# Bishop Briggs
**Bishop Briggs** is the stage name of Sarah Grace McLaughlin (born 1992), an English singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, known for soulful vocals over a genre-blending sound that fuses alternative, electropop, indie, and rock.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) She broke through with the 2016 single "River," released the albums *Church of Scars* (2018) and *Champion* (2019), and won Season 9 of *The Masked Singer* in 2023 as "Medusa."[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Real name and birth | Sarah Grace McLaughlin, born 1992 in London, England, to Scottish parents from the town of Bishopbriggs, which inspired her stage name[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) |
| Upbringing | Moved to Tokyo at age 4 and to Hong Kong at about age 10; first sang publicly at a Tokyo karaoke bar and began writing songs at age 7[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) |
| Breakthrough single | "River" (2016), which peaked at #3 on the U.S. Alternative chart and became her signature track[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) |
| Debut album | *Church of Scars* (April 20, 2018, Island), Top 30 on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Top Rock and Alternative Albums chart[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) |
| Television win | Season 9 of *The Masked Singer* (2023) as "Medusa"[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) |
| Later albums | EP *When Everything Went Dark* (June 23, 2023, Arista) and third album *Tell My Therapist I'm Fine* (October 18, 2024)[3](https://music.apple.com/us/album/when-everything-went-dark-ep/1686630780) • [4](https://www.beatport.com/artist/bishop-briggs/550756/releases) |
## Early life
McLaughlin was born in London to Scottish parents originally from the town of Bishopbriggs, the source of her stage name.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) Her family moved to Japan when she was four, and she attended the all-girls International School of the [Sacred Heart](https://www.edgepedia.org/sacred-heart) in Tokyo, where she was introduced to karaoke in a family-oriented, pre-tween setting rather than the adult nightlife version.[5](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Bishop-Briggs-musical-journey-started-in-9992071.php) She has said that singing at a karaoke bar in Tokyo was her first public performance and that she knew from that point she wanted to be a singer.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html)
The family relocated to Hong Kong when she entered middle school, and she remained there through high school.[5](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Bishop-Briggs-musical-journey-started-in-9992071.php) • [1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) In Hong Kong she began formal vocal training, studying speech-level singing "every single Saturday for eight years" with the vocal instructor Christine Samson.[5](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Bishop-Briggs-musical-journey-started-in-9992071.php) After graduating from Hong Kong International School, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute and pursue music professionally.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html)
## Career beginnings and "River"
**First singles.** While playing small clubs in Los Angeles in 2015, she was heard by an A&R representative, George Robertson, which led to her first single, "Wild Horses," recorded with the production team of [Mark Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-jackson) and Ian Scott.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/bishop-briggs/) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) She released it under the name Briggs, then changed to Bishop Briggs to avoid conflict with a band using the same name.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/bishop-briggs/) "Wild Horses" reached #1 on Spotify's U.S. Viral Chart, and after it was featured in an Acura TV commercial the song gained a second life on the charts in 2016.[7](https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/bishop-briggs-interview-2018/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/bishop-briggs/)
"River," released in early 2016, became her breakthrough. Exhibiting shades of trip-hop with acoustic guitar, electronic beats, and a strong dose of soul, it hit multiple streaming and social networking charts.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) It peaked at #3 on the U.S. Alternative chart and became her signature track.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) The single was certified gold by the RIAA by 2018,[7](https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/bishop-briggs-interview-2018/) and later sources describe it as platinum, with one 2025 account reporting it had gone Platinum twice in the U.S.[8](https://www.berklee.edu/career-center/events/visiting-artist-series-bishop-briggs-virtual-event) • [9](https://substreammagazine.com/2025/04/bishop-briggs-metro/) The success of the early singles brought wider exposure: by the fall of 2016 she was opening shows for Coldplay and Kaleo and had made her television debut on *The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon*.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970)
## Albums and EPs
Her self-titled debut EP arrived in early 2017, collecting "Wild Horses," "River," and other singles.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) The full-length debut *Church of Scars* followed on April 20, 2018, on [Island Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/island-records); it peaked in the Top 30 of the [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) 200 and hit number five on the Top Rock and Alternative Albums charts.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) Critics described its sound as gothic-soul dirges and blues-inflected pop, with standouts such as "Wild Horses" and "Hallowed Ground."[10](https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/bishop-briggs-church-of-scars/)
A second album, *Champion*, followed on November 8, 2019, written after a difficult breakup and including the singles "Champion" with [Tom Morello](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-morello) and "Jekyll & Hide."[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) Stand-alone releases in the following years included a 2020 cover of Queen's "We Will Rock You" and the 2021 single "Someone Else" featuring Jacob Banks.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970)
**Grief and reinvention.** After the death of her sister and manager Kate in 2021, Briggs released emotionally fraught songs such as "High Water" and "Art of Survival."[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) In 2022 she performed at Coachella while in her third trimester of pregnancy and released the single "Superhuman" as a love letter to her son.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) She won Season 9 of *The Masked Singer* in 2023 as "Medusa," which one account describes as the first British and youngest winner in the show's history.[1](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html) On the heels of that success she released the EP *When Everything Went Dark* on June 23, 2023, through [Arista Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/arista-records), a six-track, 16-minute record that includes the singles "Baggage" and "Superhuman" and is dedicated in part to her sister.[3](https://music.apple.com/us/album/when-everything-went-dark-ep/1686630780) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) • [11](https://www.flaunt.com/post/bishop-briggs-when-everything-went-dark-ep)
Her third album, *Tell My Therapist I'm Fine*, arrived on October 18, 2024, embracing a heavier, rock-oriented sound while working through her grief over her sister's death from ovarian cancer; it features a guest appearance by [Travis Barker](https://www.edgepedia.org/travis-barker), and a deluxe version added the track "Woman Is King."[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970) • [4](https://www.beatport.com/artist/bishop-briggs/550756/releases) She supported the album with the "Tell My Therapist I'm Fine" tour in 2025.[12](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/bishop-briggs?year=2025)
## Style and influences
Briggs's music blends soul vocals with trap-indebted drums, electronic production, and rock elements; she has described herself as a "trap-soul" artist, while reviewers hear American soul and British trip-hop influences alongside hip-hop-style bass lines.[5](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Bishop-Briggs-musical-journey-started-in-9992071.php) • [13](https://dailybruin.com/2017/04/16/second-take-bishop-briggs-self-titled-album-bends-genres-lacks-new-content) Her earliest inspirations were the records played in her family living room, including [Otis Redding](https://www.edgepedia.org/otis-redding), Etta James, and [Aretha Franklin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aretha-franklin), and later [Led Zeppelin](https://www.edgepedia.org/led-zeppelin) and Janis Joplin; she has also cited the Alabama Shakes and Brittany Howard as a recording touchstone.[14](https://www.grammy.com/news/interview-bishop-briggs-reveals-her-river-influences/) She sang in a gospel choir during her years in Japan, and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots has been an influence on her direct, confessional lyricism.[15](https://www.straight.com/music/963991/bishop-briggs-some-dreams-do-come-true) • [16](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/bishop_briggs_church_of_scars_album_interview_twenty_one_pilots_influence)
## References
1. [Bishop Briggs, The History of Rock and Pop Music (SaskToday/sasktalent.com)](https://www.sasktalent.com/resources/the-history-of-rock-pop-music/the-2010s/bishop-briggs.html)
2. [Bishop Briggs Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bishop-briggs-mn0003482970)
3. [When Everything Went Dark - EP, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/when-everything-went-dark-ep/1686630780)
4. [Bishop Briggs Releases, Beatport](https://www.beatport.com/artist/bishop-briggs/550756/releases)
5. [Bishop Briggs' musical journey started in childhood, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Bishop-Briggs-musical-journey-started-in-9992071.php)
6. [Bishop Briggs - Singer, Songwriter, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/bishop-briggs/)
7. [Singer/Songwriter Bishop Briggs Talks About Her Debut Album Church Of Scars, SongwriterUniverse](https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/bishop-briggs-interview-2018/)
8. [Visiting Artist Series: Bishop Briggs, Berklee Career Center](https://www.berklee.edu/career-center/events/visiting-artist-series-bishop-briggs-virtual-event)
9. [PHOTOS: Bishop Briggs Delivered A Powerhouse Performance at Metro, Substream Magazine](https://substreammagazine.com/2025/04/bishop-briggs-metro/)
10. [Review: Bishop Briggs, Church of Scars, Slant Magazine](https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/bishop-briggs-church-of-scars/)
11. [Bishop Briggs | 'When Everything Went Dark' EP Release, Flaunt](https://www.flaunt.com/post/bishop-briggs-when-everything-went-dark-ep)
12. [Bishop Briggs's 2025 Concert & Tour History, Concert Archives](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/bishop-briggs?year=2025)
13. [Second Take: Bishop Briggs' self-titled album bends genres, lacks new content, Daily Bruin](https://dailybruin.com/2017/04/16/second-take-bishop-briggs-self-titled-album-bends-genres-lacks-new-content)
14. [Bishop Briggs Reveals Her River Of Influences, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/interview-bishop-briggs-reveals-her-river-influences/)
15. [For Bishop Briggs, some dreams do come true, Georgia Straight](https://www.straight.com/music/963991/bishop-briggs-some-dreams-do-come-true)
16. [Bishop Briggs talks 'Blurryface,' lyrical honesty on debut album 'Church Of Scars', AltPress](https://shop.altpress.com/blogs/news/bishop_briggs_church_of_scars_album_interview_twenty_one_pilots_influence)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Indie and alternative pop, 2010s to present › Indie rock and alternative pop artists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license