Beirut

Beirut Artistfacts

  • 2006-
    Zach СondonVocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, ukulele
    Perrin CloutierAccordion, cello
    Nick PetreeDrums, percussion, melodica
    Paul CollinsElectric bass, upright bass
    Kelly PrattTrumpet, French horn, glockenspiel
    Ben LanzTrombone/tuba
  • Beirut singer Zach Condon dropped out of school at age 16. He later enrolled in community college but dropped out again to travel Europe with his brother. His love for European and world music helped to shape Beirut's unique sound.
  • Zach Condon was a straight-A student growing up until his sophomore year in high school. Condon lost his focus and began skipping classes three times a week. He also handed in fake papers copied from the internet until he eventually just dropped out of school at 16.
  • Beirut singer Zach Condon likes to collaborate with other like-minded artists. He appears on the first and last tracks on Grizzly Bear's Friend EP. He also appears on Blondie's 2011 album Panic of Girls.
  • When he was 14, Beirut singer Zach Condon fell off a bridge and broke his arm. At 17, he had surgery to repair the injury, but now his left wrist is an inch and a half shorter than his right one. Since Condon used to finger the guitar with his left hand, he's no longer able to play the instrument because he can't wrap his left wrist around the fret board without feeling immense pain.
  • Zach Condon says he listens to a lot of electronic music. When he was 15, Boards of Canada were one of his favorite bands. Artists like Casino Vs. Japan and Aphex Twin also make it onto his iPod playlist.
  • Zach Condon never writes or records music in his house in Brooklyn. Condon says he needs to get outside to work, so he'll often rent a studio or go back to his home state of New Mexico to create new songs. Once he rented a farmhouse two hours north of New York City just so he could leave Brooklyn to write music.
  • Beirut singer Zach Condon's dream vacation is on the beach. While visiting Morocco, Condon once spent 8 hours in the water in a lagoon. He says it was "one of the happiest days of his life" and that he uses the beach as a place to unwind and deal with stress.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.