The National talk about their love for REM

From Uncut.com,

The National’s Bryce Dessner has revealed that the band wouldn’t have formed without REM.
In the new issue of Uncut, in stores on January 31, the guitarist explains that the legacy of the Athens, Georgia band, especially the influence of singer Michael Stipe, has allowed groups like his to flourish.
“For American musicians especially,” he says, ”they opened up a door in terms of what they symbolised.
“They provided an alternative to the mainstream, especially Michael as a frontman. The National wouldn’t have existed if REM hadn’t.”
Dessner goes on to reveal that his most treasured REM album is 1986’s ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’.
For more of Bryce Dessner on the most important albums of his life, check out the new March issue of Uncut, out January 31.

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Matt Berninger talks to Rolling Stone about The National’s Oscar Nomination

Matt Berninger is not confident about his band’s shot at an Oscar.

The National has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Think You Can Wait” (included in the film Win Win), but Matt thinks that they will “probably lose to a Muppets song [and] there’s no shame in that”.

He told Rolling Stone: “If we are in fact nominated that would be a blast, but none of us are crossing our fingers on that. Win Win was just a really fun project to work on. Tom McCarthy asked us to write a song for the end of the film. The whole thing was just a really good experience. So yeah, if it gets any more recognition, that would be just icing.”

About the new album, he says: “We’re just kind of building a bunch of little sketches of ideas, just kind of stocking them up. It’s a long, slow process, and that process has begun. But as far as any sort of idea as to when that process will end, we have no idea. Not for quite some time.”

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Aaron Dessner discusses The Long Count with Barbican Podcast

Aaron gives a nice overview over his collaborative musical project about mythological “hero twin brothers”; the origins; his relationship with Bryce (and how they sync up on stage) and much more. He calls it “our personal mythology” and says that each time they perform The Long Count, they interpret it differently.

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud.

more information can be found at Barbican’s website

watch the trailer below:

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Bryce and Aaron Dessner to perform at “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”

via Brooklynvegan:

“Bryce and Aaron Dessner (of The National) are curating ‘Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,’ a music festival taking place in BAM’s spaces from May 3 – 5. Each night will include a variety of NYC artists, film screenings, accompanying scores, and a late-night dance party. Lineup announcement coming soon and tickets go on sale in March.”

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The National might curate this year’s ATP Festival

Rumor has it that The National will be in charge of the three day Somerset festival for Christmas 2012. The theme is “Nightmare Before Christmas” and will feature The Magnetic Fields, Joanna Newsom, Thurston Moore, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The Fall, Low, Young Marble Giants and more.

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