A steel town becomes a stage, a chorus becomes a dare, and a new record asks what we’ll do when the comfort runs out. We sit down with XBYRDX (aka Bird), a southern Indiana singer‑songwriter, to trace six formative tracks—Springsteen’s Youngstown, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Just Like Honey, The Clash’s White Riot, The Replacements’ Unsatisfied, The Cure’s Plainsong, and Hüsker Dü’s Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely—and hear how noise, melody, and place turned him toward cinematic songwriting.

Then we dive into Anthems for the End Times, where XBYRDX threads big themes through tight hooks. “Ayn Rand’s On Welfare” challenges a polished indifference that calls itself self‑reliance and reminds us that posting isn’t voting. “MAGA Girl” wears a pop sheen while charting a romance split by worldview. “Shrine” confronts flags and monuments, arguing for context over erasure and the courage to tell full history. “Prize Fighter” is the bell‑ring: get off the ropes, organize, and claim agency. The title track sounds apocalyptic but hides a stubborn optimism—no savior is coming, so we move now, together. “White Noise” closes on our algorithmic silos, urging listeners to step past the echo and find signal.

Across the conversation, XBYRDX talks craft—layered synths, texture over solos, melodies that carry weight—and the artists who taught him to let songs feel like weather. If you’re drawn to protest music with heart, indie rock with teeth, and storytelling that sees people before positions, this one’s for you. 

Stream 'Anthems for the End Times' on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you get your invisible music, and let us know which track hit you first. 

Go to My.SuperAwesomeMix.com and start using our new app on any device - mobile or laptop.  Copy and paste a link to your playlist then turn it into an old school mixtape in minutes!  

Support the show

Visit us at https://www.superawesomemix.com to learn more about our app, our merchandise, our cards, and more!