Narangba’s Jaybird Byrne is already making her mark on the world with her music

At only 12 years old, award-winning Brisbane rock prodigy Jaybird Byrne is being compared with some world’s most iconic guitarists.

Queensland, meet your newest rock superstar: Jaybird Byrne.

At only 12 years old, Narangba’s Jaybird has already released her first original song, won first prize with honours at an international music competition, performed in Creative Generations earlier this year and awarded RockFest 2022’s best guitarist and most impressively, has been playing guitar since she was eight.

With inspiration derived from Joe Satriani and Jason Becker, Jaybird’s music merges emotions, catchy riffs and instrumental guitar.

Convergence, Jaybird’s first original song, was written in reference to her different emotions colliding into this beautiful convergence.

“This first song was about bringing my emotions and guitar together in a song around that riff that helped me express how I felt at that point in my life,” she said.

“There is a lot of variation in the song but there was a lot going on in my life at that time so the parts of the song fit like a jigsaw puzzle. That’s why I called the song Convergence because it is the coming together of my emotions and musical ideas into my first song.”

Jaybird is autistic, and has said music is the path to express emotions that can’t be expressed in words.

Brisbane rock sensation, Jaybird Byrne. Picture: Danica Clayton

“I have alexithymia which is a part of autism which means I struggle deeply to express my emotions through human language. I often feel like I am a martian because of this,” she said.

“Everyone else is able to speak and express how they feel by words but I need music to do this. Music is my language that helps me communicate how I am feeling so I create something with my music that expresses the emotion I am feeling.”

Jaybird is educated through distance education, which allows her to balance guitar practice and school work.

Jaybird took out Best Guitarist category last month in RockFest 2022, performing covers of Eruption by Van Halen and Satch Boogey by Joe Satriani.

Brisbane rock sensation, Jaybird Byrne. Picture: Danica Clayton

Judge Tim Burton was impressed with Jaybird’s skill in his feedback given after the performance. “How am I meant to convey how unbelievable that was? Yeah, you’ve got this – become the rock icon you are destined to be. Thanks for blowing my mind!”

Another judge commented that their ability and talent are leaps above theirs and that they have no constructive criticism to give.

Despite the rock prodigy’s impressive skill, Jaybird has managed to stay grounded due to the support of her proud parents Samantha and Dominic.

Brisbane rock sensation, Jaybird Byrne. Picture: Danica Clayton

“Jaybird doesn’t fit inside the box, she literally breaks the box,” Samantha said.

“Traditional school did not work for Jaybird as she is not only ultra determined but she is so creative and has such an inquisitive mind that questions everything.

“Unfortunately mainstream school doesn’t always favour the creative, determined personality types; however, once we made the decision to school through distance education, it allowed Jaybird the space to be herself and find her passion in music.

“Since then she has flourished (ironically both at school and with her music). We believe determination is essential to be successful in life so we are proud of JayBird’s determination as know she will succeed at whatever she sets her mind to.”

You can listen to Convergence on Spotify.