THE MOUNTAIN GOATS

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS So, it was extremely safe getting the record done.” The album was recorded during a pandemic, and will be released during one as well. INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST/GUITARIST JOHN DARNIELLE BY ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER And, like all the other Mountain Goats records before it, it is

If you’ll admit nothing else es to keep making new music. The band headed out to tour reflective of the times but also positive about the awesome “Anyone can write. Whether before recording, and then cryptic. Darnielle attributes his folk force that are The Moun- you have writer’s block or not, soon had to abandon tour ability to keep making music to tain Goats, they are prolific. you’ll write something. Now, plans due to COVID. As an ex- the fact that music, and writing, Their latest release, Getting Into you might write for three weeks nurse, Darnielle realized the are his jobs, not some esoteric Knives, out October 23 via Merge and everything is trash—that severity of the situation right calling. Records, is their 19th studio al- happens to all of us. But I’m just away and decided to shelter bum since 1994, and they still writing all the time. I’m always in place with the band while “For me, the way I think about have something to say, even if harvesting lines and phrases making the record. writing is the same way that I that something is about “animals from what I write and coming think about performing—it’s and knives,” as vocalist, song- up with new material.” “When people are starting to work,” he says. “It’s not magwriter, and guitarist John admits have fears about health, the ic. It’s not a mystical process. is the topic of the new record. As he is always writing, The best place you can be is in a What I do is write because it’s Mountain Goats had plenty of recording studio because a my work.” “I don’t sit around waiting until I material for Getting Into Knives recording studio is a cloister,” feel like I’m in some sort of spe- when it came time to record. he says. “The only thing you Stream the new Mountain cial magic mood or anything need to get from outside is Goats album October 23, and because I think that’s nonsense,” “There are a ton of songs that I food. Other than that, you’re look out for livestream anDarnielle says of how he, the wrote that aren’t on this record,” with your people all day, and nouncements and rescheduled man behind the band, manag- Darnielle admits. nobody’s seeing anybody else. tour plans. �� �� ��

PHOTO BY JADE WILSON