thehumminbird.com
For a few years now, Muyassar Kurdi has been performing as the Humminbird. Even if you haven’t seen her play, you’ve probably noticed her around town, with her long dark tresses, psychedelic tattoos, and gypsy adornments. Kurdi’s “songs” are often chorusless mood pieces ruminating on family, past lovers, and the splendor of nature; she started out as a solo multitasker, combining vocals, harmonium, Autoharp, Raagini (an electronic substitute for the tanpura, which sitar players use as drone accompaniment), and a sea of effects pedals, but lately she’s been working with other musicians, including Kyle Klipowicz (harmony vocals, percussion, flute) and Graham Stephenson (trumpet). A full cast of collaborators chimes in on her first cassette, Majesty of the Majestic, which was inspired by magical ladies such as Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval, Vashti Bunyan, and Selda Bagcan. On top of her music, Kurdi self-published a book of erotic poetry, Wet and Blessed, in September 2012; she’s also had work appear in Curbside Splendor and The Logan Square Literary Review, and she’s currently writing a novella. If that weren’t enough, she also makes her own organic “Mother Earth Soap” (the latest batch is called “Summer of Love”) using shea butter, tea tree oil, lavender, sweet orange, cypress, and the like. It’s five bones per bar, and you can order by e-mailing muyassarkurdi@gmail.com.
