A giddy, spaghetti-shirt-stained, Catholic-school bred kid from Historic Filipinotown, CA, was eating a deep-fried, sprinkled with sugar banana on a stick one summer day on the corner of Vendome & London Street - humming a tune from Olivia Newton-John’s Greatest Hits album. Little did she know at that very same moment, a young Highland Park girl was tearing through her grandfather’s ranch, test driving his old rusty blue tractor truck and learning quickly what a “gear” was - while humming a BEATLES tune, something about some woman named Eleanor.
 

 

 

Golda Inquito and Gertie Meza are the singing-songwriting duo Durwood. Durwood blends rich harmonies with bright sounds, unforgettable melodies and impassioned lyrics. Native Los Angelenos, Durwood was born of the diverse influences of their community, the Los Angeles rapid transportation district, the records played on repeat during dinners and weekends by their music enthusiast family members, the inspiring and unassuming heroes of their youth and the sheer desire to get out of their parent’s house.

Songwriting for Gertie came early on in her burgeoning artist life, earning her much-deserved respect in her local music community. Gertie has recorded her own solo projects as well as contributed her talents to several artists she thinks very well of. Gertie met Golda when they were in the band Boo Boo Kitty. In another life, Gertie is convinced she would have been a professional cat whisperer. In her spare time, Gertie eats lots of soup (anything Udon or Pho-like), reads science and history books, analyzes the best driving shortcuts around Los Angeles, rescues animals, reads highly technical (i.e. boring) manuals and watches reruns of old movies and TV shows (Bewitched being one of her most favoritist).

Golda hails from Los Angeles - within a 5-mile radius of The Original Tommy's Famous Burgers on Rampart and Beverly Blvd. She can be found regularly perusing the Los Feliz Costco aisles for free food samples, pretending to buy the product/s, then putting it back when no one’s looking.

Golda’s early music influences include the music her parents made her listen to as a child, music she eventually grew to love: The Beatles, Elvis, Everly Brothers, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, U2, David Bowie, The Police and Original Philippine Music (OPM), amongst others.

Golda recalls her first public performance as the barometer to which all other performances are measured. At the age of seven, Golda performed her first (and only) piano recital at the world renowned Precious Blood Parish Hall. Golda pounded the piano keys so voraciously with her tiny yet plump Vienna Sausage fingers that the massive floral arrangement sitting atop the piano crashed into a watery and glassy heap (unfortunately, for the people sitting in the front row). Not in the least fazed by the stunned audience reaction, Golda continued, with laser-like precision, her stirring rendition of "Planting Rice is So Much Fun". Golda would like to publicly apologize for the soggy piano keys and leftover bits of shard glass to the Filipino kid who had to play the piano after her. Not missing a beat, Golda's parents rewarded Golda's epic performance with a "Boy, you sure did get their attention! You have such a pretty dress on!" and an afternoon at The Sizzler's.