Birdy

Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde (born 15 May 1996), known professionally as Birdy ( BUR-dee), is a British singer. She won the music competition Open Mic UK in 2008, at the age of 12.

Birdy's debut single, a cover version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love", was her breakthrough. The track charted all across Europe and earned platinum certification six times in Australia. Her debut album, Birdy, was released on 7 November 2011 to similar success, peaking at #1 in Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Birdy's second studio album, Fire Within, was released on 23 September 2013 in the UK. At the 2014 Brit Awards, she was nominated for Best British Female Solo Artist. Birdy's third studio album, Beautiful Lies, was released on 25 March 2016. Her fourth studio album Young Heart was released on 30 April 2021. Birdy's fifth studio album, Portraits, was released on 18 August 2023, which includes the singles "Raincatchers", "Heartbreaker", "Your Arms" and "Paradise Calling".

Early life

Birdy was born on 15 May 1996, in Lymington, England. Her father is Rupert Oliver Benjamin van den Bogaerde, a writer; her mother is Sophie Patricia (née Roper-Curzon). She stated that the classical music and songs her mother played when she was Birdy was growing up influenced her sound. Her parents were married in 1995 and have two other children: Jake (born 1997) and Caitlin (born 1999). She also has two elder half-brothers, Moses and Sam, from her father's first marriage.

Birdy studied at Durlston Court Prep School in Barton on Sea, at Priestlands School, and at Brockenhurst College, a sixth form college in the New Forest. Her maternal grandfather was Captain John Christopher Ingram Roper-Curzon, the 20th Baron Teynham. Birdy grew up at Pylewell Park, the family estate near Lymington, Hampshire. Her great-uncle was the actor Sir Dirk Bogarde. Birdy has English, Belgian (Flemish), Dutch, and Scottish ancestry.

Birdy's second given name, Lucilla, was the name of her father's stepmother.

Birdy's stage name comes from the nickname her parents gave her as a baby because she opened her mouth like a little bird when being fed.

Career

2008–2012: Early career

In 2008, while still a 12-year-old pupil at Durlston Court Preparatory School, Birdy won the UK talent contest Open Mic UK, a spinoff of the Live and Unsigned competition. She won both the under-18s category and the Grand Prize against 10,000 other competitors. She performed her own song called "So Be Free" at the competition in front of 2,000 people.

In 2009, Birdy performed live on piano for BBC Radio 3's Pianothon in London. In January 2011, at the age of 14, Birdy released a cover version of Bon Iver's song "Skinny Love". The song became her first hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #17. The single was chosen as "Record of the Week" by radio DJ Fearne Cotton, resulting in it being added to BBC Radio 1's B‑list playlist upon release in March 2011. The official music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller. The song was also featured in The Vampire Diaries episode "The Sun Also Rises", which aired on 5 May 2011. "Skinny Love" peaked at #1 in the Netherlands.

Birdy went on to cover further songs, including "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran and the xx's "Shelter". On 19 July 2011, she performed both for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. The latter featured in The Vampire Diaries episode "The End of the Affair", which aired on 29 September 2011.