music
‘Elon Musk is dangerous and crazy. And I kind of used to like him’: Interpol on their political awakening
They were a big 00s buzz band – but looked in danger of fading out. Empowered by fatherhood and anger at war and AI, the New Yorkers explain why they ‘really showed up’ again
TL;DR
- Interpol's eighth album, 'This Mirror Weighs a Ton,' is considered their masterpiece, marking a departure from their previous predictable work.
- Frontman Paul Banks attributes the band's renewed vigor to personal growth, fatherhood, and a desire to avoid "mediocre work."
- The album incorporates a wide range of musical styles and instruments, with lyrics addressing contemporary issues like war in Ukraine and AI.
- Banks reflects on the power of language and the corruption of its use in politics, citing figures like Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and Elon Musk.
- Despite past tensions within the band, members express a continued commitment to creating music that "exorcises angst, moodiness, depression."