The M1

The M1 is the creative outlet of Jay Bird, now based in Narooma on Yuin Country on the far south coast of NSW. Blending electronic, ambient, and experimental forms, the project serves as a space for exploratory composition shaped by improvisation and place. The M1 first emerged through a collaboration with Russell Webster, with early releases like ‘Isolated Incidents’ (2020) and the follow-up ‘Alt Routes’ (2021) building a dedicated cult following and earning national radio airplay. Driven by an evolution toward dynamic live performance, The M1 has toured nationally and graced the stages of major Australian music festivals, including Yours and Owls Festival, Bloomfield Festival, Turning Sky Festival, and Wollongong Festival. A deeply collaborative project, The M1 frequently bridges disciplines, notably collaborating with acclaimed First Nations Bangarra dancer and performer Waangenga Blanco to fuse boundary-pushing soundscapes with powerful physical storytelling. Following 2024’s highly acclaimed Fading in the Shadow of the Machine, The M1 is currently working on its first release in two years. Drawn from a collection of live recordings captured across multiple performances, the upcoming material continues the project’s deep interest in texture, atmosphere, and the transformation of raw live moments into recorded form.