“Six Albums That Helped Shape My Music Career” With The Lovebirds

The Lovebirds, who hail from San Diego, Ca, are today’s guests on our special feature of “Albums That Helped Shape My Music Career” and we couldn’t be more excited to share their picks with you!

Fresh on the release of their third studio album, “Break Shmakeup”, the duo are currently in the midst of promoting the release on tour. “Breakup Shmakeup” chronicles the experience of ending their romantic partnership in order to preserve their musical partnership.  The Lovebirds are currently on tour now, tour dates can be seen at the band’s official website. The group will be performing at Ebenezer’s Coffeehouse on July 31st, tickets can be purchased at this location.

On the release of their third album, The Lovebirds tell us,

“Breakup Shmakeup is a special album because it covers the broad range of emotions most of us feel during and after a breakup in a really dynamic but cohesive way. You can really get a sense of how we processed the experience and communicated with each other musically in order to grieve a loss and celebrate a re-birth of our relationship as bandmates. Even though the subject matter we’re dealing with on this album involves a lot of tension and adversity, there are little seeds of hope and love and acceptance planted throughout each track. That is what our music and our message has always been about, so we’re glad to be able to stay true to that on this record.”

Lindsay’s Picks

1. Jewel – Pieces of You
I memorized this album backwards and forwards. I marveled at the thought of a young woman actually being able to write songs as a profession. Right after that came more albums from female musicians like Alanis Morissette, and later I discovered Ani Difranco who just kicked down the rest of the door for me. It was my first taste of feminism too. I observed how people threw around words like “angsty” when describing female musicians. I just saw strength. I never doubted a woman’s ability to achieve anything after listening to all that music and Jewel was definitely my first little peak into a brand new world. In a crazy ass twist of fate, I ended up moving to San Diego and meeting/playing with all the people who knew her when. Every time I play a show with Steve Poltz, I trip out and imagine myself as a 13 year old girl learning how to play “You Were Meant For Me” before I even had a clue who he was or that he wrote it with her. Life is weird.

2. Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is what I listened to a lot when I was first attempting to play the guitar and write songs. Lyrics have always been much easier to come by than music for me, and this record showed me that you could pair very poignant words with very simple chords, and the result could still punch you in the gut. One of the first covers I ever learned was “Blowin’ in the Wind.” I even traveled to Hibbing, MN once to play in their annual Dylan Days festival.

3. Haim – Days are Gone
The albums I previously mentioned were very influential in my geneses as a songwriter, but I definitely can see how the music I’m listening to at this moment is shaping my career with The Lovebirds. I discovered Haim a couple years ago and they are an incredible inspiration for Veronica and I. For starters, they are not a pop gimmick churned out by some label. They are legit musicians who have been working on their art and paying their dues for years. I love the way they incorporate drums into their music, which is something we do as well. I’m also taking notes from a performance standpoint. Their energy is off the charts; they completely lose themselves in the music and give approximately zero f*cks.

Veronica’s Picks

1. Natalie Cole – Unforgettable: Natalie Coles Greatest Hits
This was my very first CD and that alone made it so special to me. I memorized every last solo, every last drum fill, every last vocal improvisation. I attribute my ability to free-form to this CD.

2. The Carpenters – Self-Titled Album
This was another album that ran on repeat in my home growing up. It reminds me of my mother, who is another huge musical influence in my life. Some of the ways I sing are due to Karen Carpenter and her sad ballads still speak to me.

3. Ani Difrano: Revelling/Reckoning
The token lesbian picks the token feminist album. Though I don’t claim to be a staunch feminist, some of my guitar techniques from my earlier days were very reminiscent of Ani Difranco’s.