B A C K B E A T
Q & A. C. Newman The New Pornographersâ frontman on producing solo for the first time, reunion tours and returning to the sound of the bandâs early albums by HOUSTON WILTSEY
The New Pornographers play Slowdown Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
The Reader: I think most people consider you to be the de facto leader of the group but with John [Collins, bassist] not producing this record, did you see a dramatic shift in your role for this album? Carl Newman: The big change was that I became tech-savvy enough to work by myself in the studio, instead of standing behind John saying âYes,
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I like that!â or âCan I hear this guitar backwards?â The change in role involved a lot more solitude, but it was a lot of fun, playing with sound. The Reader: I think thereâs this great unhinged maximalism to this record. The opening track has this power-pop edge. Both âColussus of Rhodesâ and âDreamlike and on the Rushâ have these gor-
February 2020
geous string flourishes, and then thereâs a gentle psychedelia to âHigher Beamsâ and âOpening Ceremony.â After releasing two records that were a bit more focused sonically, did you want to create something that was a bit more expansive? Carl Newman: Yes, I definitely wanted it to be more expansive, and thatâs why I was into the over-
the-top string sections. I wanted it to be a more overblown take on our earlier style. Some of the songs feel like they could have been on Twin Cinema, if weâd gone in a more aggro direction. The Reader: âNever book your farewell tour unless the reunion is in the books.â That seems like a fairly pointed commentary. Do you think itâs un-