Q: "People Pleaser" feels incredibly self aware, exploring the tension between wanting to make everyone happy while slowly losing yourself in the process. Was there a specific moment that inspired the song, or was it something that built up over time?
A: It's a combination of the two! I spent so much of my life as the kind of person who put other people's needs ahead of mine because I thought it would be more convenient than even mentioning that I wanted something different. I put a lot of time and work into unlearning those habits, and realized later that it truly serves no one to be a doormat. One day we were writing songs with Eric Palmquist, and we were stuck trying to find a topic for a song -- he mentioned that maybe writing a song about no longer being a people pleaser could be cool. From that point, everything fell into place, especially because I had years of real-life experience to draw from.
Q: One lyric that really stands out is the idea of trying to fit yourself into someone else's expectations. How difficult was it to write something that honest?
A: For me personally, the honesty and vulnerability come to me quite easily! I'm an open book. I find it a lot harder to write about something that I've never experienced.
Q: Looking back on it now, which song from Running On A Cloud feels like it best represents where Night Talks is creatively today?
A: My knee-jerk reaction is to say "Dream I'm In." I think it still feels representative of who we are and the things we want to convey.
Q: When a song begins, are you usually chasing a lyric, a melody, or simply a feeling that you can't quite explain yet?
A: It's usually a feeling that we can't explain. I take lyrical inspiration from the feeling of the instrumental of the song.
Q: Is there a musical direction you've been hesitant to explore because it feels outside of what people expect from Night Talks?
A: For a very long time we've been hesitant to work on ballads. We've been very focused on single-releases and songs to add to our live show, and while we're still in the position to fight for people's attention, whether it's on the social feed or with a 30-minute opening set, we figured our best shot is through our upbeat, dancier stuff. As we start focusing on longer releases and headlining shows, however, perhaps we'll throw some in again. One of my favorite singers in the world is Brenda Lee, and I just adore all her 50's and 60's big band ballads.
Q: Which song took you the longest to finish, and what kept you coming back to it instead of moving on?
A: This happens to us more than you'd think, but we can use Dream I'm In as an example. We had the verses figured out, and we couldn't figure out where to go with the chorus for the longest time. For some reason, though, we really had so much fun with the verses that we just waited until the right answer to the equation came to us.
Q: Which song from your catalog deserves much more attention than it's received?
A: My answer changes every day of the week, but today it's Applause. I'm really proud of it and hope that people start to re-discover it!
Q: If you could ask every person who has ever listened to your music on question, and they had to answer honestly, what would you ask?
A: Honestly, I'd ask for them to tell me what they think we sound like! It's so hard to describe your own music, and other people often have such a better read on it.
Q: If you had to introduce someone to Night Talks using only three songs from your catalog, which three would you choose, and why?
A: I'd pick Dream I'm In, Nights, and People Pleaser.
Q: If you could leave one message for someone who's about to hear your music for the first time, what would you say to them?
A: Have an open heart and don't be afraid to move your body!