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Bishop Briggs: Award winning singer-songwriter on creative transformation after loss
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Bishop Briggs: Award winning singer-songwriter on creative transformation after loss

Episode 121 of the Design Better Podcast

Sometimes, a creative transformation occurs after a painful experience in our lives. This certainly happened for our guest today, Bishop Briggs, who lost her sister at a young age in 2021. After a period of intense grieving, and struggling with depression, her son was born in 2022, and she went on to win The Masked Singer in 2023.

We spoke with Bishop about how her creative process evolved during these life-changing events, as well as how she approaches creating with consistency, connects with her audience, and the surprising results of her experiments with generative AI.

Also, a quick note for anyone who might be sensitive about the topics of depression and suicidal thoughts, Bishop does discuss these topics during the course of our interview, most notably around the 10 minute mark of the episode.

Bio

Bishop Briggs, born in London to Scottish parents from Bishopbriggs, Scotland (the inspiration for her professional name), discovered her passion for music early. Her first performance was at a Tokyo karaoke bar at age four, shortly after her family relocated there. Growing up amidst Tokyo’s vibrant karaoke culture and a home filled with Motown and Beatles music, she began writing songs at age seven, performing them for her family.

At 10, she moved to Hong Kong, where she lived until 18 and graduated from Hong Kong International School. Pursuing her dream of a music career, she relocated to Los Angeles to attend the Musician’s Institute.

After moving to Los Angeles, Bishop Briggs began her career performing at local venues before releasing her debut single, "Wild Horses," in 2015. In 2018, Bishop released her debut album, Church of Scars, followed by her second album, Champion, in 2019, featuring hit singles like the title track and "Jekyll & Hide." After losing her sister and manager in 2021, she channeled her grief into songs like "High Water" and "Art of Survival." Her 2022 single "Superhuman" celebrated the birth of her son, and she performed at Coachella while pregnant.

In 2023, Bishop won The Masked Singer as "Medusa," becoming the youngest and first British winner in the show’s history. Her EP When Everything Went Dark, featuring the single "Baggage," was released later that year, continuing her evolution as an artist.

Bishop stands at a transformative moment in her career with the release of her third studio album, Tell My Therapist I’m Fine, released in October 2024. Known for her anthemic hooks and emotional depth, Bishop plunges deeper than ever into the highs and lows of recent years, blending introspection with her signature powerhouse sound. The album reflects a seasoned artist at her most confident, drawing from a life immersed in music and shaped by profound personal challenges. With over three billion streams to her name, Bishop continues to channel her experiences into songs that resonate deeply with her audience.

Bishop Briggs is currently on tour through Spring of 2025.


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Design Better
Design Better
Design Better co-hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter explore the intersection of design, technology, and the creative process through conversations with inspiring guests across many creative fields. Whether you’re design curious or a design pro, Design Better is guaranteed to inspire and inform. Episodes are released semi-weekly for free subscribers, weekly for premium subscribers. Vanity Fair calls Design Better, “sharp, to the point, and full of incredibly valuable information for anyone looking to better understand how to build a more innovative world.”