Towa Bird has never seemed particularly interested in playing by anyone else’s rules. Since emerging as one of the most exciting young guitarists and songwriters in alternative music, the London-raised artist has built a reputation on sharp songwriting, unapologetic individuality, and a rare ability to bridge guitar-driven rock with modern pop instincts. With the release of her second album Gentleman, Bird takes that evolution even further, delivering her most confident, adventurous, and fully realized project to date.
Released via Interscope Records, Gentleman arrives nearly two years after Bird’s acclaimed debut American Hero, an album that established her as one of the most promising new voices in contemporary rock. While that record introduced audiences to her blend of pop-punk energy, confessional songwriting, and blistering guitar work, Gentleman feels less concerned with a focus on expansion.
Produced by Patrick Wimberly, known for his work with MGMT and Blood Orange, the album embraces a wider sonic palette while maintaining the irreverent attitude that has become Bird’s calling card. Across eleven tracks, she examines identity, desire, confidence, vulnerability, and queer romance through a lens that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
The album’s title serves as a deliberate reimagining of a traditionally masculine archetype. Rather than rejecting the term, Bird reclaims it. Throughout the record, Gentleman becomes about about confidence, self-possession, romance, and authenticity. It’s a concept that aligns perfectly with Bird’s artistic identity, challenging expectations while refusing to be constrained by them.
Leading the album’s release is the new single “Dog,” accompanied by a provocative video directed by Caio Vieira and starring actress Katy O’Brian. The visual explores themes of dominance, submission, attraction, and power dynamics through a stylized cinematic lens. The chemistry between Bird and O’Brian drives much of the video’s tension, creating a visual counterpart to one of the album’s most daring tracks.
Musically, “Dog” strips things back. Built on a gritty, minimalist framework, the song places Bird’s vocals and lyrical vulnerability front and center. Describing the track as a song about surrender and desire, Bird leans into raw emotional honesty while allowing the sparse production to heighten every word and gesture.
Elsewhere, Gentleman showcases Bird’s remarkable range as a songwriter. Tracks like “Dirty Habit” channel biting social commentary through infectious hooks, while “Your Girl” continues her exploration of queer relationships with the same emotional clarity that helped make her one of alternative music’s most compelling storytellers. The album also features a guest appearance from Bikini Kill icon Kathleen Hanna on “All Gone,” connecting Bird’s modern approach with the rebellious spirit of previous generations of feminist and queer rock artists.
The release caps off a period of extraordinary momentum for Bird. Since the arrival of American Hero, she has toured extensively across North America and Europe, opened arena shows for Billie Eilish, supported Reneé Rapp, appeared on major festival stages, and established herself as a rising cultural figure beyond music. Her profile has expanded through fashion campaigns with Miu Miu and cover stories for publications including NME, Gay Times, Highsnobiety, and Vogue Philippines.
Yet for all the accolades and growing visibility, Gentleman feels refreshingly unconcerned with outside expectations. Recorded in Brooklyn and Los Angeles following a relentless touring schedule, the album embraces experimentation and uncertainty. Bird has described the project as a deliberate attempt to push beyond her comfort zone, taking creative risks rather than repeating a successful formula.
That willingness to evolve is what ultimately makes Gentleman such a compelling statement. The album captures an artist growing more comfortable with contradiction, complexity, and self-definition. It is playful without losing emotional depth, confident without becoming performative, and rebellious without sacrificing accessibility.
With Gentleman, Towa Bird proves that her debut was only the beginning. The result is a bold, stylish, and unapologetically queer rock album that further establishes her as one of the most exciting voices shaping the future of alternative music.
Featured image credit: Interscope Records
