![]() I think writing about the darkest thoughts, about suicide, is very healthy. I’m sure they had much healthier lives because of their music but it wasn’t enough for them. A lot of my favourite writers, a lot of the greatest artists, do kill themselves – Elliott Smith for instance. His combination of silliness and sadness is so incredible. How much did he inspire the early lyrics of the band? nkeezyĭavid Berman’s one of my heroes. Whelan’s turned our heads a little bit – we’re not the B-side to Interpol any more.Īs a part-time poet, I consider you and David Berman of Silver Jews to be two of my favourites. That brought a lot of people to our first shows in Europe and we milked that, but we did have a moment where we realised the reaction wasn’t connected to that. We definitely rode the fumes of the New York scene – the Strokes, Interpol – for a while. That show was definitely a pillar, being so far from home and realising we’re not just another one of the “New York bands”. Following some earlier setbacks, can you pinpoint a moment when you said: this is really coming together for us as a band? PaddyMcDonnell The band seemed genuinely taken aback that you were cheered back for an encore. ![]() I saw you in Whelan’s in Dublin in 2005 after Alligator came out. Since Boxer she was always pushing me into the cold dark water because that’s where the most interesting swimming happens. Eucalyptus is a funny one – she’s like, “This song is so great, but we should probably talk about this later.” But the art always comes first. We have learned where our boundaries are. I love the way her brain works, so whenever there’s a bit from her that works, I have so much more confidence in the song. In so many songs on this record, there will be a phrase she wrote that anchors the song: Tropic Morning News is a funny phrase she came up with to describe doom and gloom. I tinker away and she does her own thing. I’m curious about how you and Carin write the lyrics. I have a really healthy marriage but I think that’s because I write about looking into the abyss. I write a lot about things I want to avoid – Eucalyptus is about what would happen if we really did split up, whether the band or marriage. I’m always trying to paint the shadows to figure out what are the things that make relationships fall apart and how to avoid that. Learning to recalibrate is not easy, but that’s how stuff lasts. You have to allow the other person to grow. When I met Carin I knew this is the one, and we’ve been together 20 years. There’s not a single relationship that I’ve had that I don’t reflect fondly on. But even from the short ones, the bad ones, you learn so much. Most relationships aren’t going to work out. monocleman1įinding somebody to connect with and keeping that connection is really challenging. It always destroys me when things end but the thought of things lasting also terrifies me. What advice would you give someone in their mid-20s regarding love and relationships? I’m yet to have a serious long-term relationship. Berninger (centre) with fellow members of the National (from left) Aaron Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, Scott Devendorf and Bryce Dessner.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |