Artist Spotlight: Sparkbird
Image Credit: Jason Quigley
Sparkbird is the musical project of Stephen Nance. Nance embodies a unique style of music, which they describe as “indie chamber pop” and “bardcore.” Their songwriting often captures struggles with identity, snapshots of memories, and Nance’s love for nature, especially birds. The name Sparkbird is a term that avid birdwatchers use to describe the bird that ignited their passion for the hobby. For Nance, that bird was the striking red-and-yellow Western Tanager.
I first discovered Sparkbird in the fall of 2023 through one of their many Instagram Reels promoting their song “November.” I was captivated by its intricate sound and unusual lyrics. The song went viral, especially among various fandom communities. Sparkbird wholeheartedly embraces such communities and their interpretations of their songs. They regularly promote their music to cosplayers, storytellers, and other creatives, and also share fandom-related playlists featuring their songs.
Sparkbird is a professional at their craft, Nance having played, performed, and taught music for over a decade before relaunching as Sparkbird. Their instrumentation is especially varied and dramatic. It reminds me of the quirky music you might find in a television show like Over the Garden Wall. Their lyrics are also clever, often including nature imagery and double meanings that create songs both specific and open to individual imagination. Their songs embody both struggle and hope, depicting the highs and lows of life with honesty. “November” depicts the struggles of a victim of sexual abuse while remaining subtle enough that you could miss such meaning on first listen. “Sparkbird” highlights the joy of finding a passion that carries you through the mundanity of life. “Silent Film” describes grieving a loved one, and “Metropolis of Eden” hopes for a future of connection and community.
Sparkbird’s latest track is “Wooden,” which I think embodies everything I’ve come to expect from Nance. It compares the oppression of minority communities to the loss of a species’ habitat. The lyrics of the chorus “You will always be you / And I think that’s a good person to be / As long as you’re doing no harm unto others / Then you’re always doing the right thing by me” are sentiments shared by Nance’s grandfather to him when he had run away from home after being outed. Sparkbird pointedly asks, “But how can I do that / When I have no habitat,” showing how oppression and prejudice hinder people from living their lives. Sparkbird encourages a peaceful but persevering resistance to such oppression.
Through their music and personable online presence (they are active on Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, and Discord), Sparkbird has given voice to many, especially those identifying as LGBTQIA or neurodivergent, by sharing their own story. To their listeners, Sparkbird offers more than just music; they have created a safe, empowering, and creative community of loyal fans, discovering their own “sparkbirds” and habitats.
Sparkbird is finishing up a tour in Canada and will continue in support of Shayfer James across the UK and the EU in September.
