Were you guys surprised by your surge in popularity?
Yeah, none of us expected our band would ever get as popular as it is. And, it’s always a pleasant surprise. We like making music together and we would never expect or anticipate this level of success.
Has your move to Atlantic from the indie label Barsuk, changed the way you guys make music?
Certainly nothing creatively. We moved to Atlantic because we were allowed certain creative controls. Atlantic stayed out of our hair.
Had you guys been pursued by major labels in the past?
Definitely all along the way, especially early on after our first record. We made a list and we kept it in the band of the things that were important to us. And we’d make sure labels would support the list. And most labels would laugh at us. Then finally Atlantic came along and they wrote back or called back and said, “Let’s do it.”
Before then had it been stereotypical record label wooing, like dinner and “Hey guys here’s the money?”
Yeah it was so cheesy it would make you laugh. Sometimes people would be like here’s all this money, but the creative side for us was sucky. It’s important we make records how we want to make records. Atlantic had enough courage.
Do you think the OC stint has anything to do with it? Did you gain a lot of fans from it?
Not really…a few people have discovered the band because of it. People who liked our band liked us before the OC. I don’t think the TV show had a lot to do with it.
How is Plans different from your previous album, Transatlanticism?
It’s more introspective and darker, even then though these songs have more hope. One of the reasons I’m proud Plans is the fact that I’m confused by it sometimes. Sometimes it’s assertive, sometimes brooding. It can exist in a different headspace. It can be reflective. It can also not suck up all my focus and experience from beginning to end in a narrative sort of way.
What’s your favorite song on the album?
“Marching Bands from Manhattan.” When I listen to it, it sounds like us. If someone were to say what’s the band sound like, I would say listen to that song.
What haven’t you done that you’ve always wanted to do?
Wow, that list is forever long. I suppose I’ve always wanted to be in a movie. I don’t want to be like a lead actor, but it would be fun to have all small roles. I’d want to be like the guy who delivers the morning paper.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?
I would be working in a job that I was wishing I was in a rock band. |