Beirut is an American indie folk/balkan band that was originally the solo project of Zach Condon. This Sante Fe native started his own project and then it later expanded into a band. He is the lead vocalist and the horn player.
I had actually ran into this band when I was on my way to Montreal. I usually bring an array of magazines on this trip to see my cousins. I was flipping through the "Associated Press" magazine, and in the "New Albums" section, I came across Beirut. Since I am of Lebanese descent, this caught my eye (Beirut is the capital of Lebanon.) I decided to check them out, any band with your homelands capital should be interesting right? I automatically fell in love with this band, the first song I heard was Santa Fe, and this song illustrates Zach Condon's long hours and days in his hometown.
Zach spent countless hours in his room playing his trumpet, burning out his chaps (chaps is slang among trumpet players for lips). He was feeling something was missing, that he didn't enjoy his life too much. I often find myself in Zach's place at times, sitting in my room, blowing into my trumpet, rejecting calls, rejecting invitations to parties, and solely sitting in my room with just me and my instruments.
Condon attended Santa Fe High School, where he later dropped out when he was 17. According to an interview with David Dye on NPR, being in Santa Fe exposed Condon to Mexican music such as mariachi. He travelled with his brother to Europe for some months, exploring wonders. When he went to the Balkans, he fell in love with the music.
Upon his return from Europe, Zach enrolled at the University of New Mexico, where he studied Portuguese and photography. He also worked at a cinema that showed foreign films which piqued his interest in Balkan music, first hearing Goran Bregovic.
He released his first album, Gulag Orkestar, in Santa Fe, where he was stuck in his room playing and rehearsing, going back and forth from the studio. Zach's musical legacy also stemmed to his brother who also is in a band in Brooklyn. I find myself in Zach's place here, I influenced my sister's musical taste so much. I had introduced her to punk, ska, and indie, and she really getting into it. I also started playing instruments at a young age, and my sister decided to followup as well.
Beirut and Zach Condon especially influenced me to play the trumpet, and its beautiful Balkan sound. I have been playing trumpet for about a year now, and I practice for about 1 hour everyday.
468 words.
