Greg Kurstin

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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.

Contents

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]

Year Artist Project Title Record Label
*2013 Sky Ferreira I'm Not Alright Capitol
*2013 Dido Girl Who Got Away RCA Records
*2013 Tegan and Sara Heartthrob Sire Records
*2012 Ke$ha Deconstructed Kemosabe / RCA Records
*2012 Kesha Warrior Kemosabe / RCA Records
*2012 Kelly Clarkson Greatest Hits: Chapter One RCA Records
*2012 Sky Ferreira Ghost Capitol
*2012 Rita Ora Ora Roc Nation / Columbia
*2012 P!nk The Truth About Love RCA Records
*2012 Santigold Master of My Make-Believe
*2012 The Shins Port of Morrow Columbia Records
*2012 Marina and the Diamonds Electra Heart Atlantic Records
*2011 Dia Frampton Red Universal Records
*2011 Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You Warner Bros. Records
*2011 Foster the People Torches Startime International / Columbia Records
*2011 Kelly Clarkson Stronger RCA Records
*2011 Sophie Ellis-Bextor Make a Scene EBGB's/Universal Records
*2011 Sky Ferreira As If! Capitol
*2010 The Wanted The Wanted Geffen Records
*2010 Sia We Are Born Sony Music
*2010 KT Tunstall Tiger Suit Relentless Records
*2010 Gabriella Cilmi Ten Island Records
*2010 Kesha Animal RCA Records
*2009 Little Boots Hands 679 Recordings
*2009 Shirley Manson In The Snow Unsigned Demo
*2009 Lily Allen It's Not Me, It's You Parlophone
*2008 Britney Spears Circus (Deluxe Edition) Jive Records
*2008 Ladyhawke Ladyhawke Island Records
*2008 Sia Some People Have Real Problems Hear Music
*2007 Dragonette Galore Mercury Records
*2007 Sophie Ellis-Bextor Catch You Polydor UK
*2007 The Bird and the Bee Please Clap Your Hands EP Blue Note
*2007 Kylie Minogue X Parlophone
*2006 All Saints Studio 1 Parlophone
*2006 Beck The Information Interscope Records
*2006 The Bird and the Bee S/T Blue Note
*2006 The Flaming Lips At War with the Mystics Warner Bros. Records
*2006 Nelly Furtado Loose Geffen
*2006 Belinda Utopia EMI
*2006 Peaches Impeach My Bush XL Recordings
*2006 Red Hot Chili Peppers "Snow ((Hey Oh))" Maxi Single Warner Bros. Records
*2006 Lily Allen Alright, Still Parlophone
*2005 Inara George All Rise Everloving
*2005 Marion Raven Here I Am Atlantic
*2004 Juanes Mi Sangre Universal Latino
*2004 John Frusciante Shadows Collide with People ("Of Before" Japanese bonus track) Warner Bros. Records
*2003 Ben Harper Diamonds on the Inside Virgin Records
*2003 The New Folk Implosion s/t BMG
*2002 Terri Lyne Carrington Jazz Is A Spirit Act Music
*2002 Willie Waldman Trumpet Ride Rhombus Records
*2002 Jason Mraz Waiting for My Rocket to Come Elektra
*1999 Action Figure Party S/T Blue Thumb
*1999 Robben Ford Supernatural Blue Thumb
*1999 Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication Warner Bros. Records
*1994 John Frusciante "Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt" American Records
*1994 John Hassell & Bluescreen Dressing for Pleasure Warner Bros. Records
*1982 Dweezil Zappa My Mother is a Space Cadet 7" Barking Pumpkin

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Greg Kurstin at All Music". Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  2. ^ Roberts, Randall. "The LA Weekly on The 2009 Grammy Nominations". Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  3. ^ "Ivor Novello Award Winners". Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  4. ^ "Full List of 2013 Grammy Nominees, via MTV.com". Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  5. ^ "New School Press Release, 2008". Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  6. ^ Subba-Cultcha/The Bird and The Bee
  7. ^ Reyes-Kulkami, Saby (2007-11-14). "The Bird and The Bee is lounge music without the kitsch". New York Press. Retrieved 2008-03-12. 
  8. ^ The Bird and The Bee-Polite Dance Song YouTube
  9. ^ The Bird and The Bee-One Too Many Hearts EP for Valentine’s Day

External links [edit]