We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Birdland, the dynamic indie-pop band from Perth, Western Australia, made up of the three brothers Conrad, Oscar, and Francis Cvitan. Their sound—a unique blend of indie, funk, and pop—is as infectious as their drive. We spoke with the triplets about their fascinating musical journey, the critical role their producer played, and the relentless hustle of balancing high school, social media demands, and their ambitious plans to redefine the next generation of Australian rock.

BIRDLAND: The Triplet Band Balancing Arena Ambition with the DIY Hustle

The Perth, Western Australia music scene has been captivated by Birdland, the self-described "all-triplet, pop/rock band" composed of brothers Conrad, Oscar, and Francis Cvitan. More than just a shared look, the brothers share a unified vision: to create vibrant, intricate music that reflects an indie/funk/pop sensibility. For the Cvitan siblings, performing their original songs is not a choice, but a "love of ours for a long time."

A Lifelong Indoctrination and Crucial Mentorship

For the Cvitan brothers, music was woven into the fabric of their childhood. Their mother, a music teacher, ensured that music "has always played a huge role" in their lives. The idea of forming a professional unit began in 2019 when they first started playing in a rock scholars program under the name White Tail.

This early foundation was solidified by a crucial mentor: Troy Nababan, who is now their producer. For several formative years, Troy tutored the brothers, helping them "compose and taught us all the important aspects in order to sound tight." This hands-on tutelage allowed the band to evolve past their covers and into an original songwriting machine.

Their early influences were vast and consciously eclectic, setting the stage for their current genre-blended sound. They cite legends like Queen, the Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, and Mika as figures who pushed them to continue making music. Today, their sophisticated pop sound is directly inspired by artists such as John Mayer, Dijon, Olivier Rodrigo, Ocean Alley, and Mk.gee. Furthermore, their mandatory experience playing in Jazz bands at school helped push them "to be more musical," adding layers of complexity and harmony to their work.

The Evolution: Complexity Over Simplicity

The band admits that balancing their commitment to Birdland with "school and tests" and the demands of social media videos has been challenging, but they are "so grateful" to be busy. Their sonic maturation has been undeniable since they truly focused on writing in 2023.

Their music has taken on greater complexity, maturing not only in the lyricism but also in the intricacy of the melodic lines. They have intentionally focused on weaving more harmonies into their music, enforcing clearer structures in the songs, and achieving "more defined instrumental parts."

The creative process is rooted in quick, collaborative honesty. It typically starts with one brother bringing a "catchy line, and some lyrics" to the group, where it’s immediately workshopped. They emphasise that they are "very blunt with each other, so if we don’t like something we would say." This direct feedback loop ensures that "Each song is crafted so we all like it, and it always has input."

Stage Movement and the Power of the Sing-Along

The live experience is where the band's energy truly shines. They describe their best gig as their most recent single launch, where the atmosphere was electric. "The energy of the crowd was so good," they recall, describing how "everyone knew the lyrics of the songs we played and people were on each others shoulders."

Their performance style is kinetic. They look to San Cisco as a band that inspires them to "constantly move on stage," recognising that "Stage movement always makes a huge difference in terms of the crowds energy."

Their favourite songs to perform live are those that ignite the audience. "Middle Ground," their newest release, "feels so good to play" because it represents their current sound. It's closely rivaled by "Seven Months Ago," which is their most well-known song, providing the immense satisfaction of "hearing the audience singing it with us."

Their dream picks reflect their high aspirations for the Australian festival circuit: they'd love to open for Ocean Alley, a band they admire as "such a feel good band that play amazing shows," and collaborate with Dijon for his profoundly soulful and melodically inspiring style.

Birdland possesses a clear-eyed perspective on the modern industry. They acknowledge that social media is now one of the main drivers of attention, but they also offer a cautionary note: "It can be harnessed as a tool to bring attention to your music or it could really prevent a good artist that isn’t ‘viral’ from making progress." They stress that their own success came through persistence: "Social media didn’t seem to work when we started, but we tried out different hooks and video ideas until they worked for us!"

They also speak passionately about the need for systemic change:

The Threat of AI: They strongly believe that AI music apps are destroying young mind creativity and that the proliferation of AI artists on Spotify is problematic.

Ticket Prices: They advocate for lower ticket prices, noting how difficult it is for fans to afford shows, which is why they consciously try to minimise the cost of their own gigs.

Their dedication is rooted in a focus on self-expression: they always try their best to channel themselves when performing, believing that their authenticity is what audiences connect with.

What’s Next

Birdland's immediate future is packed with output and live dates. They have an exciting live recording of "Middle Ground" coming out soon, and they are aiming for an EP release next year. Their current plan is to secure "as many gigs as possible at the moment."

Their message to their dedicated fanbase is one of deep gratitude, emphasising that every single stream, listen, and live attendance is invaluable: "We appreciate their support so much. Every stream and listen means so much, and everyone who comes to live shows are valued so much. All the support online is so valuable and we appreciate every one of our fans."