In 2017, Performance Mode gave bards the means to express their musical vision, but it was a lonely trade. Friends could not realistically perform together as the system would not allow it. The Songbirds were formed on Primal/Ultros during these early times to test the limits of bard performance despite its limitations. Since our 2018 debut, the Songbirds have grown from a niche group into one of the most beloved bard bands in the community. In every live concert across every server and datacenter, players from all over the world would fill the benches of Limsa Lominsa to New Gridania, dancing, cheering and waving their glow sticks, while hundreds more watch on Twitch.

Behind every performance is a mountain of work most players will never know. In order to operate the band, I had to learn a wide range of disparate skills, most of which I had little to no proficiency in - from setting up the hardware that can run a full octet, to conducting low-level research into how the performance system works, coding the custom software that powers our shows and most importantly, arranging the songs we know and love so that they could be performed in-game.

The reward for all of this effort is the response and support we receive from our fans. It prides me to know that my efforts brought a little bit of happiness to someone's day. The bard community has grown tremendously since our inception, and I am honored for being able to be a part of it and for all the wonderful memories I've made during this journey.

While it is natural to move on to new and exciting things, the Songbirds remain committed to bringing a little joy to every corner of Eorzea and beyond through our performances. We will happily continue to share our music with the world, one performance at a time. If you ever find yourself in need of a bard band for your special event, whether it's an FC celebration, wedding-after party, nightclub venue, The Songbirds are here for you!