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Billboard and Hennessy present Next in Sound with Towa Bird, in which the rising star opens up about her early inspirations, new album and what it meant to appear at Billboard Women in Music 2026.
Towa Bird: It’s Towa Bird, and I’m here with Billboard and Hennesey for Women in Music 2026. For those that don’t know me, I would describe my sound as alternative rock, a little bit queer, a little bit of fun, little bit sexy.
I realized that music was the path for me, I have, like, a very vivid memory of being 11 years old and I watched the Jimi Hendrix documentary — his magnetism, his stage presence. I wanted to do everything that he did. I just started learning as many songs as I could on the guitar. I think I feel the most inspired when I get to see live feedback from my fans that really, like, informs my songwriting. One of my favorite songs on this album is a song called “Dog” that perfectly embodies the artist that I am slowly becoming.
To be attending Billboard Women in Music is obviously an honor to be in a room full of such amazing artists and women all over the industry. You can tell Hennessy really values intention and qualities, and it shows when they support events like this. I’m so excited to kick back and watch the show tonight and have a Hennesey Espresso Martini like it’s my day off. I’m gonna be chilling, enjoying the cognac, enjoying the craftsmanship, and I can’t wait to watch the acts.
