It’s a rainy January afternoon in Clonakilty when around 15 people huddle inside a town centre flower shop, surrounded by lush green foliage, all curious to discover what plants sound like.

Cables curl across the floor beside effect pedals and a case holding an electric violin as musician Sophie Kinston, aka Tailor Birds, picks up her instrument to host a session of plant music.

She plays a melody, loops it with one of the pedals, then adds a plucked solo, seamlessly layering it over the emerging organic sounds that begin to fill the space.

Wearing a red jumper, Sophie connects electrodes to a nearby plant she’s affectionately named Stacey.

Through the electrodes the plant produces a swerving sound that alternates between softly shimmering synth waves and irregular bass notes—enough to make everyone’s ears prick up.

‘You never know what you’re going to get, every plant sounds different,’ says Sophie.

Sophie connecting electrodes to 'Stacy'.

Roots in music
Mixing violin with other sounds has become Sophie’s signature style, the essence of her approach to dreamy folk music.

She started on violin at a young age when she played in quartets while also finding inspiration from her grandmother on her mother’s side, a talented mosaic artist.

'I’ve always been really into traveling and seeing the world, and I remember when I was at school we went to Rajasthan and did a lot of work in schools. My parents were very much encouraging and fostered a sense of creativity,’ she reflects.

A few weeks at the Dartington International Summer School as a young adult transformed her musical outlook after meeting violinist Jacob Plooij there.

He became Sophie’s tutor and taught her essential techniques like finger plucking, bow bouncing and creating undertones.

After studying ceramics and then music performance at Melbourne UCA, Sophie’s final year project involved staging a performance of a composition for DJ, piano and violin by Australian composer Anthony Lyons.

Once graduated she decided to join the Rosie Burgess Trio and toured extensively spreading folk music around Australia, the US, and Canada for four years.

‘Most of my creative life has been in Australia, but I am a mix of many places,’ she explains.

As a multitalented artist with many strings to her bow, at one point she worked in an art supply shop and as assistant manager of various food villages at Wimbledon tennis tournament, overseeing a team of 50 staff. ‘We took all the greenery off the strawberries and were serving Pimm’s and sandwiches,’ she remembers.

Immersive gigs

Sophie has played in Ireland every year since 2013 during her tours and moved here permanently in 2022.

She now lives in the mountains between Bantry and Dunmanway.

The nature-inspired musician loves playing at markets at sunrise, always enjoying the experience of performing and hearing live music.

For nearly two decades, she has performed in front of audiences at many different festivals, with some favourites including Taribush Kuna and Landjuweel in Holland, and Rewild in Ireland. ‘Rewild is in a beautiful location where I played a sunset concert in the Gap of Dunloe,’ Sophie says.

Her unique approach shines through in performances that blend music with mindfulness, such as a performance at the Skibbereen Arts Festival in a show called Resonate, where she combined plant music with breathwork exercises for deep relaxation. And one of her most immersive experiences was recording trees and mushrooms in Tasmania’s Tarkine Forest, a region under threat from extensive logging.

As the afternoon progresses in the flower shop, Sophie encourages everyone to hold hands and form a circle connected to the plant electrodes.

The sound starts as a mix of low drones and high notes before shifting into a humming resonance when she suggests, ‘Let’s all think of chocolate cake,’ prompting giggles from the children as the tones transform all of a sudden.

The essence of Tailor Birds
Her artist name, Tailor Birds, offers a clue to the violinist’s philosophy, drawing from real tailor birds, songbirds from tropical Asia and parts of Africa. ‘They make nests out of leaves and they are magical birds,’ she says.

Just like the nests made by these birds, her music combines different elements and weaves them together into unique compositions, often taken listeners into the great outdoors like on her Plant Music Series available on Bandcamp.

The Tailor Birds project began 12 years ago, initially with input from electronic producer Rick Vanderree on her first release Runaway Sailors, Stay At Home Wives, though she has since spread her wings to create her own arrangements and productions.

'I’m a big fan of just doing stuff and working with people that are proactive,’ says Sophie.

Only recently, she completed work on her new three-album release that was six years in the making.

The album takes the listener on an early morning journey meant for starting the day refreshed.

The album was recorded in a converted hen house at the foot of Slieve Gullion and includes everyday noises and homely sounds, such as purring cats, the flicking of light switches and the sound of making coffee.

‘I know what I want people to feel when they listen to the music and I’m interested in making intricate sounds,’ Sophie says. ‘After the first bit of recording was done I invited various guest musicians from across the world to add their flair to the album.’

And to bring fans some memorable merchandise, Sophie has decided to to put the physical release out on a tea towel using a QR code.

Earlier Tailor Birds albums were released on seeded paper, cans of baked beans and on bottles of beer.

‘A lot of people would say my sound is like Nick Cave merging with Enya and video game not written yet,’ she describes.

Yet much of her inspiration flows from nature and plants, each bringing its own distinct voice.

Sophie says the plants help her slow down and connect deeply with her surroundings, and her music invites listeners to experience a similar sense of calm. ‘I hope my music makes people feel less anxious and stressed,’ she concludes.

The full length three-part album is available now as a pre-release on the Tailor Birds website, www.tailorbirdsmusic.com — singles from the album will also be releasing on streaming platforms on a monthly basis from April this year.