The Mynabirds
The Mynabirds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Omaha,Nebraska, United States |
| Genres | Indie pop,indie rock,garage rock,blue-eyed soul,shoegaze,new wave |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Saddle Creek |
| Members | Laura Burhenn |
| Past members | Tom Hnatow Tyler Odom Patrick Damphier Nicole Childrey Rebecca Marie Miller |
The Mynabirdsare an Americanindie popband founded by singer-songwriter and pianist Laura Burhenn,[1]who was previously one half of the Washington, D.C., indie duoGeorgie James.[2]Burhenn formed The Mynabirds in 2009,[3]and shortly after signed toSaddle Creek Recordsand relocated toOmaha, Nebraska.[4]The sound has been described byPitchforkas "...openhearted, politically engaged, feminist pop that, miraculously, never veers into schmaltz."[5]
History
[edit]Laura Burhenn early years (1994–2008)
[edit]After years of classical piano and stints singing and playing keyboards in rock bands and electronica projects in Washington, D.C.,[6]Burhenn founded her own record label, Laboratory Records, and began releasing solo work. Burhenn's first solo record,Not Ashamed to Say,was released in 1999 and is a collection of thirteen songs written from 1994 to 1998. After releasing asplit7 "in 2003, Burhenn released the full-lengthWanderlustin 2004. In 2005, Burhenn teamed up with John Davis, drummer of defunct DC trioQ and Not U,to form Georgie James. Laura first worked with Saddle Creek in 2007 on Georgie James' debut LP,Places.[7]The duo parted ways in late 2008.[8]
What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood(2010)
[edit]Burhenn went into the studio withRichard Swiftin the summer of 2009 and recorded what would become the debut album from The Mynabirds. The band signed with Saddle Creek in January 2010[9]and releasedWhat We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Floodto critical acclaim in April 2010. Anthony Lombardi described the record inPopMattersas "...a soul-purging, powerful statement of survival and self-assertion that stands head and shoulders above the current crop of navel-gazers populating today’s underground music scene."[10]The Mynabirds supported their debut LP with more than a year of touring withBright Eyes,David BazanandCrooked Fingers.Burhenn also toured at this time as a member of Bright Eyes.[11]
Generals(2012)
[edit]At the end of 2011, Burhenn headed back into the studio with Swift to begin work on The Mynabirds' second album,Generals.Saddle Creek released the title-track single in February 2012 as a free download.[12]The album was released on June 5, and was met with near universal critical acclaim, with Gianna Stefanelli ofCMJdescribing the work as "...a serious and intellectual pop album."[13]
Laura Burhenn tour with The Postal Service (2013)
[edit]In 2013, Burhenn was a touring member ofThe Postal Service's reunion tour. She provided back-up vocals along withJenny Lewis.
Lovers Know(2015)
[edit]In May 2015, The Mynabirds' official website announced thatLovers Knowwould be released on August 7, 2015 via Saddle Creek.Lovers Knowtook a year to make, as Burhenn drove across the US twice and toured South Africa solo while writing. Burhenn then spent eight months in studios in Los Angeles, Nashville, Joshua Tree and Auckland, New Zealand with producer Bradley Hanan Carter (of Black English).[14]
The first single, "Semantics", debuted onNPR's All Songs Considered on May 12, 2015.[15]
Be Here Now(2017)
[edit]In the summer of 2017, Burhenn released a series of EPs that culminated in the release of the albumBe Here Now.This album was the product of two weeks of writing and recording with singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producerPatrick Damphierin Nashville, TN after the presidential inauguration and the Women's March.[16]
Members
[edit]- Laura Burhenn – vocals, keyboards, piano
Past members
[edit]- Tom Hnatow – guitar
- Tyler Odom – guitar
- Patrick Damphier– bass, percussion, vocals
- Nicole Childrey – drums, vocals
- Rebecca Marie Miller – vocals, percussion, trumpet
Discography
[edit]| Year | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US Heat [17] | ||
| 2010 | What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood
|
— | 36 |
| 2012 | Generals
|
— | 18 |
| 2015 | Lovers Know
|
— | — |
| 2017 | Be Here Now
|
— | — |
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released | |||
References
[edit]- ^"Q&A with Laura Burhenn of The Mynabirds".We Love DC.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^[1][dead link]
- ^[2]ArchivedAugust 13, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^Cheryl Waters."The Mynabirds: Dusty In Omaha".NPR.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"The Mynabirds: Generals | Album Reviews".Pitchfork. May 31, 2012.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"Featured artist".Radioindy.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"GEORGIE JAMES (Q and not U) signs to Saddle Creek + 2007 Tour Dates".Brooklynvegan. May 17, 2007.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^""Hard Feelings"?: Georgie James break up | Vox Populi ".Blog.georgetownvoice.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^Sudol, Brendan (January 27, 2010)."Saddle Creek Signs The Mynabirds (ex-Georgie James) | Music News | Releases".Tiny Mix Tapes.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^Lombardi, Anthony (April 30, 2010)."The Mynabirds: What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood".PopMatters.RetrievedMay 1,2010.
- ^Fischer, Jonathan L. (December 15, 2010)."Laura Burhenn Joins Bright Eyes – Arts Desk".Washingtoncitypaper.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"The Mynabirds announce new record, free MP3, and portrait project".Saddle Creek. February 21, 2012.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^Gianna Stefanelli."Review: Mynabirds – Generals (Saddle Creek)".Cmj.RetrievedAugust 10,2015.
- ^"Listen to" Semantics "+ Pre-Order the New Album, Lovers Know, Out August 7th on Saddle Creek".RetrievedMay 29,2015.
- ^"The Mynabirds, 'Semantics'".NPR.RetrievedMay 29,2015.
- ^"The Mynabirds, Be Here Now".RetrievedSeptember 1,2017.
- ^"The Mynabirds – Chart History".Billboard.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| Artists | |
