Bishop Briggs Interview - Denver Concert 2025

Interview with Bishop Briggs

Posted on March 1, 2025
by Aimee

I have been a fan of Bishop Briggs for quite a while. I was able to photograph and meet her at KTCL’s Keggs & Eggs event in 2017 as well as several festivals, including the (sadly defunct) Grandoozy here in Denver. She released a terrific new album last year entitled Tell My Therapist I’m Fine for which she will be releasing a deluxe version of this week, with a few new songs. I was able to get on the phone with her recently and chat about the new music, her new(ish) life as a mom, and how her life has changed over the past few years. Sadly, right as we were all reeling from the pandemic, her sister passed away – thus, much of the latest album is about dealing with the grief from that loss.

Bishop Briggs, whose real name is Sarah McLaughlin, took her stage name from the town in Scotland where her parents grew up – obviously to avoid confusion with the Canadian singer. For the purpose of this interview, we’ll say her first name is actually Bishop, because we had such a wonderful and friendly conversation, I felt like I just made a friend for life. But also, in addition to my admiration for her music – it’s equally clear how strong of a person she is, which makes her an personal inspiration for me as well.

Bishop is going on tour to support the latest album (full list of dates below the interview) and will be here in Denver on March 20th at the Summit. I plan to be up front singing my heart out, because we all can use something to look forward to right now, right?

Header photo by Nick Walker

Bishop Briggs at Keggs & Eggs Denver

Bishop Briggs Interview

Aimee:
I listened to the new single “Woman Is King,” and I understand that that’s coming out in a deluxe version of the album. Can you tell me a little bit about that song, because I found it so powerful.

Bishop:
Oh, thank you. Yeah. I feel like as I am getting older and learning more about other women’s experiences since becoming a mom, and even during pregnancy and even before that, I feel like women are just so strong. But also, part of the strength that I’ve noticed is leaning into vulnerability. And then the juxtaposition to that is just leaning into female rage and owning that space and that power – and being so articulate. I really wanted this song to represent that and be a dedication to all the moms that I’ve met during this time. And to the people that aren’t moms that led me to where I am too. It really is a whole community.

Aimee:
That’s amazing. Also, I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. I know that that led to a lot of the content of the latest album, Tell My Therapist, I’m Fine. Do you mind talking about that, a little bit… about that process? Did it help you grieve?

Bishop:
I wish there was a cure-all for grief. I think what’s so isolating and confusing – it is such an individual experience, but I think it is one of those everlasting ones. And you learn different coping mechanisms, but it does live alongside you. It’s been helpful for me to accept that and to acknowledge it and to allow it to be present with me. But one of the first songs that was on written was actually right before lockdown during quarantine, which is crazy to think about. But that was “Isolated Love” featuring Travis Barker [of Blink-182].

Aimee:
Right. I was going to ask about that too. So good.

Bishop:
Oh my gosh, yes. Okay. We need to discuss that. But I will say in relation to my sister, that was the one song that I played it for her and she just freaked out. In a good way. She was so excited about it, and I feel like I found myself chasing that throughout the making of the album because it was the one song where I genuinely got to see her reaction in real time, which in the past of course would always be the case. But a lot of the album was written after she passed away. So I think whether consciously or subconsciously, I was really chasing that reaction because that song in particular, but the entirety of the album is really similar to the music that she showed me growing up that you would’ve heard at Warped Tour. It would’ve been Paramore, Panic of the Disco, Fall Out Boy, all of that similar energy, Good Charlotte. So yeah, she was a huge inspiration for all of it.

Aimee:
I love that. So, did you listen to different kind of music than her growing up?

Bishop:
Well, I was a 15-year-old that had a 90-year-old soul singer living inside her. I am not going to say that it wasn’t cool because obviously Motown music is so cool, but I was rocking out to Aretha Franklin. You know what I mean? That was my room. And then her room was like, a look at this other side of the world, the current time.

Aimee:
Right. Totally get that.

Bishop:
And so I would go over to her room and just be so in awe. And of course, as most people at that age, when they listen to that music, it’s like you’re confused, because you’re aroused. These men in these skinny jeans and eyeliner. So yeah, it was a big introduction to so many things, from the music to the men in skinny jeans.

Aimee:
Yeah, you know what’s funny? I have a 22-year-old who definitely likes indie music, and but they literally came in just this morning and thanked me for making them watch The Wiz, because they were shocked that other people in their life right now had never seen it. They were like, I don’t understand. It’s Diana Ross. How could you have not have seen it?

Bishop:
Oh my God. I just got chills everywhere. Yes, yes. So many great places for influence.

Aimee:
Right? So anyway, okay. I have to ask – how it was to be on The Masked Singer? I’ve have to admit I have never watched… I love that you won, but was it hard?

Bishop:
Well, yeah, because I had just given birth –

Aimee:
Oh my goodness.

Bishop:
… so I was pumping –

Aimee:
Oh my God.

Bishop:
I know! So, it was difficult, but I really just love to sing. And I think something that was so fun about the experience was really getting to just lean into singing for singing’s sake. I got to pick what covers… What songs I did. So I threw in “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance. And “Take Me to Church” by Hozier. So it was such an amazing release.

Aimee:
I love that.

Bishop:
It was difficult because I missed my baby, of course. But it gave me and our family so much, to be totally transparent. It was truly just so magical.

Aimee:
Oh, fun. And then again, I always wonder how motherhood affects people like yourself who are touring. The music business, ugh… Have you had struggle to find that balance, or how is that going?

Bishop:
I definitely struggle, but… And I am curious if you feel the same way… I feel as though balance is a myth that has been created to make us feel bad.

Aimee:
[both laugh] Yeah, I’d agree with that. Yeah.

Bishop:
Right now, let’s say it’s out of balance because I talking to you, but I’m feeling so inspired and my baby is at the park with my husband running around having the time of his life. So it’s like, okay, well, you could argue, that’s not balanced. But I feel like everyone’s happy in this moment. Then everyone will coming back to the center and feel good. I think I’ve also been really fortunate that I have a creative job, so I do bring the baby with me on tour and my husband to help. And yeah, I wish that there was more support for women with any job when it comes to being able to have time with their babies. That’s something that has always felt off. And I’ve noticed it because I am friends with a lot of moms that have less sparkly jobs, and they’re based in the US, and it really breaks your heart to hear. So I feel very privileged and fortunate to be in a creative job.

Aimee:
I am lucky in the same way. My husband stayed home for the first two years with our kid, and supports this blog, etc.

Bishop:
Yeah, shout out to the partners. I think having a partner makes that parents like that with you goes a long way. Makes a big difference too.

Bishop Briggs at Denver’s Grandoozy Festival

Aimee:
Totally. So I’ve seen you live… Actually, I’ve seen you at big festivals and I’ve seen you in small venues. What do you prefer to play in?

Bishop:
Ooh, I love it all. I think when you play a small venue, it really gives you a chance to talk to everyone there. There’s a silliness, there’s a relaxed energy of just kind of like a classic rock and roll show, to me, that brings me a lot of comfort. And although I have had the honor of playing big crazy places and doing crazy tours, I technically have so much more experience with the smaller venues.

Aimee:
And you feel more comfortable there or?

Bishop:
Well, no, it’s just like there’s *a* comfort there. There’s something where I’m like, oh, this is how I trained for many years before my music was heard. But then the bigger venues, I feel like just they fill your soul in a crazy way because energetically you’re feeling the audience because it’s so many more people. The energy is really big. And also just on a technical front, you have a built-in reverb on your vocal, so you feel so epic.

Aimee:
Right, right. Same for me. At bigger shows, I have better lighting to photo. So, I love seeing and attending small shows, but I tend to like photographing the bigger shows.

Bishop:
Exactly. Yeah, definitely.

Aimee:
I heard you used to growing up, did karaoke in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Do you feel like that’s how you got your singing chops in order to do all this? Or, I mean, obviously you have a beautiful voice, but…

Bishop:
Thank you so much. You know, I wonder. That was definitely where I first got really excited about performing. But the first ever… the thing that really guided me was… back in the day, in the newspaper there was an advertisement for vocal lessons, and my mom got it for me for Christmas, and so I went every Saturday for eight years.

Aimee:
No way.

Bishop:
[laughs] You know those videos of Christina Aguilera at five, and she sounds just like she does right now. That wasn’t my case. It was something that I was so passionate about, I put everything into, and of course I’d like to hope there was something there that was pleasant to listen to. But I think there is a lesson there… even if you don’t sound like that early, if you have a passion for something and it brings you so much joy, it’s worth seeing through. And that’s really what I tried to do.

Aimee:
That’s great. And then I know we have to wrap it up real quick, but along those lines, do you have any other hobbies outside of music, some fun things that you like to do for just joy?

Bishop:
Oh my gosh, this is a great question. This is an amazing question. Let me think. I definitely am deep in mum land right now because my baby –

Aimee:
Yeah, I was going to say, I bet it’s hard to find time.

Bishop:
… yeah, I know, because my baby is two. So I do love a good park hang, and if I can mend the world where there is some delicious coffee and a friend and their baby, that has been so lovely.

Aimee:
Yeah, that camaraderie and a little bit of a lift.

Bishop:
Right? But one more hobby, I started before baby, but I sometimes sneak it in, but… Sims.

Aimee:
The game?

Bishop:
Yes! When I’ve had a moment, which is insane to do after I put the baby to bed, because you’re supposed to go straight to sleep because you’re up at 6:00 in the morning. I have farm expansion packs and everything. Boy, oh boy. It is a treat. I tell myself it’s good for my brain.

Aimee:
Sometimes you just have to concentrate on something… but something that’s not serious.

Bishop:
Yes, yes, exactly!