M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel reveal She & Him details

Writer: Liz Lawson
News, Published online on 23 Jan 2008

She & Him is not merely an annoyance for all the self-appointed grammar policemen out there. It's also the name of the new M. Ward/Zooey Deschanel music project with the forthcoming album Volume 1. The first release of the duo's work will arrive March 18 on Merge Records. We first reported on Deschanel's transition into music back in December, noting that though this was her first foray into the life of a recording artist, she has been singing for years in If All The Stars Were Pretty Babies, a cabaret act based in Los Angeles.

What we didn't mention was her performance in the film Elf (2003), where she thrilled viewers with both her shower scene (which, of course, refers to her duet with Will Ferrell, sung while Deschanel's character is showering at work—c'mon pervs!), as well as her rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

But Deschanel really got her start in the music business in 1999 in The Offspring video for "She's Got Issues," in which she sports awesome super-florescent red hair and blue spandex pants under what appears to be a skort. Ah, '90's fashion...

Matt Ward is an indie darling much like Deschanel herself, and one of today's finest singer-songwriters to boot. He's collaborated with Conor Oberst, covered the reclusive Daniel Johnston's "To Go Home," and co-produced the first solo album from Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley and Troop Beverly Hills fame). Now, he's playing the part of backing musician and producer of Volume 1.

Although there's no word yet whether the duo will tour any time in the near future, they will make an appearance at both Noise Pop out in San Francisco and SXSW, where they'll play the Merge Records showcase.

And now for some Paste trivia!

Name at least 10 artists who, like M. Ward, publicly go by names that begin with an initial (that's one initial for those who were going to throw k.d. lang, et al., into the mix.) Answers after the video below.

Deschanel's Elf performance (with shower scene!):

And...a little preview of what to expect from She & Him:

Answers:
N. Lannon
B. Fleischmann
J. Tillman
R. Kelly
G. Love
P. Diddy
T. Rex
J. Geils Band
R. Carlos Nakai
B. Baker Chocolate Co.
K. Juno
J. Moss
J Stalin
J Mascis and the Fog
J. Russell Robinson
T Lavitz
J. Taylor Streiff (Pianist)

(Disclaimer: Not every artist or band in the known universe whose name begins with an initial appears on this list. If you thought of many that didn't, perhaps you should apply for a internship at Paste.)

Volume 1:
1. Sentimental Heart
2. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
3. This Is Not a Test
4. Change Is Hard
5. I Thought I Saw Your Face Today
6. Take It Back
7. I Was Made for You
8. You Really Got a Hold on Me (Miracles cover)
9. Black Hole
10. Got Me
11. I Should Have Known Better (Beatles cover)

She & Him festival dates:

March
2 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Noise Pop
14 - Austin, Texas @ The Parish (Merge Records SXSW showcase)

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M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel reveal She & Him details

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