Chat!

 / @yvynyl + @nightlands songwriter David Hartley /

The other day, I connected with my old friend to catch up on life, new projects, old projects, and how we all dream of living in Big Sur. He just happens to write gorgeous songs that sound like he’s been living there all along, not the gritty city. 

Mark Schoneveld: Hey brother! Are these internet wires working? :)

David Hartley: hey man! yes I think the dial-up modem in my garage is finally up and running.

Mark: hahah right on

David: sorry, this is the only instant messenger I use, or am really aware of anymore. is AOLinstant messenger still a thing? I used the shit out of that in college.

Mark: I think it is, yes. I’m not sure anymore either, tho. I just use Messages on Apple products mostly. But anyways, Gmail works.

David: right on

Mark: I’ve been wondering, since I last saw you (when was that? at a Jesse Hail Moore’s show?), how long have you been working on this new record?

David: I started writing the songs during some time off during the last The War on Drugs touring cycle… I was living with my then-girlfriend (now wife) in Ridgewood/Queens and started demoing while she went into Manhattan for work every day. Then when the Drugs finally took an extended break, I rented a warehouse in Kensington and started working in earnest last winter.

Mark: So do you still need to be up in NYC from time to time? Where’s your full-time home?

David: No, I’m full-time Philly. I realized the other day that I’ve lived in Fishtown longer than any other place, ever. Which shocked me… my wife still commutes to Manhattan a couple times a week but we’re dug in here in Fishtown, at least for the time being. I constantly fantasize about moving to Hudson or Ojai or Asheville, like most people, but home is where your friends are. I’ve found the density of wonderful people/musicians/creatives in Philadelphia second to none.

Mark: Philly does have a certain “dirty magic.” But your music - like a dream from Ojai - seems oddly in place, doesn’t it?

David: It does. And it has this way of wrapping its arms around you. I’ve watched it happen with my wife first hand. When she first moved here, she was reluctant.. but she loves it more every day.

Yeah, I think the narrative of this album is the Fishtown-Big Sur/Ojai/Lost Coast connection.

My wife and I were married in Big Sur, we fell in love there, we’ve spent a lot of time there. For our honeymoon we explored the Lost Coast and some off the path Northern California spots… but all the songs were born in dirty/cold (most of the songs were written last winter) Philadelphia..

And, for me, anyways, the California influence works well from afar… The songs aren’t about Big Sur, they are about the *idea* of Big Sur… the *memory* of the Lost Coast.. so the songs are about the feeling, not the place.

Mark: All of us Fishtowners have always had day-dreams of living out in the wilder west. Some have left, though! Adam Granduciel did the jump. Is War on Drugs based there now?

David: Adam’s back on the east coast – living in Greenpoint currently with his gf. I think we’re still a Philadelphia band, at heart.. Robbie, Charlie and I are based here and we are very close to signing a lease on an amazing studio space in South Philly that will serve as our clubhouse for the foreseeable future.

Mark: Ooooh! Awesome!

David: The Drugs have gotten to the point where we can kind of be wherever we want, and just assemble for tours… so we have spread out a bit, band and crew.

Mark: I need to get invited to your parties haha. Been a long time since we all were chilling’ at The Compound, eh?

David: The Compound. Fishtown’s halcyon era, for sure… To be honest it’s been a long time since I went to any kind of party, really. I’ll catch a show at Johnny Brenda’s and, you know, have a dinner party now and again, but I’m so happy with a quiet life–recording all day, reading at night…

Mark: I hear that, man. Hey, I have kids now, so I don’t get to see as many shows as I used to, either. Also, we moved out to the Main Line (crazy!). Way different lifestyle than the ‘hood.

David: Do you miss Fishtown?

Mark: I miss seeing shows 4-nights a week, for sure. But when I do, I make a point to make them good. I’m going to see Molly Burch at Boot n Saddle tonight, actually… She was the first person I interviewed for YVYNYL in its modern version.

For me, Fishtown is mostly an interesting dream, a memory. Obviously, it’s changed for you a lot too!

David: No way… Lindsey will be there. She’s a big fan.

Mark: Oh cool!

David: Yeah, I have a complicated relationship with Fishtown. In some ways I’m proud of having been here for a long time… but the rate of forced gentrification is way too rapid, for me. Lots of prefab junky condos going up, we have a juice bar, a fancy gym, vape stores and what have you. It doesn’t feel like progress.

Mark: Yeah, I understand that. I did 3+ years in West Philly before we moved out to college-land, and I kind of hold 48th and Baltimore dear to my heart.

So are you out to SXSW next week?

David: No SXSW for me… can’t say I’m disappointed. I’ve participated a bunch of times.. it cultivates a climate that I find toxic. I don’t think music needs to feel that competitive …

Having said that, it’s a rite of passage and I think every musician, at least in this field, should experience it a time or two…

Mark: How does the Nightlands project feel like to you? A “Lost Moon”? haha (god, I love that song)

David: What do you mean? What does the project, overall, mean to me?

Mark: Yes, I mean, is this a project that is a long-term goal of your own? Building your own art, not being part of someone else’s stuff. Is it hard to do two bands at once…

David: Well, I certainly take it seriously, from a creative perspective. I totally lose myself in the creative process, and I am hell bent on doing something original. And I don’t think it sounds like anything anybody else is doing, really. I’m engaged in a harmony arms race with myself–no one else is participating… lol… but I am not interested in creating some large infrastructure around Nightlands. I like playing some shows, and I enjoy the challenge of translating these recordings in a live setting, but I don’t have massive ambitions of headlining Red Rocks or anything. It’s about the document.

And when I finished this record, I thought to myself, “I’m really proud of this. I think this will be my last record as Nightlands.” And of course a month later I’m getting the itch to record, to tinker… I just love the lab, I love that recording is a science facilitating a wholly subjective pursuit.. so in that sense it feels like the Wild West.

Mark: Excellent. So you’ll be heading out for a May tour or the States, and then you’ll see what comes next. Maybe more music bubbles up in your mind while you’re traveling, too.

David: I’m going to do some shows.. my band is really special. We’re going to sound insanely fantastic.. and then by the time that tour wraps up The Drugs will be ramping up. I also have been and will continue to produce other bands/artists.. I just finished a full length with the Dove & the Wolf, which sounds mega. Sounds like Air or Sade, with shit tons of harmonies.

Mark: Oh! That sounds amazing. I’ll need to hear some of that soon!

David: You will be!

Mark: Well, I’m looking forward to seeing your show here at JB’s, but hope to cross patch with you, brother, before then!

David: Likewise man.

Mark: Thanks for taking the time to chat!