Awards (now called the Choice Music Prize) and a prestigious 2017 German ‘Music Autoren Preis’ (Music Author Prize). Two further nominations for the Choice Music Prize ensued in the following years.

In addition, she’s racked up over a thousand shows during the past decade, earning a reputation worldwide for her passionate, energetic and charismatic concerts. Wallis participated in the 'To Be Irish' series last December on the Hot Press YouTube channel, performing 'I Don't Mind Christmas Time' in her pyjamas for a memorable livestream concert.

Hands is also known as ‘NINE AND A HALF SONGS FOR NINE AND A HALF FINGERS’ (in reference to a childhood accident that permanently damaged her left hand). The album is a turning of the spotlight onto herself, raising issues that are sometimes far harder to face. Bird fearlessly confronts themes of trust, alcohol abuse, stagnation, self-censorship and self-improvement; delivered by a voice uncommonly blessed with and empathy.

Check out the new video for 'What's Wrong With Changing?' below:

Revisit Wallis Birds' September 2021 interview with Hot Press here.

Hands Track Listing

Go
What's Wrong With Changing?
I Lose Myself Completely
The Power Of A Word
Aquarius
No Pants Dance
Dreamwriting
I'll Never Hide My Love Away
The Dive
Pretty Lies