Zooey Deschanel and her She & Him collaborator, M. Ward, looked so stylish together, it was befitting that they played surrounded by the latest fashion at Barneys New York. As the guest performers for last night’s party thrown by eco-friendly clothing line Loomstate and the Sundance Channel, the duo, who recently released their debut album, “Volume One,” played a five-song set. It was short but sweet enough to make me want to find some way into their two sold-out shows later this month at the Vista.
Sandwiched between their bluesy takes on Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me” were original tracks “Take It Back” and “Change Is Hard.” Skepticism is naturally warranted when actresses take on music, but Deschanel is actually good. Dressed in vintage, she was every bit the doe-eyed ingénue she conveys on-screen, but her voice echoed the soulful smoky tone of Dusty Springfield or Linda Ronstadt. Ward quietly held his own, strumming his cherry red guitar and occasionally providing backup vocals.
Afterward, I briefly chatted with the two in what looked like a fitting room on Barneys’ fifth floor.
– post and photo by Enid Portuguez
Is there a different energy you put into music than you do in film?
Deschanel: It’s fun to get to see a project from beginning to end. Writing the music, coming up with ideas, sending them to Matt and then making the music — it’s all encompassing. As an actor, you do the job and a lot happens after that you don’t take part in. Music is more of who I am creatively.
How’s your experience so far performing in front of an audience?
Deschanel: I love singing onstage! It feels like the energy moves through you and into the audience. It’s this amazing exchange.
What’s the songwriting process like for you two?
Ward: Zooey writes the lyrics and the melody. She sends it to me and I listen to them. She’s the skeleton of the song, and I guess you can say I’m the flesh. It’s hard to go back and dissect teamwork. There are so many things we work on together.
What’s the origin behind the name She & Him?
Ward: Zooey came up with it. It came from the idea that we wanted people to hear the songs first before making a fuss about who was making it. We were inspired by the Band and the anonymity of it. It puts what you do in front of your name.
