Five Minutes with The National's Scott Devendorf

Ohio indie quintet The National are set to release their seventh album Sleep Well Beast next month. To celebrate the release they're embarking on a world tour, which will bring them back to New Zealand shores for the fifth time next February 25 at Villa Maria Winery. Concrete Playground's Lauren Sanderson sat down with drummer Scott Devendorf to find out more about the new album, key influences and who's on his Spotify playlist.

You must travel a lot with your job? Where is your favourite place you've been so far?
We just had a week in Copenhagen but we were working the entire time doing rehearsals and press and playing a show so we didn't have a lot of time off. Copenhagen is great to ride around on a bike to see a lot of the cool city and we ate a lot of great food. Copenhagen is probably one of my top five favourite places, but we also love coming to Australia and New Zealand.

You're set to release your seventh Album Sleep Well Beast, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Our process at the beginning is usually very similar, we sketch ideas with Matt and we listen to what he picks out and then we kind of structure ideas around that and then we all get together and throw stuff together. We were intent on capturing each recording session so we could take anything or nothing from what we did. So, with this album, there was a little more freedom in the sessions and not worrying and just creating a bunch of cool stuff to work with. It worked out because we ended up doing that across several different studios.

How long did it take to create the album?
Matt was listening to the initial sketches in late 2014 after we finished touring our last album. It's about two years but the total studio time was around six months.

It must be difficult finishing one album and going straight onto the next without a break in between?
It is. Our break between varies, we wanted to make an album every three years as it would give us time to make the album, tour for about a year then stop and make another record. We had one more year this time, it's been four years since our previous album and Sleep Well Beast.

Do you think it's harder to find inspiration as you create more albums?
I don't think so. We have always been huge music fans so we are constantly working on different projects, doing things to inspire what we do in different ways. I feel like we are the most fresh now about what we are doing than a few years ago. I enjoyed that time too but looking back I wish we had embraced a few of the things we are thinking about on this record five years ago.

You've played in both small intimate spaces and huge arenas, do you have a preference?
I think for the band and as an audience member, the best venue would be a nice theatre with good sound. We try and play small venues when we tour but as bands grow the more fans are wanting to attend their gigs and it gets harder to perform in small venues. If we could choose I think it would be a 2500-seat theatre that we love. Some of the large venues are super nice like the 02 arena in London, I really like that venue. I guess if the place is good and people are enjoying the experience and the sound then that's the most important thing for us.

When you first came to Auckland you played an intimate gig at the Kings Arms and then later when you returned in 2014 you played the Vector Arena. How does it feel knowing how much your fan base in New Zealand has grown?
We are super greatful, thankful and extremely lucky that this happened at all. We have worked hard to do the best we can and its super nice that people care and spend their money and time on our band. As individuals, we have always been big music fans so we couldn't be happier doing what we are doing today. New Zealand is almost like a mini version of what it took us years and years to do in America.

On the topic of music, who are you listening to at the moment?
I have to confess I was listening to a lot of Grateful Dead for a while. We just did a show in Denmark and we played with Boni Liv and she's just really great. She is a South African/Danish singer-songwriter with a slight R&B, Stevie Nicks vibe.

Your tour is bringing you back to Auckland for the fifth time, what do you like doing while you're here?
Sadly, we never have that much time as usually we are on our way to someplace or from someplace. We were told we would have some time to tour Auckland and New Zealand so my plan was to bring my family with me and get a campervan and drive down south to do some exploring, but I don't think that's on the cards anymore unfortunately. I like the people in Auckland, the food and the wine is great. It will be good just hanging out. I don't know how much time we have after the show but I look forward to it either way.

You've played everything from Auckland City Limits to Glastonbury, what's your favourite festival that you have ever played?
I'm going to say the last one we just played Haven, it was really fun.

Any tips for budding musicians?
Stick with it and listen to other people. Make sure you find your own voice. Do a lot of singing and a lot of playing, don't give up.