After introducing herself with 2024’s ‘American Hero’ - a punchy, vulnerable debut that wrestled with identity and expectation - Towa Bird returns sounding looser and far more playful on ‘Gentleman’.
Built around reclaiming the “gentleman” as a queer, swaggering identity, the album moves between moods with ease. The title-track struts in with wiry riffs and a wink, all flirtation and bravado, while ‘Dirty Habit’ swerves into synthy satire, taking aim at the ultra-privileged with bite. It’s stylish for sure, and there’s humour running through it that keeps things buoyant.
A lot of that lift comes from experience. After touring arenas with Billie Eilish, Towa has spoken about finally trusting what people respond to (her guitar, for example), and these songs feel built with that in mind. ‘Don’t Wanna Hear About It’ snaps with energy, ‘Your Girl’ keeps things immediate, and ‘69 BPM’ stretches into a slower, hazier groove.
There’s growth in the risks, too. She’s said she held back from turning ‘Dog’ into a more conventional pop song, and that restraint pays off, letting the track breathe in a way her debut rarely did. At the other end, ‘Victoria’ closes things out in a stripped-back space, her voice and guitar laid bare.
Best of all is ‘All Gone’, featuring Kathleen Hanna - a dream collaborator she once thought was out of reach - and it crackles with unruly joy.
‘Gentleman’ is bold, funny and increasingly self-assured, pushing Towa Bird further into her own lane.
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