Hollywood, CA, May 2022 – Musician, songwriter, and composer Andrew Bird tracked his new album Inside Problems at United Recording Studio B in Hollywood with producer Mike Viola and recording engineer David Boucher.
Arriving June 3rd via Loma Vista Recordings, Inside Problems is a collection of eleven original songs that take on those inner demons that run amok when things get especially quiet. It’s a lush and rousing entry to his acclaimed, constantly-evolving career, which includes cracking the Billboard Top 10 with Break It Yourself, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album with 2019’s My Finest Work Yet, making his acting debut in FX series Fargo, scoring Judd Apatow’s new Netflix film The Bubble, as well as the recent Peabody-nominated PBS documentary Storm Lake, and more.
Producer Mike Viola explained how he used the renowned acoustics of the studios at United Recording, “United B is a special room; everybody I’ve ever worked with in that room is spoiled by its magic. While there are plenty of studios around town with world-class gear, there is something about the acoustics of that room that draws the ingredient X out of every performance.”
Out now, the album opener and new single “Underlands” follows the recently released “Atomized,” which NPR Music says “transports listeners to a lush musical world.” Listen to “Underlands” and watch the music video, directed by Matthew Daniel Siskin:
Bird is known for his unique style of violin playing, accompanied by loop and effect pedals, whistling, and vocals. Producer Mike Viola continues, “I usually stay behind the glass when I cut records, but with Andrew I played guitar and stayed on the floor in the small ensemble set up in a very tight circle with very minimal soundproofing between us. I don’t like to use headphones and we didn’t use any monitors; actually, the drummer needed a monitor whenever Andrew used a loop pedal, which he likes to do on a few songs. Other than that it was live on the floor straight to tape.”
Mike Viola elaborates on the recording sessions at United, “Second week we did overdubs and filled out the strings with lush arrangements that once again the room helped color. There are so many different rooms within studio B — small little Iso rooms that used to be closets; there’s a haunted drum booth tucked away in the back that used to be the control room of TV Recorders, which is the full-size studio attached to United B that we had access to, as well as the main room. We took full advantage of every inch of space during week two, just experimenting with the acoustics.”
Andrew Bird can also be seen in the new documentary Really Good Rejects, which premiered at SXSW and follows LA luthier Reuben Cox, who made the rare, rubber-bridged guitar that begins “Underlands,” influencing much of Inside Problems with an indescribable sound.
Following the release of Inside Problems on June 3rd, Andrew Bird will embark on “Outside Problems,” his first full-band tour in nearly three years. Co-headlined with Iron & Wine, the extensive run of shows will stretch from coast to coast, including sold-out stops at Colorado’s Red Rocks and Chicago’s brand new Salt Shed, as well as performances at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, New York City’s Pier 17 and more, with support from Allison Russell, Meshell Ndegeocello and Neko Case.
Pre-Order Inside Problems here: https://found.ee/AB_InsideProblems__
Pictured (L-R) in United Studio B are producer Mike Viola, Andrew Bird, and recording engineer David Boucher. Photo by David Goggin.