Image of Andrew Bird & Fiona Apple in forthcoming 'Left Handed Kisses' video, courtesy artist

With his new tour starting Friday night, Andrew Bird has recruited Fiona Apple for a lovely new collaboration "Left Handed Kisses," off the former's upcoming album Are You Serious, which is out April 1.

Admittedly a bit outside Bird's wheelhouse, the track addresses the singer's struggle with writing love songs. "The song began as an internal dialogue," he said. "At first it was just my voice. Then another voice came creeping in and I thought, 'this should be a duet if I can find the right person.'

Bird felt he needed to "find someone really indicting," such as Apple. "She was totally committed. The session was a long whiskey-fueled night—unhinged, for sure. All worth it, of course. I can't write simple love songs. People are complex."

See Andrew Bird's upcoming tour dates here and hear "Left Handed Kisses" below (a video directed by Phil Andelman still to come).