There are moments when we are completely defeated, but we must remember to take the good with the bad. A balancing act, life is never the way we envisioned, but that is alright… because even through the darkest of times we can find a sense of purpose that changes everything. The true beauty of it all, Bishop Brigg is an artist who wears her heart on her sleeve and possesses a voice that reaches the heavens.
A singer-songwriter who first garnered attention nearly a decade ago with the 2016 single “Wild Horses,” Briggs has since consistently grown with each passing release. Now back in 2024 with her third album Tell My Therapist I’m Fine, she offers one of her most inspirational collections of songs to date. An album that comes after a whirlwind of emotions, where Briggs tragically lost her sister, but also gave birth to a child, it is a bold moment in her life. Feeling hopeful for the future and ready to Rock-n-Roll, Bishop Briggs sat down to talk about her experiences in music, her objective as a singer, plus a lot more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in music essentially your entire life. Releasing a list of highly charted singles over the last decade, you have not only had success but built a reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in music today. How would you describe your career to this point?
Bishop Briggs – Oh, that’s a great question. Something I’ve tried to have in my life is to just be consistent. I’ve tried to consistently put my all into the music that I’m writing and the way I perform. Of course, I hope that I’ve only gotten stronger.
It is a tough question. I would hope I’ve been consistent. I would hope that my values, in terms of connecting with the people in front of me, have remained the same. A big part of my goal as an artist, from the very beginning, was to help make others feel less alone. That’s what music has done for me. I hope that I’ve continued that.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. You have continued to grow as a performer and a songwriter too. You can see this from record to record, and in the EPs you have released.
Bishop Briggs – Oh, thank you! I’m very relieved to hear that.
Cryptic Rock – One of the most pronounced things you hear when listening to Bishop Briggs is your voice. You have such a powerful and passionate voice. Honestly, this is very exciting to hear in today’s modern world where a lot of auto-tuning occurs. Not to speak negatively of other artists, but there is simply no denying that this is a current trend. How important is it for you to pour your soul into singing the way you do?
Bishop Briggs – I think because so much of my start was really based in touring and performing live, I always wanted to make sure that the records sounded that way when I performed live. I wanted to keep that authenticity. Some of my favorite records growing up were Janis Joplin and then Queen. To me, there was so much energy and passion in those songs, and there wasn’t perfectionism. Having those little details in the music is so important. I think you get that from avoiding tuning in that same way.
Cryptic Rock – Most certainly. It is so nice to hear you say that because you can feel that in your music. That is one of the connective qualities of your music. Your lyrics are very personal, but it is that rawness in your voice that offers the boldest connection.
Bishop Briggs – Oh, thank you. I’m so glad to hear that.
Cryptic Rock – Going back in time a little, you released your debut record Church of Scars in 2018, and then you released Champion a year later in 2019. Now you are back in 2024 with your third full-length, Tell My Therapist I’m Fine. A follow-up to 2023’s EP When Everything Went Dark, this new album is one of your most diverse to date. What was the writing and recording process like for this new album?
Bishop Briggs – Oh, yay! Well, It’s felt really special this time around to lean into what has felt most like me; which is picking up those Rock influences. Whenever I’ve performed live, I feel like that’s been a big takeaway that I’ve had, where the people that I admire are really in that world.
With this record, I feel like I got to lean fully into the My Chemical Romance influences that I’ve had from day one, and anything you would see sort of early 2000s Warped Tour in terms of quirky lyrics and being unapologetically myself. That has been the goal. It does feel different from the other two albums and the EPs. It feels like a fresh start, which feels really exciting.
Cryptic Rock – Yes, you can hear that level of energy in these new songs. You can feel it right from the get-go, all the way until the end. One of the things that has been consistent is that your lyrics are always honest, candid, and from the heart. It is empowering in a lot of ways; because these are about experiences that you have as a person, and everyone can relate to that. It is just about basically, to quote the title of your album and the song “Champion,” overcoming. Is that right?
Bishop Briggs – Right. I sometimes find myself when I’m writing, that I’m also trying to manifest these things into existence. I’m not someone that is always feeling the most secure. I’m not always feeling the most confident. There is this thought in my head that if I repeatedly sing it, perhaps it will come true. That was something I learned from the writing on Champion. I recommend it to anyone who is seeking more confidence; it is to pretend for a little while and see what happens. I have found so many gifts from trying to put that into the music and seeing what comes from it.
Cryptic Rock – It is very interesting to hear you say that. That is a good way to look at things in general. What do they say? Fake it until you make it.
Bishop Briggs – Yes, which, by the way, needs to be a song. That is such a good line!
Cryptic Rock – It is true. But in a positive aspect of that, basically what you are saying is that we all have our insecurities. Even someone who is the most successful person in the world may have their own insecurities, but we need to keep reminding ourselves that we are better than we think we are.
Bishop Briggs – Oh, 100%. Also, not to be too hippie, but talk to your younger self, and what you would say if you were talking to a friend. We speak so differently to the people we love. For some reason, we don’t do that for ourselves. A lot of this album was uncovering that part of my life and this juxtaposition between self-soothing and self-sabotage that I’ve noticed.
Cryptic Rock –There are a lot of powerful songs on this record too. Some that stick out are “Shut It Off” and the album’s title track, “Tell My Therapist I’m Fine.” That is an interesting title. Where does that come from?
Bishop Briggs – One of the songs on the record is called “My Serotonin.” In the second verse, I say, “Tell my therapist I’m fine. I’m done lying all the time because I’m not fucking fine.” Obviously, there’s a little bit of humor there. I’ve definitely found myself being in therapy before where I’m not sharing the full truth of a situation, and I get called out on it. I’m presenting it in a certain way, and I’m not getting to the depth of how much something hurt me. “My Serotonin” is a song that encompasses my journey with motherhood. It felt like an important one to really hone in on as part of the title.
Cryptic Rock – As you said, self-soothing as well. It is great to have someone to talk to. However, when it all boils down, we are the only ones who can soothe ourselves. We have to be open to it and willing.
Bishop Briggs – Totally. Sometimes it is just showing up, showing up to therapy, or showing up to meet up with your friends and them having patience with you as you sort through it yourself.
Cryptic Rock – That is the truth. You mentioned motherhood. You became a mother in the last few years. How would you explain that life-changing experience?
Bishop Briggs – So far it has just been the best experience ever. I don’t recommend what I’m about to say to anyone, but I was just so severely depressed before I got pregnant. I had to work a lot on my mental health.
I unexpectedly lost my sister. That was really where the journey of grief and learning different coping mechanisms began. A lot of people struggle with missing their previous life. Because I was so depressed beforehand, I definitely didn’t miss that older life… especially because it didn’t involve my sister.
It has just been the biggest blessing in my life, even the experience of being pregnant. All of it was just really life-giving, I would say. It’s special when you get to have a choice and that it works out.
Cryptic Rock – That is beautiful to hear. You have traveled a long road with yourself and dealing with things. This new album is all of that positivity that has come forward. It seems like you found the light at the end of the tunnel.
Bishop Briggs – Oh, I hope so. I definitely went through a phase of writing very depressing songs when my sister passed away. Although there’s a therapeutic element to doing that, my sister exuded so much light and joy. She was the person who introduced me to every Rock band that I’ve ever listened to. She went to Summer Sonic Festival. She went to Warped Tour. She went to all these things.
It’s interesting with the songs I wrote for this record; I felt so much more connected to her than writing the sad songs because those songs didn’t represent her. She was the person who would be screaming the loudest at every show and had such a passion for music. I got to represent her light in that way with this album. I’m glad to hear you say that… because I was hoping that there would be a lightness with this record.
Cryptic Rock – Right. Well, it is a great way to honor your sister as well. You were clearly very close to your sister and the deepest condolences for your loss. As you had said, you had written some very sad songs after the loss of your sister. That was a release of emotion. Grief comes in different phases. With this in mind, it is great that you have reached a point with this music that can honor your sister. Losing a loved one is extremely difficult.
Bishop Briggs – Thank you. Yeah, it’s like a club you didn’t ask to be a part of.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely. although you do not want to be part of that club, becoming a parent is also life-changing. Anyone who becomes a parent soon realizes they see things so differently. With loss and then the birth of a child, you come to learn quickly that life is short and you should try to cherish things as much as you can.
Bishop Briggs – Totally. Part of the shift that happens when you become a parent, too, is you see yourself through their eyes as well. You sort of think, “How am I going to explain this? How am I going to show them the healthy things that I’m doing on a day-to-day basis to honor that person?” If I am having a day where I really miss them, how am I communicating that? It’s different when you have little eyes looking at you. You’re adjusting according to that.
Cryptic Rock – Again, you are speaking the honest truth, Those little eyes, in most situations, try to make you be the best person you can be.
Bishop Briggs – Yeah, exactly. 100%.
Cryptic Rock – Tell My Therapist I’m Fine is out now. You did some touring last year, and now you have tour dates set for 2025. As mentioned you like to keep the records true to what you sound like in real life. It will be great to hear these new songs live.
Bishop Briggs – Yes. I also did a little album release party at the Troubadour in L.A. the night that the record came out.
Cryptic Rock – Excellent. You have a fascinating background. Having traveled around and lived in different parts of the world, how does that also inform your music?
Bishop Briggs – Ooh, that’s a great question. I was born in London, I moved to Japan when I was four and lived there for six years, and was in Hong Kong for eight years.
When I graduated high school, I moved to LA. I would say that Japan was so influential because the go-to thing there is to go to karaoke bars, no matter what your age is. My dad would get up and sing Frank Sinatra, and I just saw this light in his eyes. I was like, “Wow. Whatever that is, I want to feel that on a daily basis.” I’ve been chasing that ever since.
With Hong Kong, that was really my introduction to songwriting because of the normal heartbreak that happens while you’re in those formative years. There was so much to write about. The combination of all those places had a big influence on me.
Cryptic Rock – All of these aspects make you who you are. You talk about your dad and watching him singing. That leads to another question. How did you develop your voice? As mentioned earlier, you have a powerful and soulful voice. You could be singing R&B or a Motown song.
Bishop Briggs – Thank you. That’s the biggest compliment ever! During the time when I was listening to Janice Joplin, there was also the other side where I was listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Otis Redding. It means so much that you hear both of those influences.
Cryptic Rock – It makes sense that each of these is part of your musical background. You absolutely can hear it all there. You mentioned Janice Joplin and a few others as your influences. You mentioned going to Warped Tours. You obviously like Rock music, R&B, and Soul. With a very eclectic taste in music, tell us more about your influences.
Bishop Briggs – Yeah. There’s something to say about Classic Rock. There will always be an influence there for me. The main takeaway from so much music that I have listened to and been drawn to is truth-tellers and these performers who you feel everything they’re saying. It feels as though it just happened to them.
As someone who performs, obviously, as well, I feel like I go back to whatever moment I was in when I was writing. The overall theme is definitely the truth-tellers. Those are the people who I’m drawn to. This can also be within a variety of genres, for sure.
Cryptic Rock – That is what we look for in our music. We look for it to be honest. That is what it’s all about… no matter what genre.
Bishop Briggs – Totally. 100%.
Cryptic Rock – This brings us back to Tell My Therapist I’m Fine. You hear a lot more Rock this go-around with the ever-present heavy guitars. You never can predict what the future will hold, but do you feel this is a direction you want to follow, or do you have to go with whatever inspires you next?
Bishop Briggs – Right. I think this record has the most live influence that I’ve had. This is compared to the other ones, where this one has real drums, and there are real guitars. The executive producer of this record was Andrew Wells. A big thing we discussed was feeling as though you were in the room while listening and as if we were playing in your living room as you listen back.
I think that there have been consistent hints of Rock; especially while I’ve performed over the past decade, the covers I’ve chosen, and different hints along the way. To finally plant my feet and find a home here has felt liberating in a lot of ways. I will stay for as long as I am wanted. It’s felt really good.
Cryptic Rock – It is hard with everything being fragmented within the modern music world. There are so many different platforms and outlets for people to hear your music. Essentially, anyone who enjoys Rock music should give Bishop Briggs a listen. They need to get their nose out of the air and pretense of, “Oh, that is Pop.” You have the voice that Rock-n-Roll fans want!
Bishop Briggs – Yeah, I hope that anyone who is very into old-school Rock, of course, will take a listen and enjoy the record. I always lean towards whatever someone’s drawn to, I very much understand.
The idea of having those listeners tune in and feel less alone by listening would be great. Again, I think that is something Rock focuses on; it is sharing pain, as well as sharing in the hope that others will share their pain and their honesty. I hope that they come along the journey with me.
Cryptic Rock – Absolutely, agreed. Last question to tie this up neatly. You talked about your trials and tribulations and everything that has happened through the years. You are still a very young person, but yet you seem to have the wisdom of someone much older. What do you think are some of the most important things you have learned from life to this point?
Bishop Briggs – Oh, that’s a great question. I think the biggest lesson or takeaway I’ve had is that grief is not a straight line. I recently had a friend talk to me about this idea of what if life is meant to be a classroom where we’re students in this classroom and people that we meet along the way might be fellow students. They might be teachers. There are all these lessons involved. There might be some pain within our society where we’re trying to have a perfect life, a really good life, the American dream, or whatever it is.
If we look at life as one big classroom, perhaps life would feel less disappointing. Maybe we take the lessons that we learn. We take the good when it’s there. We take the bad when it’s there as well, but we allow it to cloak over us when it needs to. We allow the joy to bring us comfort in those times of sorrow.
I’ve been trying to change my perspective in that way and understand that grief changes. Because I have been in the depths of darkness with that loss that I experienced, I didn’t know that there would be a life after that. To get to see my baby… I’m just so glad that I kept on living. I didn’t know there could be any good that could come out of life after a loss like that. Knowing that grief is not linear has been a big lesson that has ups and downs. It has waves.
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