Greg Kurstin
| Greg Kurstin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gregory Allen Kurstin |
| Occupations | Producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Associated acts | Pink, The Bird and the Bee, Lily Allen, Rita Ora, Sia, Kelly Clarkson, The Shins |
| Website | gregkurstin.com |
Gregory Allen "Greg" Kurstin[1] is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Kurstin’s songwriting and production credits include his work with Pink, Kelly Clarkson and The Shins. As an instrumentalist and musical director, Kurstin has performed and recorded with more than 100 artists, including Beck, Foster the People and Sia.
In 2009 Kurstin received a Grammy Award[2] nomination for Producer of the Year. That same year he won three Ivor Novello awards for his work with Lily Allen, including Songwriter of the Year for "The Fear."[3]
Kurstin was nominated for the 2013 Grammy Awards in the Song of the Year and Record of the Year categories for his work on Kelly Clarkson's multi-platinum single "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)". Kurstin was also involved with P!nk's album The Truth About Love and Clarkson's album Stronger, which were both nominated for Pop Vocal of the Year, the latter of which won.[4]
Kurstin is one half of The Bird and the Bee and was also a member of Geggy Tah.
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Biography [edit]
Kurstin was born and raised in Los Angeles.
After high school, Kurstin moved to New York City to study with Charles Mingus' piano player, Jaki Byard, at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, a world renowned jazz conservatory.[5] He played with jazz legends including Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman and Charles McPherson.
After graduating from college, Kurstin moved back to Los Angeles and teamed with singer-songwriter Tommy Jordan, with whom he formed the alternative group Geggy Tah. The duo signed to David Byrne's Luaka Bop label and released three albums, including 1996’s Sacred Cow, which spawned a Billboard Top 20 hit single “Whoever You Are.”
Kurstin currently resides in Los Angeles.
Production, Songwriting and Performance [edit]
Kurstin has produced albums for a wide range of artists, from the Shins to P!nk, Devo and Tegan and Sara. His songwriting credits are equally diverse, ranging from Sia to Kesha.
Kurstin, who also performs on most of the albums he produces, has played with Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Flaming Lips, among many others. Additionally, he was the musical director for Gwen Stefani's live and television performances.
The Bird and the Bee [edit]
In 2005, Mike Andrews introduced Kurstin to Inara George. Kurstin and George found themselves spending hours in the studio together where they discovered their mutual interest in '60s Tropicalia.[6] They began to explore new sounds and textures while working in the studio. This resulted in their debut EP, Again and Again and Again, released in October 2006. The Bird and the Bee's self-titled LP was released the following year by Blue Note. It spawned a number one hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club chart with a remix of "F*cking Boyfriend"[7]
The pair also released a five-song EP entitled Please Clap Your Hands which featured a cover of the Bee Gees' ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Their songs “Again & Again” and “Please Clap Your Hands” were featured in the TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. Comedian Eric Wareheim, from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! directed their video for “Polite Dance Song”.[8] On Valentine’s Day 2008, they released their EP, One Too Many Hearts as a gift to their fans.[9]
The Bird and the Bee Discography [edit]
| Year | Release title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| *2010 March | Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates | Blue Note Records (LP) |
| *2009 January | Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future | Blue Note Records (LP) |
| *2008 February | One Too Many Hearts | Blue Note Records (EP) |
| *2007 September | Please Clap Your Hands | Blue Note Records (EP) |
| *2007 January | The Bird and the Bee | Blue Note Records (LP) |
| *2006 October | Again and Again and Again and Again | Blue Note Records (EP) |
Bridget Jones' Diary: The Musical [edit]
Kurstin and Lily Allen have been working on the music for Bridget Jones' Diary: The Musical. Currently in development, the musical will debut in the West End on a date yet to be announced.
Producer/Songwriter discography [edit]
| Year | Artist | Project Title | Record Label | Song Title(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *2013 | Tegan and Sara | Heartthrob | Sire Records | "Closer", "Goodbye, Goodbye", "I Was A Fool", "I'm Not Your Hero", "I Couldn't Be Your Friend", "Love They Say", "Now I'm All Messed Up", "Shock to Your System" |
| *2013 | Dido | Girl Who Got Away | RCA Records | "End of Night", "Happy New Year", "Let's Runaway" |
| *2012 | Ke$ha | Warrior | Kemosabe/RCA Records | "Love Into the Light |
| *2012 | Sky Ferreira | Ghost | Capitol | "Red Lips" |
| *2012 | Pink | The Truth About Love | RCA Records | "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", "Try", "True Love", "How Come You're Not Here", "Walk Of Shame", "Timebomb" |
| *2012 | T-Pain | Revolver | RCA Records | "5 O'Clock" (writer) |
| *2012 | Santigold | Master of My Make-Believe | Atlantic Records | "The Keepers", The Riot's Gone", "God From The Machine" |
| *2012 | Rita Ora | Ora | Roc Nation | "Radioactive" |
| *2011 | James Morrison | The Awakening | Island Records | "Say Something Now", "Beautiful Life" (co-wrote both) |
| *2012 | Kelly Clarkson | Greatest Hits: Chapter One | 19 Recordings/RCA Records | "People Like Us" |
| *2012 | Kimbra | Vows | Warner Bros. Records | "Sally I Can See You", "Posse" |
| *2012 | Marina and the Diamonds | Electra Heart | 679 Recordings | "Living Dead", "Starring Role", "Power & Control", "Sex Yeah" (Deluxe track) |
| *2012 | Neon Hitch | Beg, Borrow and Steal | Warner Bros. Records | TBA |
| *2011 | Sophie Ellis-Bextor | "Make a Scene" | Universal | "Revolution", "Homewrecker" |
| *2011 | Ximena Sariñana | Ximena Sariñana | Warner Music | "The Bid", "Echo Park", "Tomorrow", "Common Ground" |
| *2011 | Kelly Clarkson | Stronger | 19 Recordings/RCA Records | "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", "Dark Side", "Honestly" |
| *2011 | Sky Ferreira | "As If!" | Capitol | "Sex Rules", "99 Tears" |
| *2011 | Foster the People | Torches | Startime International | "Helena Beat", "Miss You", "Warrant", "Waste", "Broken Jaw", "Love" |
| *2010 | Ke$ha | Cannibal | RCA Records | "Animal" (Billboard Remix) |
| *2010 | Mike Posner | 31 Minutes to Takeoff | RCA Records | "Save Your Goodbye", "Synthesizer", "Falling" |
| *2010 | DEVO | Something For Everybody | production on "Fresh", "What We Do", "Don't Shoot I'm A Man", "Please Baby Please", "Mind Games", "Human Rocket", "Later Is Now", "No Place Like Home", March On" | |
| *2010 | Sia | We Are Born | Hear Music | produced entire record, Songs: "Stop Trying", "Bring Night", "Hurting Me Now", "Never Gonna Leave Me", "The Co-Dependent" |
| *2010 | KT Tunstall | Tiger Suit | Relentless Records | "(Still a) Weirdo", "Glamour Puss" |
| *2010 | Marina and the Diamonds | The Family Jewels | 679 Recordings | "Oh No!" |
| *2010 | Ke$ha | Animal | RCA Records | "Animal" |
| *2010 | 3OH!3 | "Streets of Gold" | "I Know How To Say", "I'm Not The One", "Deja Vu" | |
| *2009 | Little Boots | Hands | 679 Recordings | "New in Town", "Earthquake", "Stuck on Repeat", "Meddle", "Mathematics" |
| *2009 | Lily Allen | It's Not Me, It's You | Parlophone | co-wrote & produced entire record including singles "The Fear", "Not Fair", "Fuck You", "22", "Who'd Have Known" |
| *2008 | Britney Spears | Circus (Deluxe Edition) | Jive Records | "Rock Me In" |
| *2008 | Ladyhawke | Ladyhawke | Island Records | "Professional Suicide" |
| *2008 | Donna Summer | Crayons | Burgundy Records | "Crayons", "Stamp Your Feet" |
| *2008 | Kylie Minogue | In My Arms Single | Parlophone | "Do It Again”, "Carried Away” |
| *2008 | Natasha Bedingfield | Pocketful of Sunshine | Epic | "Backyard” |
| *2008 | Kylie Minogue | Wow Single | Parlophone | "Wow”, "Do It Again”, "Carried Away” |
| *2008 | Sia | Some People Have Real Problems | Hear Music | "Death By Chocolate” |
| *2007 | Dragonette | Galore | Mercury Records | "Competition”, "True Believer”, "Black Limousine” |
| *2007 | Kylie Minogue | X | Parlophone | "Wow”, "No More Rain” |
| *2007 | Sophie Ellis-Bextor | Trip The Light Fantastic | Polydor UK | "Catch You” |
| *2006 | Lily Allen | Alright, Still | Capitol Records | "Everything’s Just Wonderful”, "Not Big”, "Alfie” |
| *2006 | The Flaming Lips | At War with the Mystics | Warner Bros. Records | "Haven’t Got a Clue" |
| *2006 | Peaches | Downtown 7” | XL Recordings | "Downtown” |
| *2006 | Peaches | Impeach My Bush | XL Recordings | "Tent In Your Pants”, "Downtown” |
| *2006 | All Saints | Rock Steady | Parlophone | |
| *2006 | All Saints | Studio 1 | Parlophone | "Rocksteady”, "On and On”, "Not Eazy”, "One Me and U”, "Headlock”, "In It To Win It” |
| *2006 | Karen O/Peaches | Jackass Number Two Soundtrack | XL Recordings | "Backass” |
| *2006 | Pink | I'm Not Dead-Expanded Version | LaFace | "Centerfold” |
| *2001 | Geggy Tah | Into the Oh | Luaka Bop | |
| *2000 | Action Figure Party | Action Figure Party | Blue Thumb Records | |
| *1996 | Geggy Tah | Sacred Cow | Luaka Bop | |
| *1994 | Geggy Tah | Grand Opening | Luaka Bop |
Appears on [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Greg Kurstin at All Music". Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ Roberts, Randall. "The LA Weekly on The 2009 Grammy Nominations". Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "Ivor Novello Award Winners". Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "Full List of 2013 Grammy Nominees, via MTV.com". Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "New School Press Release, 2008". Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ Subba-Cultcha/The Bird and The Bee
- ^ Reyes-Kulkami, Saby (2007-11-14). "The Bird and The Bee is lounge music without the kitsch". New York Press. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ The Bird and The Bee-Polite Dance Song YouTube
- ^ The Bird and The Bee-One Too Many Hearts EP for Valentine’s Day
External links [edit]
- Greg Kurstin's Website
- Los Angeles Times on Greg Kurstin
- Angeleno, Sounds of the City
- Clizbeats: Dido Returns
- Anti Music, Kesha Previews Acoustic Album
- Second Life listening lounge
- Polite Dance Music Video
- Review of Please Clap Your Hands at Gabe's View
- Photos: The Bird and the Bee at Detroit Bar on 01/05/2008
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