Beehive (band)

Lore & Background

Beehive began while Alethea and David Miller were studying neurobiology together at the University of Washington. Not long after finishing their studies, they realized a musical career was in their future. They started to record songs together in a back-and-forth process, each layering on new ideas, melodies, or riffs. Eventually, they took their work public and performed at clubs and festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest. Their high-energy live shows earned them a devoted following, and they started to get radio airplay with the release of Cycle A. Tracks from Cycle A, including 'Fear', 'Love I Know', 'One', and 'Oath of Gold', were licensed for MTV shows. In December 2007, Beehive released their album Pretty Little Thieves, which continued to be licensed for shows such as the CW's 90210, The Real World: Hollywood, Bad Girls Club, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and VH1's Old Skool, as well as the soundtrack to the film Loaded.

Reader's Guide

Beehive's significance lies in their ability to bridge electronic music with pop and rock sensibilities, gaining traction through licensing deals with major television networks. Their songs appeared on MTV shows like The Real World and Road Rules, as well as later on the CW and VH1, demonstrating the duo's knack for creating music that fit the tone of reality and drama programming. The band's nomination in the Seattle Weekly 2006 Music Awards reflects local recognition, while their work with Planetary Group for radio promotion, Buddy Buddy for licensing, and GoDigital Media Group for label representation shows a strategic approach to independent music distribution. Their album Pretty Little Thieves, released in late 2007 and remastered in 2010, remains their most notable release, continuing to be licensed years after its initial launch. Though the duo did not achieve mainstream chart success, their persistent presence in television soundtracks and their grassroots rise from a university project to a regional touring act illustrate a model for independent artists navigating the music industry.

Did You Know?

• Beehive began as a studio project between two friends studying neurobiology at the University of Washington.
• The band's album Pretty Little Thieves was released in 2007.