Dorothy Bird — Biography

The Sound

“Characteristically individual” — Neil March, Fresh On The Net

Berlin–Liverpool-based art-pop artist Dorothy Bird blends ethereal warm synths, acoustic intimacy, and poetic depth into haunting, heartfelt songs. Her music inhabits the space between worlds — where piano, electric guitar, and drums meet shimmering electronics, layered harmonies, strings, brass, and her distinctive, otherworldly voice.

Already compared to Portishead, Björk, and Thom Yorke, her critically acclaimed debut album Belonging (2022) was praised as “uplifting and haunting” (Joyzine) and “masterful” (fifty3). With support from BBC Introducing, BBC Merseyside, Tom Robinson’s BBC6 Music Mixtape, and a standout performance at Liverpool’s Yoko Ono Lennon Tung Auditorium, Dorothy continues to create cinematic, emotionally resonant music that invites stillness, soothes the soul, and offers moments of calm, connection, and reflection amidst the chaos of the world.

The Journey

Born in East Berlin and shaped by time in Bulgaria, Dorothy absorbed rich choral traditions before studying music at the Hochschule für Künste Bremen. During her studies, she lost her mother — and soon after, temporarily lost her voice. In that silence, songwriting became her lifeline: a way to express what could no longer be spoken, turning pain into poetic power. Her voice returned, and with it, a renewed sense of purpose.

After completing her studies, she moved back to Berlin and later to Liverpool to fully immerse herself in a life of composing, recording, and performing. In Liverpool, she began a close collaboration with producer Jon Lawton at Crosstown Studios, whose sensitive and spacious production style helped shape the immersive sonic identity of her debut and forthcoming albums.

The Music

Her debut album Belonging (2022) explores identity, belonging, and transformation, combining piano, synthesizers, electric guitar, strings, and electronica with her signature vocal tenderness. The album, released on 12” gatefold vinyl and digitally, received widespread acclaim:

“Her voice shimmers and soars… so powerful, so dignified, so pure.” — Pennyblackmusic
“Sounds magnificent.” — Dave Monks, BBC Introducing

Dorothy’s earlier EPs, including Out of the Dark, already revealed her ability to craft atmospheric, emotionally charged worlds — a talent she continues to evolve.

Whispering Paper

Her second album Whispering Paper (Crosstown Records, 3 May 2025) opens new doors into emotional landscapes — dreamlike, profound, and deeply resonant. Written in the wake of personal loss, the album radiates quiet resilience and a deep love for life.

“When my sister passed away in 2023, it was like the shell of everyday life cracked open,” says Dorothy. “All emotions became louder, more defined. There was a new sensitivity — for the world around me, and within.”

Each of the ten tracks on Whispering Paper holds its own universe — from the cathartic beauty of You Were, written for her sister, to Yes Maybe, a song exploring indecision sparked by a real-life misunderstanding from her youth. The album reflects on intergenerational connection and memory in Around the Corner, present-moment awareness in All My Time, inner transformation and resilient strength in Ride the Storm and Soaring, and dreaming of what connects us in Dream With Me.

The title comes from a lyric in Meteorites:

“Telling whispering paper things that I love” — a line that encapsulates the intimate act of letting the inner self speak.

Beyond the Studio

Dorothy has performed at international festivals and venues including Liverpool’s Yoko Ono Lennon Tung Auditorium, The Music Room at Liverpool Philharmonic, Berlin’s Wintergarten, Kunstfabrik Schlot and Chamäleon, and Threshold Festival.

Her creative collaborations extend across disciplines: composing for theatre, dance, and contemporary circus projects such as 7 Women Company and Kathrings, and contributing to the music collective Skylon.

The Invitation

Whether on stage or in the studio, Dorothy Bird invites listeners into a world where sound becomes solace and music becomes memory — a mirror to the human experience, bathed in light and longing.