L.A. duo The Bird and the Bee

The group with such songs to their name as "Fucking Boyfriend" and "I Hate Camera" is sure to be unique. The Bird (singer/songwriter Inara George) and the Bee (musician/producer Greg Kurstin) absolutely live up to that assumption. The L.A.-based duo have garnered praise for their wryly kitschy brand of songwriting and their music is sure never to be mistaken for that of any other artist. I recently interviewed the two of them over email; although Inara did most of the answering, between the two of them they nevertheless had a lot to say.

How did you meet?
INARA GEORGE: Greg was working on my solo record and we sort of musically hit it off.

How did you get around to making music together?
IG: We started writing together. With no real intention to start a band, just maybe to write songs for other people, or maybe even songs I would put on a record.

How did you arrive at the project the Bird & the Bee has become, and for that matter how did you arrive at that particular name?
IG: We had written and recorded a couple of songs together, and had played a few duo shows for fun... so we just figured we'd write a few more songs to finish a record and see if anyone might want to put it out. And as for the name, we used to have a different one, The Falling Leaves, but someone else had that, so we named ourselves after one of our songs.

How has being L.A.-based influenced your music, and your writing style?
IG: I think the weather has a lot to do with it.... but even more, Greg and I both grew up here. So I suppose LA has a lot to do with who we are. I'm not really sure how it's affected our growth. I think it's great to play at home. And we seem to have really lovely fans.

When you're tour, how do you find the response to your music differs from place to place?
IG: It is really strange, but every place seems to have a different type of audience. When you leave the US, it's even more glaring. Asia is a different universe. But still, every state in the US has a different feeling, it can be subtle...but it's pretty interesting.

What do you think of NYC, then?
IG: Both Greg and I have lived in NYC for short spells. I left too soon, and so I still have a love affair with the city. I love how one can see all sorts of people in the span of a day. I love going out in New York. Going to bars, seeing friends… it makes me a much more social person, and a better dresser—LA is pretty lazy when it comes to attire. I couldn't tell you what my favorite thing is; I just love NYC.

Your songs have incredible lyrics. What influences your lyrics, and your melodies?
IG: We always start with the chord progression and melody first. And as Greg gets the track together, I'll get the lyrics together. And I suppose I don't really know what story I might tell until I get to it. I think the music really informs me as to what the song is about.

How did you develop the song "Fucking Boyfriend"?
IG: That is Greg's one lyrical contribution. He added the "fucking" to that song.... and I don't really remember how it developed. I think we were trying to write a pop song, and that's what came out.

How about "My Fair Lady"? For me it has always painted the picture of a woman arriving, in the later 1800s or so, in what is becoming a ghost town out west...
IG: To be honest, I always prefer other people's interpretations of the songs... it's always a lot more interesting. I suppose my take on the song is that's it's a modern day my fair lady. But I like yours better.

What inspired "I Hate Camera"?
IG: I really have an aversion to the camera.... but I'm working it out. I think when bands make music they don't factor in photo shoots into the equation... it's an awkward process... and if you don't embrace it, it's really not fun.

Your latest EP One Too Many Hearts was written specifically for Valentine's Day. What prompted this?
IG: We like putting out music... it's our creative way of trying to keep people's attention without having to tour non-stop. So why not Valentine's Day... who doesn't like a love song?

What other musicians have influenced you?
IG: Hmm... we like a lot of those Brazilians (Bossa Nova, Tropicalia), Brian Wilson, Prince, The Clash, Burt Bacharach...

Greg, you've collaborated with the likes of Lily Allen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Beck; Inara, you've collaborated with Rod Jones, as well as the Heavy Circles. How has collaborating influenced your own work?
GREG KURSTIN: I've learned a lot from working with all of those people... and everybody works differently.
IG: that sounds about right. You change the way you work depending on the person you're working with...

Is your music often influenced by other sources—by cinema, literature, people? In what ways has this happened?
IG: We love old 1960's film scores. Greg turned me on to this documentary about the making of the cast recording of "Company"... which has inspired us a bit. There's so much out there that is inspiring. It's hard to even scratch the surface.

What are you into right now—books, music, movies or TV?
IG: You probably get the sense that it's just me answering the questions... so I will list a few things that both Greg and I like. TV Shows: "Tim and Eric", "The Office", "30 Rock", "The Wire"... Movies: Two For The Road, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, La Vie En Rose, Blow Up... Books: Ask The Dust, Lolita, I like morbid non-fiction like The Worst Hard Time or The Great Influenza... this is the hardest kind of question for me.

Your music is very laid-back. Laid-back music in general has become incredibly popular at the moment—how do you think this impacts your work?
IG: I never really think of our stuff as laid back... but I suppose it is. I guess I think of it as more pleasant sounding... I'm not sure why people are more into mellower music. Maybe everyone needs something to relax to. Life seems to get busier and busier...

At the same time, your music sounds decidedly modern—how would you agree with that?
IG: These questions are tough... I don't really know. I think we try to make music that sounds fresh to us... while still tipping our hat to the music that made us who we are. Does that make sense? So maybe that combination sounds unique to people?

What is your next project together?
IG: We are writing a new record right now... We just kind of write as much as we can and then pull from that. I think rather than set out to do something, we sort of see where we take ourselves.

Lastly, what is your number one absolute favorite thing right now?
IG: Hmmm... We are both really into coffee right now, which sounds very 1990's, but there's this new coffee place in our neighborhood called Intelligentsia and it calls to us while we're writing. We often have to take a break and to go get a latte or something!


Unfortunately this would be the end of our interview. If you have never listened to their fantastic music, by the way, now would certainly be the time to begin. Listen to some of their songs on their MySpace; check out their website to learn more about them.