Front Row Friday with Blackbyrd

Jordan Scott: How excited are you to be playing at K-Day?
Blackbyrd: Super-excited.

The girls already love K-Day and they all agree it's a great event. They've performed before, but this is the first time as Blackbyrd. This time is really special for all three of them and they're excited about the various bands that are going to be there.

This isn't their first big gig; they've opened for Mike and the Mechanics, Jamiroquai and played at Joburg Day. But, of course, K-Day is the best.

Are there any gigs coming up that we should know about?

Blackbyrd will be playing at GrandWest in June, at a show called the Country Opskop. When they first started out they were working in the Afrikaans market and were so glad to be welcomed and accepted into the genre.

What is the significance of the name, Blackbyrd?

The lyrics of the song Blackbird (by The Beatles).

At the time before they were Blackbyrd, the girls knew they were looking for a new name but not sure what they wanted the band to "look" like or anything else. The song sings "Take these broken wings and learn to fly," which resonate with them at that specific point. Other lyrics in the song are "blackbird singing in the dead of night". They are making inspiration in the dead of night through their music and it just felt like their name.

You've been together for four years and seen the band grow tremendously, where to from here? What is the dream?

They don't plan too far ahead, they really want to branch out to different parts of the country, Africa and then they'd like to go worldwide. Their message isn't something only certain people can relate to, it's something everyone can understand and take in. They're so different to other bands, in terms of the fact that they are three girls all on acoustic guitars. They understand that they aren't a popular band; they know their audience and target market are those who play songs on a Sunday and chill. This means that they aren't pressured to be seen all the time and they can allow the music to lead them and they'll follow.

Blackbyrd has a very country sound, was that the plan from the beginning?

When they became Blackbyrd, lead singer Tarryn Lamb was writing songs for the first time, it was an emotional and sad time for the group. However, that is why the songs are very uplifting and "feel good" songs. When they got in to studio they just realise it had turned in to country, it was a shock at first - but now they are so happy to be a part of it. The music has such raw emotion and that's what country is known for, as well as the storytelling aspect. Tarryn says they make music with a purpose, they joke about it, but that's what it is.

Catch Goodluck at K-Day on 29 March. Follow Blackbyrd on Twitter @blackbyrdza or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackByrdOfficialSA.