November 19, 2025 • 38 mins
On this week's In Service Of, Nanaa, from Icelandic alternative favorites Of Monsters And Men, joins Steve Baltin and Sage Bava to talk about the band's superb new album, her love of comic books, the fantastical world of Iceland, her dog and so much more.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, it is Steve Balton and welcome to in service
of this week Saves Bob and I sit down with
Nana from the Icelandic band of Monsters and Men, who
win the Grammy this year for Best Album Title by
a mile. We talk about their brilliant new album, Allays
Love and Pain in the Mouse Baraid, and we talk
(00:25):
about her rookie Marra coming. We talk immensely about her
dog and how she hates leaving her. It's a really fun,
interesting conversation that touched on everything from comic books to
why this new album is such a unique world. Really
love this band always have. Hope you enjoy this conversation.
(00:48):
But she needed it's a crazy album.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's funny because Stas and I were talking about it
before we came on, and it's so wonderful. She was
saying that it's kind of fantastical, and I really liked
that word. That was the word she used. And it's
funny though, because my favorite author of all times, her
rookie Mierkamie. Have you read his stuff?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah? I have? What is the There's like Norwegian.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Norwegian woods and but it's interesting because he writes magic realism,
and you know, it's like he writes this fantastical, weird
stuff that and why it's so effective his writing is
because you know, it's like takes you into these worlds,
but it feels like it would be like every day.
(01:47):
And so where I'm going with this, This album kind
of feels like it would be a soundtrack to like
a magic realism book or film.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Okay, that is actually a dream of I very much
relate to that.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, So if it was to be a soundtrack to
a film or book, what what film or book would
you wanted to be the soundtrack too? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Wow, I mean that's a good question.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I you know, Well, there's like this author here in Iceland,
which I've been very you know, I'm not I'm not
a great reader. I'm kind of like I want to
be a person who reads a lot, and I try
very hard, but I just have such a hard time.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
But I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
And there's this this girl who.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I wonder if I had a book here.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I was speaking of this is this is one of
the few books that I have because we're talking about
it for the reason was but where's your books?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But she writes these kind of short stories that are
very like just.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Strange and weird, and I mean that could be a good,
good pairing, very cool.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, version's funny though, because you say you're not you
want to be a better reader. Don't feel bad because
I was an English major. I think social media has
made us all stupid. Honestly, I cannot read the way
that I used to. I used to love to read.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, no, I but I've always been like with comic
books when I was, you know, not like lately I've
been kind of but you know, comic books, I felt
like really because it's pictures and I think I think
it's just.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Like ideo is the something you know?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, you have a hard time focusing on words.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I get it. And it's funny. There's a book
they'll called Never Let Me Go by Ka's Issue Girls.
Did you ever read that book? No, it was made
into a film. It was an amazing film. Time magazine
named it the best book of like the last fifty years.
It's a mind blowing book. And why I mentioned that
one is it's interesting because it's like just this like
(04:27):
regular book that you're reading and then it has this
like mind blowing twist and you're like, wait, where did
that come from and this album kind of feels like
that of like it's very like it feels real, and
then it like takes you into this other world.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Oh cool, Lad, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What world did it take you into when making it? Sorry?
What world did it take you into when making it?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
So, I mean when we were making this this album,
we you know, we worked on it for a few years,
and during those years we were just kind of we
would work on it and then we would kind of
put it on the shelf and let it, you know, just.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Take its moment.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And and we you know, live a little bit of
live and then we went back to it. And I
think it's I mean, when this whole album is very
much home and it's kind of returning home and like
being in island again. And but it's also all these
(05:40):
stories because we like making stories. So it's kind of
also stories about I guess, you know, maintain life, but
also kind of pulled in in some strange directions. You know,
there's like tune in a Can, this is a song
about it's kind of mostly about like not living up
(06:03):
to your potential, and that's like the core feeling. But
the whole setting is that there's this person who is
at their own funeral and they're talking about how even
in the funeral, they're not taking up space and they're
not the star, you know, they're kind of feeling like
(06:25):
even in that moment that are not they're not doing enough.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So I think it's like these, yeah, the human emotions
that are put in kind of you know, unusual.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Settings.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
That's fascinating. I mean, let's say shake over in one second.
But now it gets me thinking, what the hell you're
supposed to do at your own funeral? How do you
how do you live your own funeral? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, but it's like, I don't know, if like you're
at their own funeral, everyone's like celebrating your ghost. You know,
obviously you're just they're like lurking watching everyone's reaction.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, but then you're just like, oh, damn.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
It, I have to ask, and then says will come on.
But now I'm fascinated with this because I actually know
the answer only because there's one song that comes to
my mind. But what song would be played at your funeral?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
What song would be played in my funeral? Yeah, that's
a big question I have. I have to say, I
haven't really thought about.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It, but do you know, like with you know, Oh,
I know, but I can't. I'm I'm weird. But what
is it? It would be tom Waite's taking with me.
Oh wow, I thought about that. And that's how I
got Tom Waite to do my book was because I
(07:49):
said it would be the song to be played by
wedding or funeral.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, but I mean I only asked because you mentioned
the funeral. But you know, I'm also curious to, like,
you know, I'm fascinated with this concept of like I
picture someone like getting up and doing a dance in
the coffin or something.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, yeah, no, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But what I think is kind of funny about it
is because like the starting line is like.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Tun and I can stick you from the Brian. I
thought I'd gone bad.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You thought I was fine, which I think this thing
is a little bit funny, and it's like kind of
like being a human tuna and a can and somebody
else being like, hey, you're Hey, you're a tunana can.
That's totally fine, but you're like I think I'm bad.
(08:47):
I think I've gone bad. Wow, that's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Too.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Yeah, there's so many different layers to your music, and
it's so incredibly visually stimulating in a way. I would
love to talk about like the layers of your music
because there's such a profound sonic depth, but there's such
a spaciousness too, and I think, you know, with the
(09:20):
lyrics with the title, with all the things you're talking about,
combined with that duality of spaciousness and depth, that just
creates this, like Steve said, fantastical place. Did you talk
about how you discovered that sound and hone that sound
to be able to exist within both of those worlds
(09:43):
so vibrantly?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Hm, Well, thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You know, we recorded this album here in iand in
our studio we've had for a while.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
It started out as a rehearsal space.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Now we just kind of slowly built it up to
what it is today. So I think it has kind
of grown with us and kind of influenced our sound,
I guess, And.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
You know, we.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I think for this record, we you know, there is
space for both the quieter moments and the more like
you know, the bigger sounds, and I think that's yeah,
that's quite something that I enjoy that you have space
(10:42):
for both both of these words.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Yeah, it really feels like you're in service of the music.
And so many artists talk about you know, getting into
their sound and kind of channeling in a way. I'm
curious if that's something that resonates with you. And if
you were to hone what you're in service of, both
(11:11):
in the messaging of the music and just you know,
the music as as its own entity honing that message,
what would you say would be the core?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And I think it's the way that we sound is
just very much all of you know, our different experiences
in our you know.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Especially during these past few years.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
I think where you know, our last album came out
six years ago, and during that time there's been.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
A lot of you know, just life being lived and.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Families like people you know, like there's like five more
kids in the band, and there's different projects and different
musical influences, so like it all kind of comes together in.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
This record.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I think, you know, talking about the space is one
of the things I want to ask you about. Was
the song fruit Bat I love that one. It feels
like something and I don't know was this record like
was a lot of improvised or was it like because
it feels like that thing at the end of that
song is just kind of one of those like like
(12:32):
a jam but on a bad way, because like I
fucking hate jam bands, so now I'm like annoying, greatful,
dead way. But like it's like you're in the studio
and kind of you know, having fun, like more in
a jazz way where it's just like, all right, this
sounds great, let's go for another seventy five minutes.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I could go on forever with that song. It's like, yeah,
it's so fun to play. We I mean that song
was because one of the things things that we really
did feel like was important was that we would be
playing together and like really like because what tends to
happen is also you just kind of you're working on
(13:12):
a song. You you know, you're demoing it at home,
you're showing it to your band members, and then you
kind of build on that. But we did feel this
very strong neat of like, you know, we need to
develop these songs together, and for Fruit Bad, that was
the case where we really needed to kind of bounce
(13:32):
off each other and the last part of the song,
you know, we just wanted it kind of build, like
slowly build into this what it then becomes you know,
I don't think it ever really explodes. It just kind
of like sales into into something. Yeah, So that was
(13:59):
it was It was a very important thing for us
to have that element of like.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Just being on the floor together playing.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
What's interesting. Last time you and I talked was for
your solo album. Do you feel like one after doing that?
It was more that you know, and again, because it's
been six years, then everybody kind of goes in different directions,
Like you say, you have kids, you do all this
different stuff that you really wanted to kind of I've
talked to so many bands who have taken like five
(14:30):
or six year break between records, and they'll tell you
it's like I remember talking to the Chili Peppers when
they took five years between records, and it's almost like
starting again. So in the way that you feel like
a new band where it's like, you know, we want
to be a band, we want to be like.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
No, definitely, I mean that's the I feel like there's
a there's a there was some a little bit of
because we weren't with our label anymore, and so you know,
there was a moment and it had kind of been
a little bit of a while for us, it kind
(15:13):
of facked a little bit where if we would have
decided not to release a record, that was also maybe fine,
you know in some world, but it was a very
like conscious decision to like, we want to make a record.
We want to make this record, you want to we
(15:33):
want to take our time with it and just really
marinate in it. And so that was really good. I
think it's you know, it's fast, really good for us,
and it feels like now it's I mean, we're it's
we're not like a different band or anything. But I
think there's like more of a like a conscious decision
(15:58):
to like do this and put this record out in
that way.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Well, and then I'll it'say, say take over again in
a second. But I'm curious, I mean, do you feel
like you're enjoying it more now? Because in a way,
it's it's a choice versus like I've talked about, there's
so many people, right you start music when you're like seventeen,
eighteen sixteen, whatever, and it's like a dream, and then
it becomes successful and it's just different than what you
(16:26):
think it's going to be. It's not better, it's not worse,
it's just different and then so there is a point
where you have to decide, Okay, this is what I
want to keep doing, or you know, go retire and
live on a rant somewhere.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, right, Like everybody probably has that same dream. I
think our drummer has been like for years, it's like,
I am I'm going to stop doing this and goal,
I'm on a farm, like he actually like owns a
little farm, soe he's like halfway there.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
No, but it's yeah, I mean that's true.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
There's like you you start out and it's a certain way,
but then you know, you grow older, like there's stuff
like oh, then you go on tour, and that means
being away from everybody. I think for the first time
in my life right now, I'm having that.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Emotion of like, oh yeah, tour.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And then I'm away from everybody. I've never in my
life had that. I've always been just like I love touring.
I could do it forever. I'm like just yeah, I
absolutely love it. And now I'm feeling a little bit like, yeah,
I want to do it, but I also really like
(17:44):
my life at home, you know, And I think maybe
it's just kind of this settling into the idea of
home more than I have before.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
It's so fascinating. When I listen to your music, I
feel really connected to a deeper sense of self. And
I went back and watched the video for Little Talks,
and it's just mind blowing again. All of your music
seems to have this depth of spirituality of ritual, and
(18:28):
I imagine in the creative process, you know, just hearing
you talk about the tune in a can song and
how it relates to being to funeral, like that kind
of spiritual world in a bizarre kind of lens. Could
(18:48):
you talk about the process of songwriting now and how
it's changed over the years, and just kind of your ritual,
both as an individual and in the band, how you
put together those songs and make these different ideas relate
(19:09):
and become their own worlds unto themselves.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
M yeah, with a lot of these there's yeah, there
there is different it's there's different processes for most.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Of these songs. And but we.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, often will write either in our separate corners
or will come together. Were usually not all five together
like writing a song. But you know it's like with
fruit bats Ata was playing the piano and then you
know that kind of we were all together and that
kind of started something that was a very communal feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
But a lot of the times it's like somebody.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Shows somebody and I idea and then we can't trust
each other to take that idea and then build on
top of it. And then lyrically, Raki and I work
very closely and we usually you know, write a lot
of the lyrics together, and a lot of like the
(20:20):
storytelling comes from that place of us. I think it's
like this idea of finding a common ground, like something
to write about that you know, still has our emotions
in it, but there's a sad thing. And so a
lot of these songs are are these stories like that
(20:42):
kind of stories?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
You know.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Yeah, that's really amazing. I mean, the process of having
the initial idea and then creating this amazing sonic world,
it's fascinating. Was there a song that really springboarded the
(21:09):
whole project and kind of inspired the the end title
and the end just whole ethos of this project.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah, the title comes from a track called mouthparak m h.
And in mouth break we you know, it's allest love
and pain and the mouth Parade, and it's it's these
two songs that are connected together. It's the Block and
(21:43):
then the Mouth Parads and for me, like Block is
pretty like it's kind of like a harsh song. It's
pretty could and it's like it's very human, and it's
very much like in your head kind of yeah, it's
just kind of like, oh, this is my problem, and
(22:06):
kind of isolating in a way, not very communal. And
then for Mouse Parade, which is directly connected to it,
we we had this idea of having connected and this
image kind of popped into our heads where you know,
you've been in this block, and then the it kind
(22:28):
of pants down slowly and then you're suddenly underneath the
floorboards and there's a whole world happening there, which is
like the Moss Parade, which is the community of mice
that are like also have their have love and pain
and history and and and but in this world it's
(22:54):
like there, it's very communal. It's very like it's our hurt,
you know, it's our thing. So that's why they sing
in unison. And and in the very end of the
song there are all of these noises that are coming
in and it's kind of like to me, I feel
a little anxious, but also very calm.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
When when I listen.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
To it, it's like you have like we recorded my
dog sniffing, and it kind of actually feel like it's
searching for these mice. Yeah, and like we recorded our
friends talking, so you kind of feel.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Like they're above their you know.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
But but ultimately that's that was the idea, was like
this communal feeling these mice like singing about their history
and how it's kind of the same in a lot
of ways as that's what we.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
We deal with. Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Important, What kind of dog do you have?
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I have a black lab.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
What's his her name?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Her name is which means ghosts, and she is incredible.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's funny, that's why you don't want to leave home,
you know what?
Speaker 3 (24:22):
I think that's it. It's really like, but I do
think of it. I'm like, but what about that is
kind of tough? Yeah, now it changes your whole perspective.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, do you have a dog?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
I don't at the moment, but I had dogs for years.
And it's funny because I turned down so many free
trips because I had a lab who was the love
of my life and she was a rescue and she
had trauma being away from me. So I was like,
I literally turned down free trips to Japan, to Brazil
to all these places. I'm like to buck you, I'm
(25:01):
staying home with my dog. I had and a half
years and I never left her more than seven days.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Oh wow, yeah, I mean, but that's the thing. It's like,
it's it really becomes so hard because like I also
and that's why I also feel like being at home,
I'm like, oh, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I just get to hang out with my dog.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
The dogs were better than people anyway, so there. Yeah, yeah,
I don't know if you ever take your dog on
the road. It's funny. I did a story years ago
with Tommy Lee from Motley Crew, who became a friend,
and we did actually I did stories with both Tommy
Lee and Mark opp Is from Lincoln, AH, and we
did stories on animal rescue, like I did one with
(25:47):
Mark for Forbes and one will Tommy for Rolling Stone,
and they would take their dogs on the road with them.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Really, I wish I could do that, I think. But
that's like you can do that if you.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Like live in America and you just go on the bus
and write. We can't feel it because we're on island.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So I mean, you can always just do like an
Icelandic residency and make everybody come there.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Well yeah, I could do that to a tour, to
a little mini tour around Icelands.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
That one that's up by the way for everybody else
to come there. But speaking of live, I mean, you know,
you mentioned the fact that this is a record where
you guys really wanted to play together, and it feels
like a record where you can really just you know,
have fun with it live. Are there songs you're particularly
excited to do or that you know? And the other
thing I talk about with people all the time, right,
(26:49):
you may have your favorite song on the record and
everybody's like eh, And then you know song that you're like,
all right, well, you know we're putting another record as
like a filler tracker, not a filler, but you know
that's not honestly your favorite. Everybody's like, oh my god,
it's the greatest song. How people respond to you.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Yeah, I'm very curious to see what people respond to
and and I mean we put out like four songs already,
which feels like a lot, but it has been interesting
to see what people kind of are, yeah, what they're
responding to. I mean, I we spoke about GROUPA, but like,
(27:31):
I feel like that's a that's a song that I
am excited about playing live.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
And yeah, I'm excited about a lot of these I think,
like Towering Skyscraper at the end of the Road. I
also I'm excited about playing live. But I think it's
just because you know, like they're like written in open tuning,
which I always I'm very I like a lot these days,
(28:04):
you know, playing and open tuning, so I'm probably biased
in that sense.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well that's the other thing. And we have liked having
this up to the zoom. So I'm gonna let's stage
Fraish up in a minute. But I am curious. I mean,
I've talked about this as so many artists as well.
As you get older, your tastes just change, and it's like,
you know, things like particularly, what thing I've noticed is
that like quieter music kind of becomes louder. And what
(28:33):
I mean by that is you realize that there's a
power in quiet. There's a power in silence.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, oh yeah, totally.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Do you feel like that's the case of this album?
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Yeah, I think so. I think it's like the most
like kind of reeled back I don't know what the
right word, but I think it's I mean, that's the
thing that can you just grow a little bit older
and you're like, oh.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
The other thing is too loud.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I kind of want to want to chill out a
little bit. But but I mean one of my one
of the songs on this record is that I really
like is the Ant and that's I mean, that's just
an acoustic guitar and me and like you're singing, so
you know, and I do kind of like the quieter
(29:32):
moments and the moments where you can really like and
also when you're performing, I really love that because then
it kind of gives everything more space and you can
really like, yeah, it just perform a lot differently when
there's when you're not competing with anything, when it's just
(29:53):
like quiet.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
All right. So my last question and a let's say
it's finished, but what for you is your favorite quiet
show you've ever seen?
Speaker 2 (30:05):
My favorite sorry.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Quiet show you've ever seen? Like I saw Damien Rice
once playing the church for two hours with just an
acoustic guitar. It was one of mind volume fucking shows
I've ever seen.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Yeah, right, Oh, funny ist you mention that because like
when I saw him play, but Islam, it's like this
festival in the East, can I stand When I was like, I'm, I'm.
I was probably like eighteen or something, and I saw
him play and it was like a big room with
(30:41):
a lot of trunken Icelandic people. It's not a good
crowd to play quiet music for them. And he played
Flower's Daughter and he like went from the mic and
walked all way up and I sang it out and
that was like one of the most incredible things that
I had, you know, seen, because ye know, yeah, just
being in that space with so many people and everyone
(31:04):
was quiet, everyone was just like.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Just focused on and that was beautiful.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Yeah, he's probably the most underrated live performer. He's incredible.
I mean, he's just underrated because he never tours, but
holy shit, his shows are like religious experiences. Everyone.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, I should see him again. I only have that
one one moment.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, the guy never too, so you know, good luck.
I've only seen him twice as well.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Yeah, but you know, good experiences, amazing experiences.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Yeah, speaking of space, I'm really curious do you find
that when you're outside of Iceland, your your sound, your
musical ideas, change quite a bit. I'm I imagine like
being in Iceland with that environment, it's it's very stimulating
(32:08):
to your sound. And I'm curious, as you have traveled
so much and you know, been in different environments and
around different people, different dogs, different smells, you know, does
it change your personal through line and music?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Yeah, I mean, I do think it has an impact
when you know your environment, does you know shape what
your music, because it's like what you write about, who
you're eating, who you know, what food you're eating, just
all of the daily things kind of seep into and
(32:53):
suddenly they're a part of the song. So because we
worked on this album so much in Iceland and so
much like in our space with like a lot a
lot of it was just us and then our engineer Getney,
a childhood frend of ours.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
So that.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Did I think have a huge impact on this album.
But we have recorded, you know, then went then to
America to spend some time, and I think that did
probably also have an impact. And and and I.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Think like the biggest impact that it has had on me.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
It's like when I was working made my solo record,
I did spend some time like Upstate New York and
I feel like that did have you know, it's I mean,
I just met different people who hadn't I've never worked
with before, and there were they I think really had
(33:52):
a big impact on how I thought about, you know,
like the language between between musicians, and like when you're
in a room with a different person, what do you
make out of it? And how it just takes one
new person and then the whole bands is changed.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
And yeah, yeah, that's where I am right now, Upstate
New York. I. Yeah, I've spent more much more time
here and it's amazing how being in nature really is
such a wellspring of creativity. I'm curious, do you find,
(34:40):
you know, your space of creativity? Is there an environment
that you generally try and seek when you are really
in your process of writing.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
I think I really like just a long time.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
I feel like that's really helpful for me, you know,
the quiet evenings and just and it does help when
you know, I I do spend some time in a
cabin outside of the city, and I do feel like
that can also be very.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Yeah, that feels really helpful for me.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
But I definitely just I always need a little bit
of a long time and to kind of you know,
sort out my thoughts, I guess or something like that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
We only have like two minutes left on the zoom
two and a half. Is there anything you want to add?
We did not ask about.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
No, not that I can think of. Well, this what
really fast? There's nothing that I can think of.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
So what when you from the States?
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Soon coming? We're doing the tour. So we're going to
be in November.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Yeah, going to be in New York's I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
It's like early on in the tour.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Yeah, well that's why you go to space New York.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Right, Yeah, there's probably space somewhere.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Somewhere. Oh, it's great to see you and you. Graysure
listens on the record and by the way, it's funny.
I was also had a thought of, like, I like
the soundtrack idea, it's funny. There's a do you know
the artists in Vega. No, it's all the great New
York singer songwriter. She has this weird song on her
last album called Rats, and we're joking about the fact
(36:59):
that it's felt like a Broadway show and but your
mass bread maybe thinking like there should be a graphic
novel that goes with that.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
I would love that that's a good idea. That's a
good idea. I also thought like, oh yeah, because like
also like horror movies. I think there are always I
feel like that could this could be.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
A soundtrack for horror movies.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Maybe not too beautiful for a horror movie.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Yeah, but it's like maybe, like you know how like
Midsummer is so like you know, like just very bright
and you know, but then it's really fucked up.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Like I think that could work.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
All right, we'll work back to run out, but whatever
you do occations on it, it's very cool.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Okay, thank you so much. Thank you guys for chat you.
Thank you
Hey, it is Steve Balton and welcome to in service
of this week Saves Bob and I sit down with
Nana from the Icelandic band of Monsters and Men, who
win the Grammy this year for Best Album Title by
a mile. We talk about their brilliant new album, Allays
Love and Pain in the Mouse Baraid, and we talk
(00:25):
about her rookie Marra coming. We talk immensely about her
dog and how she hates leaving her. It's a really fun,
interesting conversation that touched on everything from comic books to
why this new album is such a unique world. Really
love this band always have. Hope you enjoy this conversation.
(00:48):
But she needed it's a crazy album.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
You know.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's funny because Stas and I were talking about it
before we came on, and it's so wonderful. She was
saying that it's kind of fantastical, and I really liked
that word. That was the word she used. And it's
funny though, because my favorite author of all times, her
rookie Mierkamie. Have you read his stuff?
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah? I have? What is the There's like Norwegian.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Norwegian woods and but it's interesting because he writes magic realism,
and you know, it's like he writes this fantastical, weird
stuff that and why it's so effective his writing is
because you know, it's like takes you into these worlds,
but it feels like it would be like every day.
(01:47):
And so where I'm going with this, This album kind
of feels like it would be a soundtrack to like
a magic realism book or film.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Okay, that is actually a dream of I very much
relate to that.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, So if it was to be a soundtrack to
a film or book, what what film or book would
you wanted to be the soundtrack too? Oh?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Wow, I mean that's a good question.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
I you know, Well, there's like this author here in Iceland,
which I've been very you know, I'm not I'm not
a great reader. I'm kind of like I want to
be a person who reads a lot, and I try
very hard, but I just have such a hard time.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
But I'm trying.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
And there's this this girl who.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I wonder if I had a book here.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I was speaking of this is this is one of
the few books that I have because we're talking about
it for the reason was but where's your books?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
But she writes these kind of short stories that are
very like just.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Strange and weird, and I mean that could be a good,
good pairing, very cool.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, version's funny though, because you say you're not you
want to be a better reader. Don't feel bad because
I was an English major. I think social media has
made us all stupid. Honestly, I cannot read the way
that I used to. I used to love to read.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Yeah, no, I but I've always been like with comic
books when I was, you know, not like lately I've
been kind of but you know, comic books, I felt
like really because it's pictures and I think I think
it's just.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Like ideo is the something you know?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, you have a hard time focusing on words.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
No, I get it. And it's funny. There's a book
they'll called Never Let Me Go by Ka's Issue Girls.
Did you ever read that book? No, it was made
into a film. It was an amazing film. Time magazine
named it the best book of like the last fifty years.
It's a mind blowing book. And why I mentioned that
one is it's interesting because it's like just this like
(04:27):
regular book that you're reading and then it has this
like mind blowing twist and you're like, wait, where did
that come from and this album kind of feels like
that of like it's very like it feels real, and
then it like takes you into this other world.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Oh cool, Lad, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What world did it take you into when making it? Sorry?
What world did it take you into when making it?
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
So, I mean when we were making this this album,
we you know, we worked on it for a few years,
and during those years we were just kind of we
would work on it and then we would kind of
put it on the shelf and let it, you know, just.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Take its moment.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
And and we you know, live a little bit of
live and then we went back to it. And I
think it's I mean, when this whole album is very
much home and it's kind of returning home and like
being in island again. And but it's also all these
(05:40):
stories because we like making stories. So it's kind of
also stories about I guess, you know, maintain life, but
also kind of pulled in in some strange directions. You know,
there's like tune in a Can, this is a song
about it's kind of mostly about like not living up
(06:03):
to your potential, and that's like the core feeling. But
the whole setting is that there's this person who is
at their own funeral and they're talking about how even
in the funeral, they're not taking up space and they're
not the star, you know, they're kind of feeling like
(06:25):
even in that moment that are not they're not doing enough.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
So I think it's like these, yeah, the human emotions
that are put in kind of you know, unusual.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Settings.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
That's fascinating. I mean, let's say shake over in one second.
But now it gets me thinking, what the hell you're
supposed to do at your own funeral? How do you
how do you live your own funeral? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, but it's like, I don't know, if like you're
at their own funeral, everyone's like celebrating your ghost. You know,
obviously you're just they're like lurking watching everyone's reaction.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, but then you're just like, oh, damn.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
It, I have to ask, and then says will come on.
But now I'm fascinated with this because I actually know
the answer only because there's one song that comes to
my mind. But what song would be played at your funeral?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
What song would be played in my funeral? Yeah, that's
a big question I have. I have to say, I
haven't really thought about.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It, but do you know, like with you know, Oh,
I know, but I can't. I'm I'm weird. But what
is it? It would be tom Waite's taking with me.
Oh wow, I thought about that. And that's how I
got Tom Waite to do my book was because I
(07:49):
said it would be the song to be played by
wedding or funeral.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, but I mean I only asked because you mentioned
the funeral. But you know, I'm also curious to, like,
you know, I'm fascinated with this concept of like I
picture someone like getting up and doing a dance in
the coffin or something.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, yeah, no, yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
But what I think is kind of funny about it
is because like the starting line is like.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Tun and I can stick you from the Brian. I
thought I'd gone bad.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
You thought I was fine, which I think this thing
is a little bit funny, and it's like kind of
like being a human tuna and a can and somebody
else being like, hey, you're Hey, you're a tunana can.
That's totally fine, but you're like I think I'm bad.
(08:47):
I think I've gone bad. Wow, that's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Too.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Yeah, there's so many different layers to your music, and
it's so incredibly visually stimulating in a way. I would
love to talk about like the layers of your music
because there's such a profound sonic depth, but there's such
a spaciousness too, and I think, you know, with the
(09:20):
lyrics with the title, with all the things you're talking about,
combined with that duality of spaciousness and depth, that just
creates this, like Steve said, fantastical place. Did you talk
about how you discovered that sound and hone that sound
to be able to exist within both of those worlds
(09:43):
so vibrantly?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Hm, Well, thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
You know, we recorded this album here in iand in
our studio we've had for a while.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
It started out as a rehearsal space.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Now we just kind of slowly built it up to
what it is today. So I think it has kind
of grown with us and kind of influenced our sound,
I guess, And.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
You know, we.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
I think for this record, we you know, there is
space for both the quieter moments and the more like
you know, the bigger sounds, and I think that's yeah,
that's quite something that I enjoy that you have space
(10:42):
for both both of these words.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
Yeah, it really feels like you're in service of the music.
And so many artists talk about you know, getting into
their sound and kind of channeling in a way. I'm
curious if that's something that resonates with you. And if
you were to hone what you're in service of, both
(11:11):
in the messaging of the music and just you know,
the music as as its own entity honing that message,
what would you say would be the core?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And I think it's the way that we sound is
just very much all of you know, our different experiences
in our you know.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Especially during these past few years.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
I think where you know, our last album came out
six years ago, and during that time there's been.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
A lot of you know, just life being lived and.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Families like people you know, like there's like five more
kids in the band, and there's different projects and different
musical influences, so like it all kind of comes together in.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
This record.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I think, you know, talking about the space is one
of the things I want to ask you about. Was
the song fruit Bat I love that one. It feels
like something and I don't know was this record like
was a lot of improvised or was it like because
it feels like that thing at the end of that
song is just kind of one of those like like
(12:32):
a jam but on a bad way, because like I
fucking hate jam bands, so now I'm like annoying, greatful,
dead way. But like it's like you're in the studio
and kind of you know, having fun, like more in
a jazz way where it's just like, all right, this
sounds great, let's go for another seventy five minutes.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, I could go on forever with that song. It's like, yeah,
it's so fun to play. We I mean that song
was because one of the things things that we really
did feel like was important was that we would be
playing together and like really like because what tends to
happen is also you just kind of you're working on
(13:12):
a song. You you know, you're demoing it at home,
you're showing it to your band members, and then you
kind of build on that. But we did feel this
very strong neat of like, you know, we need to
develop these songs together, and for Fruit Bad, that was
the case where we really needed to kind of bounce
(13:32):
off each other and the last part of the song,
you know, we just wanted it kind of build, like
slowly build into this what it then becomes you know,
I don't think it ever really explodes. It just kind
of like sales into into something. Yeah, So that was
(13:59):
it was It was a very important thing for us
to have that element of like.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Just being on the floor together playing.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
What's interesting. Last time you and I talked was for
your solo album. Do you feel like one after doing that?
It was more that you know, and again, because it's
been six years, then everybody kind of goes in different directions,
Like you say, you have kids, you do all this
different stuff that you really wanted to kind of I've
talked to so many bands who have taken like five
(14:30):
or six year break between records, and they'll tell you
it's like I remember talking to the Chili Peppers when
they took five years between records, and it's almost like
starting again. So in the way that you feel like
a new band where it's like, you know, we want
to be a band, we want to be like.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
No, definitely, I mean that's the I feel like there's
a there's a there was some a little bit of
because we weren't with our label anymore, and so you know,
there was a moment and it had kind of been
a little bit of a while for us, it kind
(15:13):
of facked a little bit where if we would have
decided not to release a record, that was also maybe fine,
you know in some world, but it was a very
like conscious decision to like, we want to make a record.
We want to make this record, you want to we
(15:33):
want to take our time with it and just really
marinate in it. And so that was really good. I
think it's you know, it's fast, really good for us,
and it feels like now it's I mean, we're it's
we're not like a different band or anything. But I
think there's like more of a like a conscious decision
(15:58):
to like do this and put this record out in
that way.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Well, and then I'll it'say, say take over again in
a second. But I'm curious, I mean, do you feel
like you're enjoying it more now? Because in a way,
it's it's a choice versus like I've talked about, there's
so many people, right you start music when you're like seventeen,
eighteen sixteen, whatever, and it's like a dream, and then
it becomes successful and it's just different than what you
(16:26):
think it's going to be. It's not better, it's not worse,
it's just different and then so there is a point
where you have to decide, Okay, this is what I
want to keep doing, or you know, go retire and
live on a rant somewhere.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Yeah, right, Like everybody probably has that same dream. I
think our drummer has been like for years, it's like,
I am I'm going to stop doing this and goal,
I'm on a farm, like he actually like owns a
little farm, soe he's like halfway there.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
No, but it's yeah, I mean that's true.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
There's like you you start out and it's a certain way,
but then you know, you grow older, like there's stuff
like oh, then you go on tour, and that means
being away from everybody. I think for the first time
in my life right now, I'm having that.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Emotion of like, oh yeah, tour.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And then I'm away from everybody. I've never in my
life had that. I've always been just like I love touring.
I could do it forever. I'm like just yeah, I
absolutely love it. And now I'm feeling a little bit like, yeah,
I want to do it, but I also really like
(17:44):
my life at home, you know, And I think maybe
it's just kind of this settling into the idea of
home more than I have before.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
It's so fascinating. When I listen to your music, I
feel really connected to a deeper sense of self. And
I went back and watched the video for Little Talks,
and it's just mind blowing again. All of your music
seems to have this depth of spirituality of ritual, and
(18:28):
I imagine in the creative process, you know, just hearing
you talk about the tune in a can song and
how it relates to being to funeral, like that kind
of spiritual world in a bizarre kind of lens. Could
(18:48):
you talk about the process of songwriting now and how
it's changed over the years, and just kind of your ritual,
both as an individual and in the band, how you
put together those songs and make these different ideas relate
(19:09):
and become their own worlds unto themselves.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
M yeah, with a lot of these there's yeah, there
there is different it's there's different processes for most.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Of these songs. And but we.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
You know, often will write either in our separate corners
or will come together. Were usually not all five together
like writing a song. But you know it's like with
fruit bats Ata was playing the piano and then you
know that kind of we were all together and that
kind of started something that was a very communal feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
But a lot of the times it's like somebody.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Shows somebody and I idea and then we can't trust
each other to take that idea and then build on
top of it. And then lyrically, Raki and I work
very closely and we usually you know, write a lot
of the lyrics together, and a lot of like the
(20:20):
storytelling comes from that place of us. I think it's
like this idea of finding a common ground, like something
to write about that you know, still has our emotions
in it, but there's a sad thing. And so a
lot of these songs are are these stories like that
(20:42):
kind of stories?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
You know.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
Yeah, that's really amazing. I mean, the process of having
the initial idea and then creating this amazing sonic world,
it's fascinating. Was there a song that really springboarded the
(21:09):
whole project and kind of inspired the the end title
and the end just whole ethos of this project.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
Yeah, the title comes from a track called mouthparak m h.
And in mouth break we you know, it's allest love
and pain and the mouth Parade, and it's it's these
two songs that are connected together. It's the Block and
(21:43):
then the Mouth Parads and for me, like Block is
pretty like it's kind of like a harsh song. It's
pretty could and it's like it's very human, and it's
very much like in your head kind of yeah, it's
just kind of like, oh, this is my problem, and
(22:06):
kind of isolating in a way, not very communal. And
then for Mouse Parade, which is directly connected to it,
we we had this idea of having connected and this
image kind of popped into our heads where you know,
you've been in this block, and then the it kind
(22:28):
of pants down slowly and then you're suddenly underneath the
floorboards and there's a whole world happening there, which is
like the Moss Parade, which is the community of mice
that are like also have their have love and pain
and history and and and but in this world it's
(22:54):
like there, it's very communal. It's very like it's our hurt,
you know, it's our thing. So that's why they sing
in unison. And and in the very end of the
song there are all of these noises that are coming
in and it's kind of like to me, I feel
a little anxious, but also very calm.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
When when I listen.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
To it, it's like you have like we recorded my
dog sniffing, and it kind of actually feel like it's
searching for these mice. Yeah, and like we recorded our
friends talking, so you kind of feel.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Like they're above their you know.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
But but ultimately that's that was the idea, was like
this communal feeling these mice like singing about their history
and how it's kind of the same in a lot
of ways as that's what we.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
We deal with. Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Important, What kind of dog do you have?
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I have a black lab.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
What's his her name?
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Her name is which means ghosts, and she is incredible.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
It's funny, that's why you don't want to leave home,
you know what?
Speaker 3 (24:22):
I think that's it. It's really like, but I do
think of it. I'm like, but what about that is
kind of tough? Yeah, now it changes your whole perspective.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Yeah, do you have a dog?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
I don't at the moment, but I had dogs for years.
And it's funny because I turned down so many free
trips because I had a lab who was the love
of my life and she was a rescue and she
had trauma being away from me. So I was like,
I literally turned down free trips to Japan, to Brazil
to all these places. I'm like to buck you, I'm
(25:01):
staying home with my dog. I had and a half
years and I never left her more than seven days.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Oh wow, yeah, I mean, but that's the thing. It's like,
it's it really becomes so hard because like I also
and that's why I also feel like being at home,
I'm like, oh, it's amazing.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I just get to hang out with my dog.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
The dogs were better than people anyway, so there. Yeah, yeah,
I don't know if you ever take your dog on
the road. It's funny. I did a story years ago
with Tommy Lee from Motley Crew, who became a friend,
and we did actually I did stories with both Tommy
Lee and Mark opp Is from Lincoln, AH, and we
did stories on animal rescue, like I did one with
(25:47):
Mark for Forbes and one will Tommy for Rolling Stone,
and they would take their dogs on the road with them.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Really, I wish I could do that, I think. But
that's like you can do that if you.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Like live in America and you just go on the bus
and write. We can't feel it because we're on island.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
So I mean, you can always just do like an
Icelandic residency and make everybody come there.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Well yeah, I could do that to a tour, to
a little mini tour around Icelands.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
That one that's up by the way for everybody else
to come there. But speaking of live, I mean, you know,
you mentioned the fact that this is a record where
you guys really wanted to play together, and it feels
like a record where you can really just you know,
have fun with it live. Are there songs you're particularly
excited to do or that you know? And the other
thing I talk about with people all the time, right,
(26:49):
you may have your favorite song on the record and
everybody's like eh, And then you know song that you're like,
all right, well, you know we're putting another record as
like a filler tracker, not a filler, but you know
that's not honestly your favorite. Everybody's like, oh my god,
it's the greatest song. How people respond to you.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Yeah, I'm very curious to see what people respond to
and and I mean we put out like four songs already,
which feels like a lot, but it has been interesting
to see what people kind of are, yeah, what they're
responding to. I mean, I we spoke about GROUPA, but like,
(27:31):
I feel like that's a that's a song that I
am excited about playing live.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
And yeah, I'm excited about a lot of these I think,
like Towering Skyscraper at the end of the Road. I
also I'm excited about playing live. But I think it's
just because you know, like they're like written in open tuning,
which I always I'm very I like a lot these days,
(28:04):
you know, playing and open tuning, so I'm probably biased
in that sense.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
Well that's the other thing. And we have liked having
this up to the zoom. So I'm gonna let's stage
Fraish up in a minute. But I am curious. I mean,
I've talked about this as so many artists as well.
As you get older, your tastes just change, and it's like,
you know, things like particularly, what thing I've noticed is
that like quieter music kind of becomes louder. And what
(28:33):
I mean by that is you realize that there's a
power in quiet. There's a power in silence.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yeah, oh yeah, totally.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Do you feel like that's the case of this album?
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Yeah, I think so. I think it's like the most
like kind of reeled back I don't know what the
right word, but I think it's I mean, that's the
thing that can you just grow a little bit older
and you're like, oh.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
The other thing is too loud.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
I kind of want to want to chill out a
little bit. But but I mean one of my one
of the songs on this record is that I really
like is the Ant and that's I mean, that's just
an acoustic guitar and me and like you're singing, so
you know, and I do kind of like the quieter
(29:32):
moments and the moments where you can really like and
also when you're performing, I really love that because then
it kind of gives everything more space and you can
really like, yeah, it just perform a lot differently when
there's when you're not competing with anything, when it's just
(29:53):
like quiet.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
All right. So my last question and a let's say
it's finished, but what for you is your favorite quiet
show you've ever seen?
Speaker 2 (30:05):
My favorite sorry.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Quiet show you've ever seen? Like I saw Damien Rice
once playing the church for two hours with just an
acoustic guitar. It was one of mind volume fucking shows
I've ever seen.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Yeah, right, Oh, funny ist you mention that because like
when I saw him play, but Islam, it's like this
festival in the East, can I stand When I was like, I'm, I'm.
I was probably like eighteen or something, and I saw
him play and it was like a big room with
(30:41):
a lot of trunken Icelandic people. It's not a good
crowd to play quiet music for them. And he played
Flower's Daughter and he like went from the mic and
walked all way up and I sang it out and
that was like one of the most incredible things that
I had, you know, seen, because ye know, yeah, just
being in that space with so many people and everyone
(31:04):
was quiet, everyone was just like.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Just focused on and that was beautiful.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Yeah, he's probably the most underrated live performer. He's incredible.
I mean, he's just underrated because he never tours, but
holy shit, his shows are like religious experiences. Everyone.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, I should see him again. I only have that
one one moment.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Well, the guy never too, so you know, good luck.
I've only seen him twice as well.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Yeah, but you know, good experiences, amazing experiences.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
Yeah, speaking of space, I'm really curious do you find
that when you're outside of Iceland, your your sound, your
musical ideas, change quite a bit. I'm I imagine like
being in Iceland with that environment, it's it's very stimulating
(32:08):
to your sound. And I'm curious, as you have traveled
so much and you know, been in different environments and
around different people, different dogs, different smells, you know, does
it change your personal through line and music?
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Yeah, I mean, I do think it has an impact
when you know your environment, does you know shape what
your music, because it's like what you write about, who
you're eating, who you know, what food you're eating, just
all of the daily things kind of seep into and
(32:53):
suddenly they're a part of the song. So because we
worked on this album so much in Iceland and so
much like in our space with like a lot a
lot of it was just us and then our engineer Getney,
a childhood frend of ours.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
So that.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Did I think have a huge impact on this album.
But we have recorded, you know, then went then to
America to spend some time, and I think that did
probably also have an impact. And and and I.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Think like the biggest impact that it has had on me.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
It's like when I was working made my solo record,
I did spend some time like Upstate New York and
I feel like that did have you know, it's I mean,
I just met different people who hadn't I've never worked
with before, and there were they I think really had
(33:52):
a big impact on how I thought about, you know,
like the language between between musicians, and like when you're
in a room with a different person, what do you
make out of it? And how it just takes one
new person and then the whole bands is changed.
Speaker 4 (34:13):
And yeah, yeah, that's where I am right now, Upstate
New York. I. Yeah, I've spent more much more time
here and it's amazing how being in nature really is
such a wellspring of creativity. I'm curious, do you find,
(34:40):
you know, your space of creativity? Is there an environment
that you generally try and seek when you are really
in your process of writing.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
I think I really like just a long time.
Speaker 3 (35:02):
I feel like that's really helpful for me, you know,
the quiet evenings and just and it does help when
you know, I I do spend some time in a
cabin outside of the city, and I do feel like
that can also be very.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Yeah, that feels really helpful for me.
Speaker 3 (35:24):
But I definitely just I always need a little bit
of a long time and to kind of you know,
sort out my thoughts, I guess or something like that.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
We only have like two minutes left on the zoom
two and a half. Is there anything you want to add?
We did not ask about.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
No, not that I can think of. Well, this what
really fast? There's nothing that I can think of.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
So what when you from the States?
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Soon coming? We're doing the tour. So we're going to
be in November.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Yeah, going to be in New York's I don't remember.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
It's like early on in the tour.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Yeah, well that's why you go to space New York.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Right, Yeah, there's probably space somewhere.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Somewhere. Oh, it's great to see you and you. Graysure
listens on the record and by the way, it's funny.
I was also had a thought of, like, I like
the soundtrack idea, it's funny. There's a do you know
the artists in Vega. No, it's all the great New
York singer songwriter. She has this weird song on her
last album called Rats, and we're joking about the fact
(36:59):
that it's felt like a Broadway show and but your
mass bread maybe thinking like there should be a graphic
novel that goes with that.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
I would love that that's a good idea. That's a
good idea. I also thought like, oh yeah, because like
also like horror movies. I think there are always I
feel like that could this could be.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
A soundtrack for horror movies.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Maybe not too beautiful for a horror movie.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Yeah, but it's like maybe, like you know how like
Midsummer is so like you know, like just very bright
and you know, but then it's really fucked up.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
Like I think that could work.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
All right, we'll work back to run out, but whatever
you do occations on it, it's very cool.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Okay, thank you so much. Thank you guys for chat you.
Thank you
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