Got a special one for you today! This interview's been brewing for a while, and now's the best possible time to have it on, because Songbird Sessions is getting ready to launch its third edition festival where they celebrate "WOMEN, FEMME AND NON-BINARY ARTISTS" in an audiovisual cavalcade of creativity and community-building in Downtown L.A.

"Live music has always been the microphone for action and change – whether that’s raising awareness of social causes or bringing the shared values of a brand, band, and fan to life. Brands that stand for something build strong bonds, especially when their aligned values are center stage."

Songbird Sessions was established in 2019 by creative director Marina Piche and musician Danielle Matthews, quickly becoming one of biggest women and non-binary artist focused music and arts event in the city or Angels. Their mission is described by their founders as providing a platform to better support, represent, recognize and reward these artists with an entry point into the live show ecosystem that's tailored specifically for this better, more dedicated attention to representation and fair treatment.

The Festival's line-up currently consists of artists TOMI, Maiah Manser, Daisha McBride and Gothic Tropic as well as DJs JOYEUR, Bella Ferrada and IdealBlackFemale.It will be held on October the 13th at 670 s sanderson st, LA. Get your tickets Here.

Why should people come out and support Songbird Sessions? What can audiences expect?

M: By supporting Songbird Sessions, you’re directly supporting artists and becoming a part of a community that is actively engaged in making a change within the music industry by ensuring that there is an equal playing field and that women and non-binary artists are better represented, rewarded and recognized for their art.

We want our audience to leave their worries and responsibilities at the door, to walk into an environment that offers them an experience like no other. To be immersed in music and surrounded by like minded individuals that celebrate music, art and culture. Our shows are always different from one another so that our audience takes something new away each time. We curate the show from the ground up paying close attention to how the lineup of artists work together, the creative direction and atmosphere of the space and the brand partnerships we align with. To inspire people and give them a few hours of joy is the goal.

D: This festival is a culmination of what we’ve been working towards these last three years. After our run at Chinatown Summer Nights and Lodgeroom, we wanted to return to our roots by building something uniquely Songbirds from the ground up. We have two stages and a stacked lineup of incredible womxn spanning multiple genres, which allows the audience to curate their experience from the moment they walk through the doors. Guaranteed to be a night you won’t forget!

What are some of the biggest challenges that come with organizing an event of this magnitude?

M: We’re still growing as a platform so one of our biggest challenges is creating these events as a team of two people. We both wear many hats which keeps us juggling constantly. But what we’re creating is something we are incredibly passionate about and believe in the growth that is ahead of us. We are lucky to have a tremendously generous and supportive community around us come show day, so it all comes together smoothly and we always have fun!

D: It’s a constant balancing act. Our shows don’t have the infrastructure that a traditional music venue would, so we have to secure permits and hire everything from staging to bartenders. People don’t see the months of planning that go into each event behind the scenes. With this show, we had a venue we loved and were talking to for about a month when they told us we couldn’t sell liquor on the premises - even with a permit - so we had to start from square one. The day we announce the show, it’s like, “holy shit, we did it,” and then the real work begins.

On that same note, what practical lessons have you learned these past three years about event planning and so on?

M: We’re always learning, each event has taught us something new each time and I think that’s part of the process and life! Since we ARE the team we’re learning so many practical lessons from marketing & promotional strategies, social media and so on. The shows keep getting bigger and more involved each time which means there’s more pieces of the puzzle to coordinate, organization, communication and time management are key.

D: Where do I start? Lol. I came into this as an artist without prior experience in organizing events of any kind. I remember going into our first show; I was amazed by Marina and her ability to lay everything out on a spreadsheet. To this day, I’ll be hurling a million and one ideas at her, and she’ll calmly respond, “Great! Can you make a spreadsheet?” The patience of a saint.

What about not-so-practical lessons? I mean The kind of personal insights you've gained along the way that have helped you grow as people.

M: I’m learning that working so closely with someone means being flexible, listening to each other and holding space. Creating the community and events with Songbirds makes me constantly reflect on what my priorities are, what I want to add to this world and how I can best show up for myself and other people. To be able to create something that has a positive impact of change for women and non-binary artists and brings people joy is what gives me purpose and meaning. The relationships that we have developed along the way are strengthening and inspires me daily.

D: Flexibility, yes! I couldn’t have set it better myself. Not just with each other but with the industry’s ever-changing landscape over the last couple of years. I remember when we had to cancel our show in March of 2020; it was devastating. In hindsight, I had wrapped a large part of my identity around Songbirds and its success. Since then, we’ve canceled and re-scheduled so many shows. It’s not pleasant by any means, but I’ve learned to roll with the punches and have faith that no matter what happens, there will be another opportunity. And if there’s not, then I gave it my best shot.

One thing I love about our partnership is that we both prioritize mental health. But even that has been a learning curve, and there have been moments where we push ourselves to a breaking point before we step back and say, is this worth it if it means sacrificing our well-being?

What's the selection process for the Lineup like? Do you always approach artists with the proposal or do they sometimes approach you instead?

M: We pay close attention to what’s new and love seeing shows. It’s a process of connecting with our industry contacts and seeing who’s putting out new music, artist submissions and us choosing from artists we’ve connected with through work or shows. We traditionally curate a show around a genre so that there’s a flow to the night and it inspires the overall event through creative direction and also brand partnerships. So we are very thoughtful with the booking process as it dictates the mood and design of the entire show.

D: Honestly, when we started Songbirds, we were just reaching out to our friends. Artists, managers, etc. Marina is a full time creative director, and has worked with some incredible artists before Songbirds, and my roots were in East LA’s music scene. So we just said, “hey, look. We’re doing this thing, and this is our vision, and we’d love to have you be a part of it” - and artists were responsive. There were artists we were purely fans of, and we thought…” one day, we’ll work with them.” When the pandemic started, it sort of leveled the playing field for everyone in the industry. There was no longer a hierarchy. It didn’t matter how long you’d been in the game or who you knew. We were all in it together and found that our community grew because we were all just scrambling to do SOMETHING, to find that connection through music.

With this lineup, Gothic Tropic was already in the Songbirds family as she DJ’d one of our first shows back post-pandemic. I’ve been a fan of hers for years; she is truly one of the most multi-faceted, risk-taking artists out there. We met TOMI, Maiah, Joyeur, and Amanda (IdealBlackFemale) at previous Songbirds shows, and apart from being phenomenal artists, I admire the hell out of each of them. Our good friend Shayna Casey recommended Daisha to us. We loved her from the moment we listened to her and were so humbled that she would fly out from Nashville for this event. And when Bella Ferrada says she’d be thrilled to DJ your event, you know you’re doing something right!

There's a strong element of community-building that comes into play with Songbird Sessions. What efforts go into making this possible and how can someone else help you assemble said community?

M: We are a platform that celebrates equality, and there is a lot of change that needs to happen within the music industry. My belief is that change happens through education and bringing people together. By creating a safe space, and being a resource and sharing our knowledge is something that I think is imperative in building a community. The last three years has been an incredible starting foundation, and it continuously grows.

We seek partner alignments that support our message and mission (like RIVAL!) to share what we’re doing with their communities, and through curating memorable events we hope that our audience shares their experiences with their peers and makes them want to keep coming back. It’s up to us to keep being loud about our mission and to inspire people to want to be a part of the process.

D: For me, the magic in Songbirds happens behind the scenes. It’s the relationships we build with the artists and our network of industry professionals. It’s the conversations we have about shared experiences, good and bad. It’s supporting their showcases, album releases, etc. It’s about sending that text message or email saying, “I see you, and you inspire the hell out of me.”

This community, this space is growing rapidly, and it’s so much bigger than just Songbirds. Platforms like Femme House and GXRLSCHOOL have been doing incredible things in the community over the last few years. Same with Female Collective, who have supported us with this event. We’re all in this together and working towards a common goal. It’s encouraging to be welcomed with open arms, to have that support from womxn we admire. We only hope that we can pay it forward.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of putting SS together for each of you so far?

M: For me it’s the response we get from the artists, the crew and audience members and how much fun they have at our shows which reassures me we’re doing something right and is incredibly meaningful. We always make a point to get to know the artists on a personal level and stay in touch with them to create an environment where they can lean on us as a resource and continually connect with. The relationships we are building is everything and it’s what builds the community. And most importantly, the core team Danielle and I came together with an idea and together we are building something extraordinary, for that I am grateful for everyday!

D: I remember after our “Sister Rhythm” show at the Lodgeroom, we got a dm from someone who’d attended the show. She said she was on the brink of tears earlier that day, but being there, feeling the energy in that room, she left feeling empowered. So that. That right there is the most rewarding thing.

Is there a particular achievement or milestone in practical terms that you're working towards? I mean like a particular venue or artist you'd like to book, something along those lines.

M: We’re constantly talking about our Songbird dreams. To be able to expand our team soon is going to be incredible. We are currently developing our digital platform and industry mixers, which we’re excited to roll out. We also always talk about a big festival one day, and to do shows beyond LA! Watch this ever evolving space…

D: Taking Songbirds on the road! We’ve discussed New York, Austin, Europe, and even Australia! We’ve always envisioned this as a global community. We’ve been so fortunate to have artists come to us from all over the world, now we're ready to go to them!

What is 'Songbird Sessions' trying to tell the world?

M: That we are all equal and deserve to be recognized that way. That building community is empowering and can be the force of change for the better. And that we curate damn good shows that people will have a great time at so come to our next one, and all the ones after it!

D: At the end of the day, I look at Songbirds as a microphone. So it’s not, what are WE trying to tell the world, but what are the womxn in our community trying to tell the world. If our platform elevates their voices, then we’ve accomplished our goal.

Songbirds: More Than A Festival

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