Beirut (band)

Beirut is an American indie folk project formed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2006, by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zach Condon, who is the band's primary recording artist and sole constant member. In the studio and during live performances, Condon is joined by a rotating line-up of musicians which regularly includes, Nick Petree (drums), Paul Collins (bass), Kyle Resnick (trumpet), Ben Lanz (trombone) and Aaron Arntz (piano, keyboards).

Named after Lebanon's capital, due to the city's history of conflict and as a place where cultures collide, Beirut's music combines elements of indie rock, Balkan folk and world music.

Beirut has released seven studio albums and four EPs, to date. The band's first performance with the full brass section was in New York, in May 2006, in support of their debut album Gulag Orkestar, though they performed their first show with Condon, Petree, and Collins at the College of Santa Fe earlier that year.

Zach Condon was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 13, 1986. He grew up in Newport News, Virginia, and Santa Fe. Condon played trumpet in a jazz band as a teenager and cites jazz as a major influence.

Condon attended Santa Fe High School, until dropping out when he was 17. Work at a cinema showing international films piqued his interest in Fellini arias, Sicilian funeral brass, and Balkan music.

Condon attended community college for a short period, then traveled to Europe at the age of 17 with his older brother, Ryan. Condon's exploration of world music developed Beirut's melodic sound. Zach's younger brother Ross Condon played in the band Total Slacker.

Returning from Europe, Condon enrolled at the University of New Mexico, where he studied Portuguese and photography. Condon recorded most of the material for Gulag Orkestar alone in his bedroom, finishing the album in a studio with Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel, A Hawk and a Hacksaw) and Heather Trost (A Hawk and a Hacksaw), who became early contributors to the band.

Ba Da Bing Records signed Condon on the strength of the recordings. Condon recruited friends to play Gulag Orkestar's first live shows in New York in May 2006.