The Reader - February 2020

B A C K B E A T

Q & A. C. Newman The New Pornographers’ frontman on producing solo for the first time, reunion tours and returning to the sound of the band’s 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 “Yes,

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I like that!” or “Can I hear this guitar backwards?”

The change in role involved a lot more solitude, but it was a lot of fun, playing with sound.

The Reader: I think there’s this great unhinged maximalism to this record.

The opening track has this power-pop edge. Both “Colussus of Rhodes” and “Dreamlike and on the Rush” have these gor-

February 2020

geous string flourishes, and then there’s a gentle psychedelia to “Higher Beams” and “Opening Ceremony.” 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 that’s 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 we’d gone in a more aggro direction.

The Reader: “Never book your farewell tour unless the reunion is in the books.” That seems like a fairly pointed commentary. Do you think it’s un-