Words: Susie Ulrey

Georgie James' debut full-length Places (Saddle Creek) sticks to the inside of your ear and stays put for weeks. The tracks are a gooey concoction of gorgeous pop with buoyant melodies that even make delivering a line like “looks like the perfect day to put our soldiers in an early grave” sound cheery.

The Washington D.C. duo is comprised of singer/songwriters Laura Burhenn and John Davis, former drummer of Q and Not U. Though their schedule has been hectic since the album’s release last fall, Burhenn was gracious enough to set aside a few minutes and answer some questions.

REAX: Tell me about how you and John know each other – how did you meet?  How did it begin?

Laura Burhenn: The person I was dating a few years ago sent a CD to John without my knowledge. I was a big fan of QANU and didn't think John would be into my solo work. Turns out I was wrong. QANU was winding down, and John was looking to start a new project. We got together and tried playing through some ideas we'd both been brewing. The harmonies sounded great, and before we knew it, we'd written and recorded Demos at Dance Place.
 
REAX: Did you have a style in mind or did it stem from your musical influences?

LB: We didn't have a style in mind necessarily. It wasn't like we sat down and said, "Let's write an updated version of a Kinks record with some flavors of Richard and Linda Thompson and The Jam." John made me a bunch of mix CDs; we talked about where our tastes overlapped. But the music evolved rather organically. I think you hear hints of our past musical conquests in parts of certain songs. But all in all, we let the music dictate its own direction. We just followed its lead.
 
REAX: The band’s name is a reference to a Ziggy Stardust type character – why is that?

LB: We both have our reasons for picking the band name. In my mind, I liked the idea of creating a songwriter who personifies the conglomerate of John and I as songwriters – and all the songwriters we've been inspired by and whose ideas, sounds, etc. find their way into our songs. I also think the name "Georgie James" directly relates to the sound of our music. If you close your eyes and imagine who he or she might be (the androgyny is another aspect I love), it all falls together – the body collective consciousness.

REAX: John has been fortunate enough to have relationships with two high profile indie labels Dischord and now Saddle Creek. How did you form a relationship with them?

LB: We decided to record Places on our own in part because we didn't have a label at the time, and also so we could have total creative freedom to make the record we wanted to make. After we'd finished it in 2006, we were looking for a label to put it out. John knew Saddle Creek through some publicity work and also through QANU. John sent them the CD, and they liked it and wanted to put it out. They're very much inspired by the Dischord ethic, so I think it was a nice transition for John. Besides an incredible roster of artists and some great records on their discography, Saddle Creek has made a name by being "the good guy" in an era of lots of label "bad guys." I think that translates to fans as much as the music. I, for one, am grateful to be a part of that.

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