Antony Szmierek has always believed in signs from the universe. He’s the kind of person to see a crisp packet float by and takes it as a message to text his ex. One of these came in the form of a heron nesting along the banks of the Mersey that he revisited for years. Antony saw himself in the bird: a creature of two worlds, caught between water and land, just as he found himself between his ordinary Manchester life and newfound public attention

Antony’s gigs have become something of a communion, with him leaping into crowds, learning people’s names, and the room singing back fan favourites like ‘The Words To Auld Lang Syne’ and ‘Rafters’. He’ll frequently get emotional at his shows, inspired by how much the crowd is feeling, and his lyrics have been used everywhere from weddings to funerals and messages on dating apps. He wanted to lean into this on Decoding Birdsong, asking himself: “How can I be a catalyst for first kisses, and tears, and people meeting strangers?”

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