San Diego Reader

Lindsay White: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Veronica May: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals

Genre: Acoustic, Pop, Rock

RIYL: Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Patty Griffin, Danielle Anderson, Ani DiFranco, Steph Johnson, Allegra Barley, Tori Roze, Barbara Nesbitt, Brenda Xu

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Related Links:

• Musician Interviews: "Lovebirds Veronica May and Lindsay White" · Feb. 16, 2011

• Blurt: "Glee Girls" · Nov. 24, 2009

• Musician Interview: Lindsay White · Aug. 5, 2009

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2010

Influences: Fiona Apple, Jewel, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Norah Jones, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, Sheila E, the White Lies, the Forget Me Nots

Background:

The Lovebirds are a female duo featuring Veronica May and Lindsay White. “Pretty little harmonies with a pretty little lady,” is how Veronica May describes the music of the Lovebirds. May — whose parents fronted the 1970s band the Flatlanders — has been playing piano for over 20 years, percussion for over a decade, and guitar for several years. A 2008 San Diego Music Award winner for Best Acoustic, May also plays with White in the Forget Me Nots, a 1940s-inspired ensemble.

“The Forget Me Nots sound is throwback Americana jazz, blues, and even some country, with rich four-part vocals,” says White, who got her start playing open mics at venues like Lestat’s Coffee House. “We make the new, original songs sound like antiques. My solo music is very soft and folksy but with potent lyrics. The Lovebirds is sort of a mix of all that.”

“When people ask what I’m like onstage,” says White, “I tell them to imagine Bob Dylan with a skirt.”

“I try to live by the Bob Dylan lyric ‘He not busy being born is busy dying.’ I have it taped to my computer screen at work, to remind me I better not let myself be stuck in a cubicle forever.” In 2009, White was one of six finalists in the San Diego Songwriters Guild’s Songwriting Contest at the Belly Up Tavern.

Veronica May -- who once collected Mad Magazines (“This explains a lot about me”) -- also fronts a self-named solo band. “I’ve always loved Lindsay’s singing...she has a nostaligic voice that renders kindness and understanding. And I love that.”