well, if godisinthetv can do it, so can i...
clicky here for more info on what went on in last issues, and for further info on submission requests.
thanks lots
xx
edit: the first issue (from last april) had an interview with matt. just sharing the love here....
- Beginners' guide to The National: when people ask what sort of music you play, I find it really hard to give an adequate description. How would you define your music/sound, and what influences do you think come through in your music?
I can't really describe it well, I usually just say "delusional rock music." I avoid the question if I can.
- How did you decide what to play on Jools Holland? Did you enjoy performing on the programme?
We were asked and ended up having a really good time. They put us up in a very nice hotel. I met Kenny Baker (R2D2) in the lobby.
- Would you ever let your music be used in an advert? Why/why not?
I don't know. We haven't had any offers yet. I don't think our songs inspire retail.
- At one of your recent gigs, it was said that you're not a political band and you don't sing about President Bush (in response to requests for Mr November). Not even a teensy bit?
I'm embarrassed by Bush and try not to think about him, especially when writing. I don't want him in our songs. Mr. November was about John Kerry.
- Is Matt the main lyricist or is it a group contribution? How do you arrange your songs, and do they ever turn out completely opposite to the way you expected?
I write the lyrics, some are stolen from my girlfriend, TV, magazines, etc. The music is more collaborative between the rest of the guys. I can't play an instrument so all I do is give annoying abstract feedback. We don't really have any sense of ownership between us so the songs shift around a lot and change until we're all excited. Nobody gets precious about the song writing. We're like a basketball team. I play center.
- Misheard lyrics: any favourites?
My 5 year old niece's favorite song is Mr. November. She thinks it says "I won't knock it over! I won't knock it over!"
- Matt, any plans to write a novel?
Of course. Everybody plans to do that. Mine's called Who Fingered the Senator.
- If you could choose a film for your music to be a soundtrack to, what would it be?
Jonathan Ames' last novel Wake Up, Sir! is being made into a film and I've been harassing him the past couple months to do the music for it. I'd also like to star.
- What's in the pipeline regarding your next release? Or are you purely in a touring mindset at the moment?
We're back home writing now but I don't know the details of the pipeline.
- Was it worth giving up the day jobs?
Yes, but we still do some freelance work when we're in NY. Both to pay the bills and to put our brains on something other than the band. If we only did the band stuff I think we'd turn into boring people.
- What drives The National (apart from a tour bus [!])? Can you see it all ending soon?
We've got a small spotlight on us right now and it's very cool but we don't expect it to stay. I think we're one of the greatest bands in the world and we'll keep making records. It's the only thing we have control over. The rest of it's like weather.
- What question would you like to ask the readers of this interview? And what is the one piece of advice you would give them?
I don't have any questions and I'm in no position to give advice.
clicky here for more info on what went on in last issues, and for further info on submission requests.
thanks lots
xx
edit: the first issue (from last april) had an interview with matt. just sharing the love here....
- Beginners' guide to The National: when people ask what sort of music you play, I find it really hard to give an adequate description. How would you define your music/sound, and what influences do you think come through in your music?
I can't really describe it well, I usually just say "delusional rock music." I avoid the question if I can.
- How did you decide what to play on Jools Holland? Did you enjoy performing on the programme?
We were asked and ended up having a really good time. They put us up in a very nice hotel. I met Kenny Baker (R2D2) in the lobby.
- Would you ever let your music be used in an advert? Why/why not?
I don't know. We haven't had any offers yet. I don't think our songs inspire retail.
- At one of your recent gigs, it was said that you're not a political band and you don't sing about President Bush (in response to requests for Mr November). Not even a teensy bit?
I'm embarrassed by Bush and try not to think about him, especially when writing. I don't want him in our songs. Mr. November was about John Kerry.
- Is Matt the main lyricist or is it a group contribution? How do you arrange your songs, and do they ever turn out completely opposite to the way you expected?
I write the lyrics, some are stolen from my girlfriend, TV, magazines, etc. The music is more collaborative between the rest of the guys. I can't play an instrument so all I do is give annoying abstract feedback. We don't really have any sense of ownership between us so the songs shift around a lot and change until we're all excited. Nobody gets precious about the song writing. We're like a basketball team. I play center.
- Misheard lyrics: any favourites?
My 5 year old niece's favorite song is Mr. November. She thinks it says "I won't knock it over! I won't knock it over!"
- Matt, any plans to write a novel?
Of course. Everybody plans to do that. Mine's called Who Fingered the Senator.
- If you could choose a film for your music to be a soundtrack to, what would it be?
Jonathan Ames' last novel Wake Up, Sir! is being made into a film and I've been harassing him the past couple months to do the music for it. I'd also like to star.
- What's in the pipeline regarding your next release? Or are you purely in a touring mindset at the moment?
We're back home writing now but I don't know the details of the pipeline.
- Was it worth giving up the day jobs?
Yes, but we still do some freelance work when we're in NY. Both to pay the bills and to put our brains on something other than the band. If we only did the band stuff I think we'd turn into boring people.
- What drives The National (apart from a tour bus [!])? Can you see it all ending soon?
We've got a small spotlight on us right now and it's very cool but we don't expect it to stay. I think we're one of the greatest bands in the world and we'll keep making records. It's the only thing we have control over. The rest of it's like weather.
- What question would you like to ask the readers of this interview? And what is the one piece of advice you would give them?
I don't have any questions and I'm in no position to give advice.