Gretta Seabird - Surface Talk
Gretta Seabird began with a simple songwriting challenge. Every two weeks, Jeremiah Brunnhoelzl would email guitar tracks from his flat in Brooklyn, NY to Lee McDonnell in Portland, OR, who would then give herself a mere day to pen down lyrics and melody. As the songs formed at a rapid, yet natural pace, the pair began to believe in the poetry they were creating, in the little moments caught in time. Thus, Gretta Seabird was formed, and with it the debut EP “Cycling.”
Lee McDonnell and Jeremiah Brunnhoelzl first met in 2011 near the beginning of their music careers, which found them each playing in various projects across Portland’s independent music scene. McDonnell formed projects ‘Bevelers’ and ‘Lee and the Bees’ and Brunnhoelzl began performing under the moniker ‘Arlo Indigo,’ allowing each artist to develop their own voice as they maintained a friendship over the years. The pandemic years brought about a transitional period for both artists: Brunnhoelzl relocated to Brooklyn, NY, while McDonnell battled vocal challenges that led to the loss of her singing voice for over a year.
“Losing my singing voice was absolutely frightening and I felt like I was losing my identity.” McDonnell said. “I felt like this EP was a revisit to getting back into music and falling in love with the processes and production.”
At times, Cycling does dip into the heavier, more tender parts of being human: The title track of the EP captures the disbelief that McDonnell felt while staring at a long awaited, positive pregnancy test. The melodies are melancholic, the mix sparse and patient, echoing the complexity of the feelings McDonnell had in the moment. “The whole experience was like having a weird dream where imagery and events don’t line up.” She says. “It didn’t feel like all flowers and butterflies.” The repeated refrain “Is this a dream?” Takes on a heartbreaking depth when paired with the song’s partner track, “Goodbye for Now,” through which McDonnell processed her miscarriage, just two weeks later. There is an uplifting quality to these songs, however, because we are given the sense that they are here not to chronicle darkness, but to act as a salve.
“Even though it was a difficult experience, music has pulled me through in ways I could not with just talking.” Mcdonnell says. “I felt like, if I died then I would be happy because I made this song. It just feels right in some completing way for me.”
Upcoming Live Shows
April 11th // Portland, OR // Mission Theatre
April 17th // Portland, OR // Turn! Turn! Turn!
April 26th // Portland, OR // Cravin Gravy Social Club
