MG Exclusive: An interview with The National
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:55 amThe MuG recently spoke with The National singer/lyricist Matt Berninger as the band continued its US tour. In true Music Gourmets fashion, we didn't ask the same 10 questions you see everyone else asking...
Talk about the current tour, and the realities of life on the road. I think must music fans have come to realize that it's not all that glamorous, but what is your day-to-day really like?
It's actually gotten much nicer. For years, traveling around in a van, cramming 5-7 adults in a van and all your gear, staying on floors. That was pretty grueling, and we did that for a long time. I can't complain about the bus now.
Our life is either on a bus, or in a club all day, every day. Very rare to have time to have a nice dinner, or stay out late partying. Soundchecking, loading/unloading, or time in bunk is 90% of your time.
I complain, but I don't want to go back to the day job quite yet (designing Web sites for pharmaceutical companies). Which, incidentally, pays a lot better.
Recently, bands like Rilo Kiley have had to dodge accusations of "selling out" as their records get poppier and more accessible. Is their any pressure on the band to make records that are at least somewhat obtuse? Is the goal to hear your music on mainstream radio?
Mianstream radio – there's not the pressure there once was on bands to make a radio hit. We do try to write songs that are instantly catchy and accessible. Often, those types of songs just don't hold our interest long enough. "Radio-friendly" and "good" are not mutually exclusive, though.
If we can listen to it 20 times and still like it, we'll put it on the record. No pressure from the label, which is nice.
The National's albums are often referred to as "growers;" albums that take some time to ingratiate themselves with the listener. How much of this is on purpose? Do you enjoy this characterization of writing "difficult" music, or do you ever wish you could just hammer out a three-minute pop song?
Never on purpose, but I think it's the way we write, our process. The only songs we put on the record are the ones that stand the test of time, months after the original idea that we still feel moved by. It makes sense that it might take a little time for folks who are first hearing us, it's a similar process to when we wrote it.
We think all our songs are instantly lovable, then we find out later that it takes folks some time.
Are your albums intended to be listened to as a whole or as individual songs?
We put the album together, thinking of it as a single 45-minute thing. Each song has to stand up on it's own, but we do see it as an album, with "Boxer" especially. We really feel like it works best as an album.
How do approach playing festivals where your time-slot is, say, 1:30 in the afternoon? How does it differ from playing in a darkened club at midnight?
It's a different kind of experience. Playing for much bigger crowds, where people are just kind of there having fun. Not the kind of scrutinizing audience you get at your own show. The environment is different, and I'm sure we react accordingly, but we don't consciously do anything different.
I prefer the dark, indoor late-night show. But there's something easy about playing for a lot of people who have never heard of you before.
Recommend a band that far too people have heard of, and a band you love that might surprise folks.
There's a band called The Forms, from New York, that just recorded their second record with Steve Albini. Really great record. I also love the Elvis Perkins record, that I just recently discovered.
(Ed. note: http://www.amazon.com/Ash-Wednesday-Elvis-Perkins/dp/B000M06KBQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-1759927-7462068?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1188949822&sr=8-1)
Been listening to a lot of Erasure and Depeche mode as of late. 80's dance rock, "Only You" by Yaz. Been trying to get the guys to cover it.
Name two-three songs you'd like to cover.
There's a Breeders song, "Do You Love me Now," that has a real timeless feel. The Yaz song. We don't do a lot of covers.
The National has yet to release a full-length album in a digipak. Is this on purpose? How much say does the artist have in packaging?
Scott does most of our design. The photo on "Boxer" was just a random photo at Peter's wedding that we thought was perfect.
Beatles or Beach Boys?
I'm Beatles.
Kanye West or 50 Cent?
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't make an educated guess. Maybe Kanye, because he was on "Entourage" last night. I guess that's an ignorant guess.
(At this point, Matt had to run for soundcheck, so we didn't get to the "What's for dinner?" question. Sorry Bistro folks).
For the unitiated, and shame on you, The National's staggering "Boxer:"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O5AYCA/ref=reg_hu-wl_mrai-recs/105-1759927-7462068
Talk about the current tour, and the realities of life on the road. I think must music fans have come to realize that it's not all that glamorous, but what is your day-to-day really like?
It's actually gotten much nicer. For years, traveling around in a van, cramming 5-7 adults in a van and all your gear, staying on floors. That was pretty grueling, and we did that for a long time. I can't complain about the bus now.
Our life is either on a bus, or in a club all day, every day. Very rare to have time to have a nice dinner, or stay out late partying. Soundchecking, loading/unloading, or time in bunk is 90% of your time.
I complain, but I don't want to go back to the day job quite yet (designing Web sites for pharmaceutical companies). Which, incidentally, pays a lot better.
Recently, bands like Rilo Kiley have had to dodge accusations of "selling out" as their records get poppier and more accessible. Is their any pressure on the band to make records that are at least somewhat obtuse? Is the goal to hear your music on mainstream radio?
Mianstream radio – there's not the pressure there once was on bands to make a radio hit. We do try to write songs that are instantly catchy and accessible. Often, those types of songs just don't hold our interest long enough. "Radio-friendly" and "good" are not mutually exclusive, though.
If we can listen to it 20 times and still like it, we'll put it on the record. No pressure from the label, which is nice.
The National's albums are often referred to as "growers;" albums that take some time to ingratiate themselves with the listener. How much of this is on purpose? Do you enjoy this characterization of writing "difficult" music, or do you ever wish you could just hammer out a three-minute pop song?
Never on purpose, but I think it's the way we write, our process. The only songs we put on the record are the ones that stand the test of time, months after the original idea that we still feel moved by. It makes sense that it might take a little time for folks who are first hearing us, it's a similar process to when we wrote it.
We think all our songs are instantly lovable, then we find out later that it takes folks some time.
Are your albums intended to be listened to as a whole or as individual songs?
We put the album together, thinking of it as a single 45-minute thing. Each song has to stand up on it's own, but we do see it as an album, with "Boxer" especially. We really feel like it works best as an album.
How do approach playing festivals where your time-slot is, say, 1:30 in the afternoon? How does it differ from playing in a darkened club at midnight?
It's a different kind of experience. Playing for much bigger crowds, where people are just kind of there having fun. Not the kind of scrutinizing audience you get at your own show. The environment is different, and I'm sure we react accordingly, but we don't consciously do anything different.
I prefer the dark, indoor late-night show. But there's something easy about playing for a lot of people who have never heard of you before.
Recommend a band that far too people have heard of, and a band you love that might surprise folks.
There's a band called The Forms, from New York, that just recorded their second record with Steve Albini. Really great record. I also love the Elvis Perkins record, that I just recently discovered.
(Ed. note: http://www.amazon.com/Ash-Wednesday-Elvis-Perkins/dp/B000M06KBQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-1759927-7462068?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1188949822&sr=8-1)
Been listening to a lot of Erasure and Depeche mode as of late. 80's dance rock, "Only You" by Yaz. Been trying to get the guys to cover it.
Name two-three songs you'd like to cover.
There's a Breeders song, "Do You Love me Now," that has a real timeless feel. The Yaz song. We don't do a lot of covers.
The National has yet to release a full-length album in a digipak. Is this on purpose? How much say does the artist have in packaging?
Scott does most of our design. The photo on "Boxer" was just a random photo at Peter's wedding that we thought was perfect.
Beatles or Beach Boys?
I'm Beatles.
Kanye West or 50 Cent?
To be perfectly honest, I couldn't make an educated guess. Maybe Kanye, because he was on "Entourage" last night. I guess that's an ignorant guess.
(At this point, Matt had to run for soundcheck, so we didn't get to the "What's for dinner?" question. Sorry Bistro folks).
For the unitiated, and shame on you, The National's staggering "Boxer:"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O5AYCA/ref=reg_hu-wl_mrai-recs/105-1759927-7462068
Thanks for the interview ~ very nice, MonkeyBoy. 
