Meet Rosie Frater-Taylor: a 22-year-old singer, songwriter and guitarist from London who blurs the lines between jazz, folk, pop and soul with a clear goal. On Saturday 29 April, Rosie Frater-Taylor will be at BIRD!

Hi Rosie, thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. What are some of your favourite songs to perform?

I can't wait to perform in the Netherlands for the first time! The pleasure is all mine… As for songs, the live show can get quite wild and loud… My drummer Tom Potter and bassist Dave Edwards bring incredible energy to the songs, so anything that's really in the groove is usually my favourite! We play a niche London broken beat track by Brotherly, called 'DT's', with some wild metric modulations… On the other end of the spectrum, I also love playing my songs solo with my looper, it feels like you can really connect with the audience that way, no need to strain the vocal cords!

How do you approach live shows differently?

I would say I'm much more enthusiastic when I play live, so the guitar solos are usually quite epic – the whole thing can get pretty energetic… Giving a great live show is a lifetime's work, but I try to do the 'moment' justice and connect with the band during every show, so in that way, I think they're more natural and less thought out than some of my recordings.

Tell us about yourself. What is your musical background?

I come from a musical family, my parents are jazz and folk musicians themselves, my first instrument was actually drums and my dad taught me that. There was always very interesting music in my house: Lewis Taylor, Pat Metheny, Al Jarreau, Zero 7, so the palette that naturally appeals to me is quite eclectic.

I wrote songs at a young age, but then 'jazz' took over for a while, I eventually achieved a degree in jazz guitar from the Royal Academy Of Music… But when I discovered artists like Joni Mitchell, Becca Stevens and Gretchen Parlato, I realised I could combine jazz and songwriting to make songs with cool chords that sound very different and very 'me'. But nowadays, I try more and more to not label my music and to forget everything I learned growing up – I think that's the best way to write something authentic.

What does music mean to you? What are the themes in your songwriting?

They say that everyone has something that gets them into their 'flow' or 'zone'… Hours pass and you have no idea because you are so involved in that special activity… For me, it's making songs. The songs on my new (yet to be released) album have a lot of themes of love and empowerment, which was never really my intention! I use my writing to understand myself and the world, so after revelations in recent years about femininity, different relationships, sexuality, and various people I've been close to, it was only natural, I think, that the songs reflect that.

What was the first song you ever wrote? What was it about and what was your inspiration?

A song called 'Lullaby', I was very inspired by Becca Stevens at the time… I wrote it about my father singing me to sleep when I was a child, which I have a particularly vivid memory of!

How would you describe your music style and which musicians have influenced you?

Obviously, I have a background in jazz, so over the years I've been influenced by this style: George Benson, Pat Metheny, John Scofield. But generally, my style is constantly changing! I'd like to think I just sound like myself.

I have a deep, deep love for the guitar… harmony and great musical craftsmanship, so these aspects are usually at the core of my writing and what I enjoy. Recently, stylistically, I've been increasingly influenced by (women who) rock… Edgier artists who are really trying to say something about the world we live in, people like Madison Cunningham, PJ Harvey, Björk, Nilüfer Yanya, Fiona Apple, Meshell Ndegeocello, all of whom in their own way command their spaces and stages in a way I aspire to as an artist.

What do you think is the best way to create a good atmosphere and community to support budding artists?

I think honesty in many different ways. Honesty about the music industry, honesty in terms of feedback, helping people discover their authenticity/their truth, honesty in a social sense, understanding what is real and what is not online, understanding data, numbers versus reality…

To what extent do music and/or lyrics influence your songwriting process as opposed to personal experiences?

Lyrics are becoming increasingly important to me as I get older, I feel that the lyrical content of my upcoming album is becoming more mature. I'm always searching for that 'feeling' when I write… It can take the form of excitement, joy, anger, sadness… Just something that tugs at my heart harmonically, melodically, or lyrically, so I suppose in that way everything can be traced back to my personal experience.

You have a dinner for two, anything goes, who is at the table and what do you order?

That's a good question… Can I sit alone with my headphones on and eat both portions? Gnocchi alla sorrentina with lots of mozzarella and a well-seasoned side salad is my dish of choice, something heartwarming and cosy & of course wine. If I MUST have dinner with someone, let's choose PJ Harvey, I think we'd create some chaos together.