The Maltese hip hop artist rises to the first place in the iTunes charts, the main radio station in Malta
Sunday, 27 November 2022, 09:30
Last update: about 2 hours ago
Maltese hip hop artist Chris Birdd went first on the popular iTunes charts, as well as on the main radio station in Malta 89.7 Bay Radio.
Birdd, the award-winning artist making waves in London and Los Angeles, has received international recognition for his music, with just last week releasing his latest single ‘Hitting Different’, which made it to the number one position in the iTunes charts.
Born and raised in Malta, Christopher Mizzi, whose name is Chris Birdd, is a musician, singer, producer, and engineer, and started making music about 15 years ago. Birdd started to find his own style of music around 2019 and has continued to put it into practice since then.
For the last six years he has been going back and forth between London, where he lives, and Los Angeles.
“I’m building a big network out here and it’s starting to pay off. It took me to crazy places,” said Birdd in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday.
In fact, Birdd has currently been working as the lead sound engineer for former professional boxer Mike Tyson commercials that have aired on TMZ, Forbes, CNN, NBC and many more.
Asked about the music industry, Birdd explained that unfortunately, the industry has its negative aspects.
“Everybody’s out to get you, and everybody’s trying to climb the social ladder,” Birdd said. However, Birdd said he is in an amazing place, where he has met incredible people within the industry, who do not focus on the materialistic and superficial side of it.
“Fortunately, the people I surround myself with have blessed me to see the other side of the industry, which has led me to understand that I don’t need a major label or all these crazy and fancy things, to give the validation of my music,” Birdd said.
Birdd said he is in talks to sign a deal in Los Angeles with J2 Entertainment to produce, engineer and write songs for albums and film dubbing.
Birdd spoke about the music industry in Malta, where he said he was present, and released music and performed on a smaller scale. He, however, did not work directly with any labels in Malta.
“The industry is pretty much online today, in terms of getting your name out there. The industry in general is competing with other artists or labels,” said Birdd.
He said that the ‘rabbit hole’ of the industry is when an artist signs with a label that dictates everything for them.
“I’m in a nice place where I dictate everything I do. I choose when to download songs, shoot music videos and more. That freedom allows me to be the true creative that I am, and you can’t put a time and place on creativity,” said Birdd.
He continued that when artists get too caught up in the materialistic things that are in the industry, they fail to understand that they are robbing themselves of the thing they should love the most, which is to be creative.
“I’m technically in the industry, but at the same time I’m not,” said Birdd, adding that he separates himself from the negative parts of the industry for his freedom.
Birdd said his experience working with other musicians has been amazing, as he only works with people he feels positive energy with.
“If I click with you and we’re in the studio making music, that’s nothing but a blessing,” Birdd said.
Can musicians in Malta succeed in Malta? Birdd was asked if the different ideas of music as well as the size of the country, limit the artists in their ambitions.
“Musicians in Malta can certainly succeed, as with the internet, everything is possible nowadays,” said Birdd.
“However, one thing that people have to get used to is being comfortable with being uncomfortable, and there is a great comfort zone in Malta. It’s good to make music in Malta, but I feel that the world is a big place, and the potential and possibilities are endless once you get out of that comfort zone,” said Birdd.
Birdd had three songs hit number one for various awards, which are ‘Hitting Different,’ ‘Motion’, and ‘Wave Season’.
Asked what his music is about, Birdd said that his music has both elements of how to send a message and ‘feel-good’ music.
“As a human being, you are not always happy, or sad, or angry. It depends on what mood I’m in. My music is a reflection of myself and moments I’ve been through, my experiences and my feelings,” said Birdd.
He said that usually, the underlying message is a positive one, and the majority of his music is about love and relationships, whether past or current, or relationships that friends and family are going through.
“I write from their perspective,” said Birdd, adding that he writes, produces, and designs all of his own songs, as well as doing his own graphic design and editing, describing himself as a band of one man.
What’s next for Birdd? “The next thing is to continue releasing music non-stop, with the aim of one every month,” he said.
Birdd said he wants to continue building relationships and continue to grow. He also wants to do a European tour which one hopes will take place next summer.
“I want to continue to grow and build a fanbase, and keep the momentum going,” Birdd said.
On his fans, Birdd said he communicated with them all the time, usually starting with them enjoying his music and supporting him, which turns into a conversation.
“I always message my fans and reach out to them on social media. I always thank them for supporting me. I love being an older or younger brother, or a son to them – a human being. I think this goes a long way, as the support grows even stronger. I am tangible, and reachable, and there is no net between us,” said Birdd.
Birdd won best Hip Hop/Urban act at the Lovin Music Awards in 2019 and has received over 20 million streams across all platforms.