Studio Sessions

The Mynabirds — August 10, 2010

Recording engineer: Steven Kray, with assistance from Bill Ward

In her own words, when Laura Burhenn set out to write and record the album that became the debut for The Mynabirds, she was aiming for something that sounded like "Neil Young doing Motown." While the resulting debut, What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood, may be more to the indie-pop side than that, it's the soul-tinged edges-- created with the help of Richard Swift in his Cottage Grove, OR-based studio-- that set it apart.

We talked to Burhenn (making her third visit to our studios, following sessions recorded with Georgie James in 2008 and O+S last year) about the wide range of influences that went into locating her new sound, the story behind "Let the Record Go" and its stylish, cake fight-filled video, and the serendipitous naming of the band, named before discovering the existence of an almost mythical '60's R&B group called The Mynah Birds, whose members included Neil Young and Rick James (really!).

Look for The Mynabirds' return to Portland in September for MusicFest NW-- they play the night of September 11th at Mississippi Studios.

Photos: Inger Klekacz-- see the entire set.

Video: Anthony DelCalzo / Jarratt Taylor / Jake Braafladt