Towa Bird

It’s easy to see why Towa Bird is rock ’n’ roll’s latest “it girl.” Armed with her signature shaggy, textured mullet and carefree swagger, the 27-year-old effortlessly blends the masculine and feminine in her rock anthems. The Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter and guitarist released her sophomore album, Gentleman, on May 15, exploring themes of androgyny, sex, and self-expression. The moody album pays homage to classic ’70s rock with undertones of ’90s punk, culminating in an atmospheric tour de force that’s hard to pause. She says, “I really like the word musician. Huge fan. I watched a Jimi Hendrix documentary when I was 12 years old. His magnetism on stage was just so compelling. I wanted to be like everything he was! I wanted to play like him, dress like him, and sing like him.” That passion for performance still fuels Bird today, especially when she’s connecting with fans in queer spaces at her live shows. “My favorite part of my job is playing live shows. It’s such a cool opportunity to facilitate a space where people can feel safe, enjoy themselves, and make friends with like-minded people. So many amazing queer kids in the audience, and they’re all so goddamn funny.” –ER