What was your headspace like going into 'Recover'?
Thom: At first, we were at odds - on completely different pages. We tried a handful of writing sessions. Most of them were only semi-productive, many of them were duds. We finally hit our stride in the summer of 2018, when most of the new music and sonic-direction was established. The first song from this eureka-period was, 'Recover'. It was an energising sonic palette and a mission statement for what this album was going to be about.
How would you describe the record's vibe?
Alisa: The vibe of this record has a lot of optimism sewn throughout the songwriting, and it's probably the most uplifting work we've done to date. I love how colourful these songs feel.
Which was the hardest song to write?
Thom: Perhaps '
Everybody Knows' and 'Bury Us'. Both had exciting, effortless, flow-state moments of creation… but both also went through severe revisions. We went full circle on some ideas. That can be important - it's useful and even validating to end up back with the original idea.
How has the line-up change affected the band's creation process?
Alisa: When you share experiences with people in your life that you've travelled the world with throughout all your formative years, you're going to feel their absence when they leave. It took some time to adjust, but at the root of this band, The Naked and Famous started out with Thom and I writing the songs. That creative dynamic hasn't changed, and therefore the process hasn't really changed either.
What does being a musician mean to you at the mo? Has that changed since the band's early days?
Thom: Drastically. I feel nostalgia, gratitude and grief all at once. Our goals shift as we grow older. As a younger musician, I wanted nothing more than a slot on my favourite college radio station. I collected CDs and vinyl. I cared about what labels artists were on. I feel very embarrassed for my younger self and his parochial opinions. I feel like a different person now. The overwhelming thing about gaining knowledge is realising how little you really know about everything.
What do you think music's most important job is in 2020?
Alisa: I find that different kinds of music serve different purposes. If I want to get hyped up at the gym, I'd probably listen to hip-hop, if I'm feeling sentimental, I'd probably listen to something more down-tempo. So I'd hope that music from The Naked and Famous would do its job by keeping people company when they need it the most and be the soundtrack when people want to have a good time.
What are you looking forward to for the year ahead?
Thom: A point in time when it truly feels like we've done our best to release/promote/perform/expose 'Recover'.
I don't really spend much time looking forward to things, I spend most of my time thinking in hindsight, or lost in the present.
