Little Birdy: This Is a Love Song
Little Birdy are back to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their debut album, BigBigLove. The Note was lucky enough to catch up with charismatic frontwoman Katy Steele to discuss her memories of the record, Australian festivals, the band’s astonishing career trajectory, and so much more.
Words by Will Oakeshott
Image supplied
An astounding 21 years have passed since alternative indie rock trio Little Birdy unleashed their seminal first album BigBigLove upon the world. The twelve remarkable compositions making up the album would consequently catapult the Perth act deservedly into the global limelight. The record debuted at number five on the ARIA charts and achieved Platinum status. Songs from the album also appeared in the triple j Hottest 100, and a sold-out national tour followed – the sky was literally the limit.
Over two decades since its release and 15 years after the three-piece announced their “break”, Little Birdy are back to celebrate BigBigLove with an Australian tour performing the full-length in its entirety along with other favourites. The Note was lucky enough to catch up with charismatic frontwoman Katy Steele to discuss her memories of the record, Australian festivals, the band’s astonishing career trajectory, and so much more.
“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.” —E.Y. Harburg.
The above statement from the Academy-winning lyricist arguably presents itself as almost a mathematical equation. A puzzle that requires multiple glances and re-examinations to solve the magical message within. Essentially, the calculation comprises a rather straightforward addition idea: If words equate to thought, music equates to feeling, and a song is made up of music and words… “…A song makes you feel a thought.”
The distinction, though, is interpretation – what is the thought one feels through song? When Katy Steele, the vocalist and guitarist for the recently reformed indie rock luminaries Little Birdy, wrote the 12 songs that would become BigBigLove, she was not the same person as she is today. The most transparent reason is that the trio’s first LP was released over two decades ago, when Steele was immersed in her early twenties. Fast forward to 2025, Steele is now in her forties, a mother, wife, and undeniably still a stellar songwriter, but the tracks she crafted all those years ago would possibly have a different interpretation for her now than in 2004. It therefore plagued this writer to enquire whether Steele was able to rediscover her remarkable artistic mindset while revisiting these sensational songs in preparation for Little Birdy’s upcoming reunion tour.
“I think that some of them are quite artistic. I think the flow… I've always kind of written lyrics as a way to sing the melody. Some of them sound quite abstract, and I'm kind of proud of that,” Steele describes in an appreciative expression. Delving into a deeper reflection, she adds, “I feel like it's something that I want to get better at, [writing] lyrics. I’m still striving over here, but I don't know. I honestly haven't really thought about it too much. Emotionally, I always tap into the songs, and the songs speak for themselves. There might be one or two little bits here and there, where I'm like, ‘Ugh’ (laughs). It's just what it is, and I'm kind of honouring that. I think that's cool. Just go with it and enjoy it because we're not going to be doing this tour again.”
The tour is a celebration of the then quartet’s first LP that projected Steele, Simon Leach (synth/lead guitar) and Scott O’Donoghue (bass/vocals/harmonica) to national stardom and brought them to international attention. BigBigLove will be presented in full at these showcases, alongside a handpicked selection of fan favourite classics that helped frame their legacy.
A fundamental element of Little Birdy’s justified adoration was the captivating poetry Steele created that magnified the incredible indie compositions. Referring back to the quote by Mr. Harburg and ultimately the concept of interpretation, this is noticeably where many of the band’s fans, in all likelihood, attached themselves wholeheartedly to the outfit. Although the lyrical interpretations would have assuredly varied for every listener, I ask her what she thinks of the lyrics she wrote for ‘Losing You’.
“It's written about the push and pull of relationships. When you're younger, say a teenager or [in your] early 20s, those emotions are just so intense. If someone doesn’t call you back, it's just so magnetised. I think a lot of the songs on the album are just written about those feelings, things being really intense for you, and just trying to deal with it.” She recollects with a discovered inclination, then elaborates further – “That's kind of what I was going through in my life. That's what was happening. I was going through a breakup, you know, on-and-off around that period. Well, I think I was, I don't know, I can't remember.” Steele pauses to allow herself to laugh in a contagious and light-hearted manner, then continues: “Not to sound too vague, [but] I think they are very mood-driven, and very visually driven. These songs kind of divulge the mood of that time that I was in.”
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For the lack of a better description, friendship when you are young, or even “young love”, and especially the loss of that, remains with countless people for their entire lifetimes. Soulful musical expressions about those memories and concepts, when done with the elegance of Little Birdy, accentuate the brilliance and timelessness of the songs and why they are cherished.
BigBigLove achieved Platinum status. It debuted at number five on the ARIA charts and received five nominations at the ARIA awards in 2004 and 2005. The band were invited to support phenomenal acts such as REM, Bright Eyes and Placebo. As is Australian tradition, Little Birdy also undertook the famed festival circuit, performing at Falls Festival, Homebake, Groovin’ The Moo, Big Day Out and Splendour In The Grass.
“I think Big Day Out's probably my favourite from memory, and Splendour as well. But Big Day Out was just such a well-organised festival; it was always SO HUGE! Getting on that was just such a huge deal,” Steele recalls with infectious elation, practically losing her breath. “We always had really good slots, and we always had [a] really good turnout as well. It's kind of crazy thinking back to all that. Just seems like so long ago. But we achieved a lot.”
Any particular highlights from this incredible period?
“There were heaps of special moments; seeing PJ Harvey after, I think it was at the Duxton in Perth. I think she was just hanging out. Rubbing shoulders with Wilco. It was such a huge festival and it was so cool. It’s something I'll remember forever.”
It has been 20 years since the three-piece was on the road in support of BigBigLove. Considering its life-changing significance, everlastingness and resulting reverence internationally, it seemed practically pivotal to ask the enchanting Steele about Little Birdy’s preparations and probable excited perspective about this upcoming nationwide extravaganza.
“We have just been easing back into life as a band, taking each day as they come. Which is kind of a cool way to do it, rather than just throwing everything at the wall.” She clarifies in more detail, “I'm only just now starting to think about new songs. So, this [upcoming] tour has been cool to prepare for. It’s a nice way to welcome us back and ease into it. It's an album we’re all really proud of. It's special for us as well because it was our first offering. The first time we're on a label. It kind of speaks volumes.”
What are the feelings for Little Birdy on embarking on this time travel adventure?
“We have seen that the tickets are selling like really well. And that really speaks volumes. That album touched people at that point in time. And it's always hard to recreate that. I feel like I've been trying to recreate that since then, but you can't recreate a time in your life. When you're a young person growing up, it's like there is certain areas of life that kind of stick with you, more than others. And I think that there must be something that just touched people about some of those songs.”
“…A song makes you feel a thought.” —E.Y. Harburg.
Catch Little Birdy at The Gov on Thursday, July 3. Tickets on sale now via oztix.com.au.
