  Georgie James
by Laura D. Tutino
 The hot blonde duo known as “Georgie James” has rocked many stages over the past year including DC’s own Black Cat and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Washington D.C. natives Laura Burhenn and John Davis (formerly of Q and Not U) joined forces in 2005 after discovering their exceptionally similar tastes in rock from the 1950’s-70’s.
Burhenn worked extensively as a solo artist before blending musical talents with Davis. She found her love of music early on while living on a farm out in Hagerstown/Boonsboro, Maryland.
“My mom always said I could sing before I could talk and I started piano lessons at five and writing songs soon after. I was always writing poems, pulling out my Mr. Microphone and putting on a show, finding new ways of playing instruments, and recording myself on my Fisher Price tape recorder,” Burhenn elaborates.
“Wanderlust,” was released in 2004 on her own label, Laboratory Records. Of the 11 songs, ten are Burhenn originals, the last is a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel no. 2.” Her voice offers a soothing yet energetic tone throughout the entire album; the same energetic tone used to add an indie spice to Georgie James’s tunes.
In addition to serving as the drummer and percussionist for Q And Not U for their near seven years of music-making, Davis was also part of the vocal force behind the post-core band. Burhenn met Davis just as he and his bandmates decided to move on to other projects. “I was a big fan of Q And Not U and was sad to see them split.”
The combining of musical talents was not difficult for Burhenn and Davis. Both are established vocalists and play multiple instruments. Soon after meeting they began rehearsing in Burhenn’s DC apartment. They eventually took over Q And Not U’s old practice space and cranked out the tunes that were first previewed on “Demos at Dance Place,” a seven-song EP released in 2006 on Laboratory Records. Six of the tracks were then re-worked and combined with five new ones to create “Places.” Georgie James’ first full-length album was released on September 25, 2007 and produced by Saddle Creek Records. Most of their recording was done on this side of Potomac at Silver Sonya Recording and Mastering in Arlington. “Demos at Dance Place,” “Places,” and the US and European versions of the “Need Your Needs” single were recorded there. Silver Sonya has also worked with other well-known bands such as Fugazi, These United States, and Thievery Corporation.
So what are they up to now? Burhenn admits, “After an extensive tour, twice to Europe and all over the US from last September through this past April, Georgie James is taking some time off.” Not to worry though, she’s currently working on a new solo album!
“I've been really interested in the idea of the collective consciousness -- particularly America's, how it has been affected, or not, by the state of world events and how it relates to my personal experiences. It's all one big Whitmanian thing after all (the individual, the body politic), and I'm excited to have an outlet for these thoughts: my songs.”
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