Inara Maryland George, daughter of the late Lowell George, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her father, a renowned musician, was recording the iconic album Feats Don't Fail Me Now with Little Feat at the time of her birth.
Growing up in the picturesque Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles, Inara explored her creative side through ballet, acting, and stage productions at the WillGeer Theatricum Botanicum. This early exposure to the performing arts laid the foundation for her future endeavors.
In 1993, Inara, along with friends Gabriel Cowan, Robin Moxey, and Lonn Baker, formed the band Lode. As a high school group, they blended blues and grunge sounds, touring California and Colorado, and even performed at the House of Blues in West Hollywood. Their unique sound caught the attention of Geffen Records, leading to a contract and the release of their album Legs & Arms in 1996, although it failed to make a significant impact on the pop charts.
Inara's passion for Shakespearean acting led her to attend Emerson College in Boston, where she spent three semesters studying. However, she soon began writing songs and, with the help of songwriter Bryony Atkinson, formed the duo Merrick. Between 1998 and 2001, Merrick released four albums on small labels, showcasing Inara's talent as a songwriter and vocalist.
Merrick disbanded in 2002, and Inara began assembling the team that would propel her to solo success. In 2005, she released her debut solo album, All Rise, on the Everloving label. Produced by Michael Andrews, who had scored the hit film Donnie Darko, the album received critical acclaim, with Entertainment Weekly praising Inara's "soothing, girlish vocals" and "sometimes-downcast, sometimes-poppy songs."
Inara's next project was with multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin, who had contributed keyboards to All Rise. The two discovered a shared love for classical jazz and formed the Bird and the Bee. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2006, followed by several EPs, including Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future and Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates.
