Thao and Mirah both often go by their first names only. That is mostly why they wanted to make a record together. Other reasons include: they are friends, they were finally in San Francisco at the same time, and both joyfully welcomed a short departure from their respective successful solo careers to collaborate on a project. (check out some songs from Thao : Bag of Hammers, Body, When We Swam, and Cool Yourself.) The two enlisted dear friend and colleague Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards, 4AD) as co-producer, guest musician (and for one song, guest writer) and the aptly titled album Thao and Mirah was recorded over 2 freewheeling weeks for record label Kill Rock Stars this past summer.

Thao and Mirah each wrote a new batch of beautiful songs which were jointly performed and produced by the three with some help from fine Bay Area friends. The album is a collection of songs from two distinctly different, highly respected songwriters, threaded and woven together with the creative energy and freedom of collaboration. Such freedom allowed for varied and rewarding levels of innovation, and a determination to keep the music-making as in-house as possible: both Thao and Mirah assume many of the instrumentation duties: from drums and bottles to slide guitar and knee caps. All songs maintain the writers’ shared gifts: profound emotional poignancy with lyrics and melodies to match and stay with you. Here’s the track listing:

01. Eleven
02. Folks
03. Little Cup
04. Rubies and Rocks
05. Teeth
06. Spaced Out Orbit
07. How Dare You
08. Sugar and Plastic
09. Likable Man
10. Hallelujah
11. Squareneck

You can get the album on or amazon. You can download the song Eleven for FREE on amazon or here.

Both Thao and Mirah work closely with Air Traffic Control- an organization dedicated to helping musicians become better social activists. They will team up with ATC to focus the release and touring efforts of Thao and Mirah toward supporting causes and organizations they love. The duo will work to support organizations which raise awareness and offer resources in response to physical, emotional and sexual abuse in the home. The pair look forward to working with local domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse prevention organizations in each city they visit on tour. Tour dates listed below.

Eleven from Thao & Mirah album

See Thao & Mirah on tour:
May 2011
1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour – w/ Led to Sea
2 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho – w/ Led to Sea
3 – Oakland, CA @ The New Parish – w/ Led to Sea
5 – Vancouver, BC, Canada @ The Biltmore – w/ Led to Sea
6 – Bellingham, WA @ WWU – w/ The New Pornographers
7 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile – w/ Led to Sea
8 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom – w/ Led to Sea
9 – Olympia, WA @ Northern – w/ Led to Sea
June 2011
2 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center – w/ Led to Sea
3 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle – w/ Led to Sea
5 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Lee’s Palace – w/ Led to Sea
7 – Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears – w/ Led to Sea
8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg – w/ Led to Sea
9 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church – w/ Led to Sea
10 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat – w/ Led to Sea
11 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
12 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
15 – St Louis, MO @ Off Broadway – w/ Led to Sea
18 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
19 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room – w/ Led to Sea
21 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah – w/ Led to Sea
23 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall – w/ Led to Sea