CARAMANICA Comparing the last album to this album, there are two different modes of scathing-ness. There is the mode on this album, which feels a tiny bit more self-lacerating, whereas on the last one, it’s a little more playful, it’s little bouncier. What’s different about your songwriting?
ABRAMS Just a couple more years of living. This is something that has been embarrassing for me — having music exist out in the world forever after you’ve personally moved on from the point of view from which you were writing it. I was, in the past, quite careless about the impact of being on the receiving end of a song being written about you. And I think if you’re not being sensitive or gentle with the people you’re writing about and with that relationship, it can make someone feel terrible. And I have learned that.
I’m all for being direct and coloring with as much detail as possible and being honest — let your experience be your experience — but I do think there’s a way to be kind about it. I think you can be honest and I think you can be kind and I did not believe that, maybe, in the past.
As I am coming into myself, I suppose, I feel like all judgment is a bit of self-projection. On this album, I was careful to try to write from having been both the protagonist and the antagonist in the songs.
Credits
Popcast is hosted by Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli and produced by Sophie Erickson and Kate LoPresti. This episode was filmed by Lauren Pruitt, Dave Mayers and Jack Belisle and edited by Mark Zemel with help from Rebecca Blandon. Our theme music is by Elisheba Ittoop. Nick Pitman and Sam Winter are our audio engineers and Amanda Webster is our photo editor. Brooke Minters is our executive producer. Header video cinematography is by Tim Schutsky.
Special thanks to Sarah Bonn, Dahlia Haddad, Mike Cordero, Nicole Huber, Aaron Byrd, Carl Mazurek, Zach Caldwell, Maddy Masiello, Brad Kimbrough, Andrew Wilcox, Sia Michel, Nina Lassam and Sam Dolnick.
