The Nationalnational a Bitter, Angry Record in a Lot of Spots

ISSUE #28 MMUSICMAG.COM ISSUE #28 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A songs and make records together, definitely and closer and repeatedly, the different “Our voices will be mixed together in a weird in the shadows. dimensions of our songs reveal themselves. I way.” I wanted it to sound like what would get why people label us dark or brooding or be on the radio in the afterlife, and she got Why was it easier to write this time? depressing. It’s the most obvious thing when into that. Our voices are kind of distorted Alligator was the first record we released you first hear us because of the sound of my and mutated into some weird hybrid that was signed to a real label. We were voice or the instrumentation we’re using. And creation in that section. But it’s not like, desperate for people to notice us, and they when I’m writing I definitely like to wallow “Here’s Annie Clark in her starring cameo!” did. But we had a lot of anxiety about how in the dark stuff, but often it’s also very silly People prefer that way because they know to follow that up without painting ourselves observations about my own neuroses or they’re not just being used for their name; into a corner. We knew we wanted to make obsessions. A lot of our songs are about it’s because we respect their musicality, something that wasn’t like Alligator, but we death and the idea of existence, but in kind and they’re friends. didn’t want to lose what little attention we had of funny ways. The song “Humiliation,” I think, gained. We made Boxer work by expanding is really funny, and so is “Graceless.” When you reference Let It Be on “Don’t our style and not repeating ourselves—which Swallow the Cap,” are you talking about was the smartest gamble we ever made. Did the band work out specific parts for the Beatles or the Replacements? Then with High Violet, it was like, OK, we’re the guests on the new record? On “If you want to see me cry / Play Let in the game now, so let’s deliver something We have friends who are always around, and It Be or Nevermind”? In a funny way, it weird that doesn’t sound like the records they come in and just weave their own ideas could be either one, because all three before it. After touring High Violet, we felt into our things. With us, it’s never a matter of those records have a darkness and a we’d planted our flag. It wasn’t like we could of having a guest cameo. On this record, sadness attached to them. Members of relax—it was more that we can be whatever kind of band, and write whatever kind of songs, we want. When I was writing for the new album, I wasn’t worried about how the record was going to be perceived. I was just writing lyrics without putting it through Deidre any kind of self-conscious filters. In a funny O 'Callaghan way, taking the pressure off the band to be successful made it easier to write songs. Aaron Dessner, Scott Devendorf, Matt Berninger, Bryan Devendorf, Bryce Dessner How have your songs’ themes and subject matter evolved over the years? I bet I’m writing about some of the same things I was then. I know Alligator was THETHE NATIONALNATIONAL a bitter, angry record in a lot of spots. Balaz Mohai/EPA/Landov There were parts of that record that were Collecting critical raves and fans the old-fashioned way—one at a time tense, and some of that’s gone. But my preoccupation—social anxiety, the anxiety of THey’rE NO OVERNIGHT SENSATION, are coming to our shows. We’re well aware the band’s road to success, and its penchant trying to be an adult and husband and father, but over the course of nearly 15 years and how lucky we are, and we’re grateful.” for darkness and humor. and the anxiety of trying not to be a fool in a half-dozen albums, New York indie-rockers Featuring guest spots from Sufjan your life—constantly drives the songs. It’s the National have reached impressive Stevens, Sharon Van Etten and Annie Clark Did you ever expect great success? always there. I’m a romantic and I write about critical and commercial heights. As they (St. Vincent), Trouble Will Find Me is the No, we didn’t expect it. We didn’t think much the murkier sides of romantic relationships. play high-profile slots at Bonnaroo and follow-up to the National’s 2010 album, about it, though. For us, the band started Not necessarily darker, but complicated. Lollapalooza this summer and release their High Violet, their most successful release so in a way that was a fun respite from our Being married is complicated. Being an Matt Berninger onstage latest album, Trouble Will Find Me, the far. The band (which uniquely includes two day jobs, and playing Mercury Lounge, adult is complicated. It’s not like a switch in Budapest, Hungary, 2011 group acknowledges that slow and steady sets of brothers—bassist Scott and drummer which holds 250 people, was for us a huge, flips and suddenly you’re all straightened out. has been key to their success. Bryan Devendorf, and twin guitarists Aaron huge step. That’s when we knew we were Everybody stays a bit like a twisted, crooked, ‘Taking the pressure off the “The fact that there wasn’t a whole lot and Bryce Dessner) found that album’s a real band. The past 14 years as it slowly glued-together pretzel their whole life—and Sufjan Stevens, of attention at the beginning was helpful success relieved some of the pressure grew, it’s been a strange metamorphosis. it’s about figuring out how to be responsible, Richard Reed Parry, band to be successful made for us to figure out how to be a band,” says when they began writing new songs. Says There was never a moment when things and stay good and kind to the people around Sharon Van Etten and singer and lyricist Matt Berninger. “Also we Berninger, “We ended up working harder changed and blew up overnight for us, you and not be selfish. Annie Clark are on it— it easier to write songs.’ know how hard it is to get any attention, to and spending more time on this record, but it just kept growing bigger and bigger. they’re doing things, win people over one at a time, so we don’t for me particularly, I was in a very peaceful We figured out how to be a good live Does the band get credit for the depth improvising in a way that colors the music. all those bands died. Part of the reason I take it for granted now that 15,000 people place about it.” Berninger gave us his take on band. And we figured out how to write of humor explored in your songs? Nona Marie Invie from Dark Dark Dark has chose that was because of the rhythm of (Laughs) I definitely think the songs have as a moment where she’s on her own on “This the titles, but if I had to say which Let It many funny moments as they do brooding. Is the Last Time.” That was one spot where I Be has more of a place in my brain, it’s the It’s a balance. But for me to say I don’t think needed someone to sing because it sounded Replacements’. I’ve listened to their Let It Be ‘A lot of our songs are about death and the idea of people get our humor as much as they too weird to have me overlapping myself, far more often than the Beatles’, though I love existence, but in kind of funny ways.’ should just means that I’m not as funny as I and it needed to be a different person. But both of those records. think I am. When people listen to us more, on “Humiliation,” I talked to Annie and said, –Eric R. Danton 24 25 M mag 28.indd 24 7/2/13 6:09 PM M mag 28.indd 25 7/2/13 6:09 PM.

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