Today we’d like to introduce you to Birdy Vee

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I am Birdy Vee, frontwoman of Chicago lipstick-punk band, Sweetie! I started Sweetie with a friend back in 2019 (yes I know, Sweetie was a two-piece!), and once she was born, we just hit the ground running. Sweetie has been kept alive through lots of collaboration, amazing friendships, a fierce hunger for creativity, and lots and lots of hard work. Since then, we have been voted runner up for Best Punk Band in the Chicago Reader and currently hold a residency opening up for a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Running a band is a lot of hard work! Very few people see the messy chaos that goes into it before you see the sparkly final project. There are so many moving parts to keeping everything running like a well oiled machine. Luckily, I have a background in auto mechanics (yes, really!). In addition to dealing with the average struggles that come with running a band, the challenges I face as a woman in the music scene have been difficult. There have been many times where the mental and emotional backlash from these hardships have pushed me close to a breaking point. At these times, I really rely on my friendships to help get me through, and I always come out the other end stronger.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am the frontwoman of Chicago lipstick-punk band, Sweetie. We are a punk band, and while the average punk show is always a blast for us, the atypical venue is really our bread and butter. Early on, we had a residency for a drag and comedy show (Rest in Peace T-Time), which led us into a lot of collaboration with drag shows. We currently hold a residency at the Egyptian Theatre in Dekalb, IL, opening up for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I also perform frequently in the shadow cast as one of the actors, so those nights where I pull double-duty are hectic, exhausting, and exhilarating. We have also recently begun playing at the Chicago Hounds rugby games, performing before the match. I played rugby for a decade and am very immersed in the Chicago rugby scene, so it is VERY exciting for me to be a part of Chicago’s first professional rugby league.

The thing that I am definitely the most proud of is my festival, Hands Off Our Fest (HOOF). HOOF is a music fest that celebrates the women, femmes, and thems of the Chicago punk scene. I started HOOF because I had had many negative experiences as a woman in the punk scene, and instead of letting it break me, I dug in my heels and puffed out my chest. HOOF has allowed me to collaborate with other women, femmes, and thems in the punk scene and to form a community for ourselves. We have really been able to carve out some space for ourselves and it has helped me feel safer and more emboldened in the scene.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

To find a mentor or network, just be friendly and don’t be afraid to ask questions! I have gotten VERY far with the phrase ‘Hey, can I pick your brain about this?’. Oftentimes, people are willing to sit down and chat. I absolutely would not be where I am today without the advice I’ve gotten along the way and the connections (and friendships) I’ve made through networking!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sweetieband.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sweetieband
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/sweetiebandchicago
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuVbBjcE5my2tmbHxIqMDQQ

Image Credits
Kennedy Cottrell
Vacant Era Photography (Mary Sunde)
Shaman Goad