After earning a few production credits on Lily Allen’s debut album Alright, Still, Greg Kurstin was selected by Allen to be the only other collaborator on her follow-up It’s Not Me, It’s You. That album would go on to be critically heralded, reach triple platinum status, and earned Kurstin a Grammy nomination for Producer Of The Year in 2010.

Early Life

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Greg Kurstin started playing piano at the age of five. His grandmother was a huge musical influence, imparting the fundamentals of jazz and blues, before Kurstin would eventually inherit her piano. After high school, Kurstin traveled to New York City to study at the renowned New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, studying under many jazz legends.

Bands

After completing his studies, Kurstin moved back to Los Angeles and formed the jazz/alt-rock outfit Geggy Tah. The band’s first record, Grand Opening, was released in 1994 on David Byrne’s label. Geggy Tah remain active to this day, though they haven’t released a new record since 2001. In 2005, Kurstin formed an indie-pop duo with Inara George called The Bird And The Bee. Together, they’ve released three full-length records, four EPs, and they even had one single (“Fucking Boyfriend”) top the Billboard Dance chart in 2006.

Production Work

As a multi-instrumentalist, Greg Kurstin has lent his considerable talents to the likes of Beck, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Flaming Lips. He got started as a producer in the pop music world by working on a song featured on P!nk’s 2006 album I’m Not Dead. From there, Kurstin worked on many pop records, but solidified himself as a force in the industry with the success of Lily Allen’s It’s Not Me, It’s You. He has since gone on to write and produce songs for artists like Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Ke$ha, and Foster The People.

Greg Kurstin attributes his songwriting and production style to his jazz background, and being able to improvise interesting chord progressions and melodies. Let’s check out some of his best work for this edition of the Friday Mixtape.