Pornographer, now Destroyer
By: Andrew Hibbard
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Recess
Last update: 5/7/08 at 6:50 PM EST
Last update: 5/7/08 at 6:50 PM EST
Dan Bejar built his name as Destroyer but has become equally well known for his involvement in indie supergroups the New Pornographers and Swan Lake. He has kept Destroyer going over the years and recently released Trouble in Dreams. Bejar is now embarking on a tour to promote his new album. recess' Andrew Hibbard recently spoke to Bejar via e-mail about his lengthy career, his side projects and his upcoming tour.
Given the unique nature of all your music and your songwriting especially, can you describe the process you go through when you write a song?
Even if it wasn't 3:43 a.m. in a Days Inn in Bismarck, N.D. right now with Blazing Saddles bubbling in the background, I would have a rough time describing the kind of foggy process from which a Destroyer song is emitted. All I can say is that these days it is generally a words-first scenario, though those words have gotta be vaguely musical from the get-go or I lose interest. At some point, I'll lose a wrestling match with a guitar and end-up strumming it to find some chords.
With so many people applying labels like cryptic poetry to your lyrics, what do you hope people get from your songwriting?
An overwhelming emotional response to cryptic poetry, like an anvil gut, like any other song.
Swan Lake, the New Pornographers and Hello, Blue Roses all have really unique styles and lineups. How do you balance all of these styles and influences with Destroyer?
They are all styles and influences that are mostly the result of people other than myself. Also, Destroyer music is a result of the people playing the music and the stuff they come up with, more than a conscious effort evoke a certain style or influence.
Trouble in Dreams, stylistically, is in the same vein as Rubies. Why did you decide to keep a similar feel with this album?
I don't see many similarities at all. I feel there's way more similarities to This Night and Your Blues, if one were going to try and draw parallels to past Destroyer albums. Problem is Rubies is the only Destroyer record most people have ever heard.
Given the unique nature of all your music and your songwriting especially, can you describe the process you go through when you write a song?
Even if it wasn't 3:43 a.m. in a Days Inn in Bismarck, N.D. right now with Blazing Saddles bubbling in the background, I would have a rough time describing the kind of foggy process from which a Destroyer song is emitted. All I can say is that these days it is generally a words-first scenario, though those words have gotta be vaguely musical from the get-go or I lose interest. At some point, I'll lose a wrestling match with a guitar and end-up strumming it to find some chords.
With so many people applying labels like cryptic poetry to your lyrics, what do you hope people get from your songwriting?
An overwhelming emotional response to cryptic poetry, like an anvil gut, like any other song.
Swan Lake, the New Pornographers and Hello, Blue Roses all have really unique styles and lineups. How do you balance all of these styles and influences with Destroyer?
They are all styles and influences that are mostly the result of people other than myself. Also, Destroyer music is a result of the people playing the music and the stuff they come up with, more than a conscious effort evoke a certain style or influence.
Trouble in Dreams, stylistically, is in the same vein as Rubies. Why did you decide to keep a similar feel with this album?
I don't see many similarities at all. I feel there's way more similarities to This Night and Your Blues, if one were going to try and draw parallels to past Destroyer albums. Problem is Rubies is the only Destroyer record most people have ever heard.
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Charles
posted 4/28/08 @ 3:12 AM EST
This is an incredible article. I love everything written by Mr. Hibbard.
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