She & Him

She & Him unites indie folk artist M. Ward with actress, singer, and songwriter Zooey Deschanel. The pair drew on analog recording methods and a mutual appreciation for classic pop groups to launch their partnership in 2008 via Volume One, an album that first presented Deschanel’s original material as a vocalist and composer. Similar efforts followed with Volume Two in 2010 and Volume Three in 2013, each separated by lighthearted holiday collections. In 2022 the duo delivered Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, interpreting a selection of Beach Boys and Wilson compositions.

Deschanel’s appearance in the 2007 feature The Go-Getter prompted director Martin Hynes to pair her with Ward, who had already committed to scoring the picture. Their initial collaboration produced a rendition of Richard & Linda Thompson’s “When I Get to the Border,” after which they reconvened in Portland to capture Deschanel’s privately recorded originals inside Ward’s studio. Those sessions yielded Volume One, released in March 2008 through Merge and Domino. Critics responded warmly; Paste magazine named the record its album of the year. A summer tour ensued, leading Deschanel and Ward to prepare a follow-up. Volume Two entered the Billboard Top Ten in its opening week of early 2010 and supported another round of live dates.

Turning to seasonal repertoire inspired by the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, and Vince Guaraldi, the duo issued its first holiday set, A Very She & Him Christmas, in October 2011. They resumed their signature pop sound with Volume 3, which surfaced in spring 2013. Late the following year they announced Classics, their debut for Columbia and a collection of standards drawn from Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Costello. Another festive album, Christmas Party, arrived in 2016 and again emphasized mid-century holiday material while featuring guest turns by the Chapin Sisters, Jenny Lewis, and Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth. The 2022 covers album Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson spotlighted Wilson-authored tracks including “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Do It Again,” and “Darlin’.”