COLD WAR KIDS
Wednesday and Thursday at the Fonda Theatre, 6126Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. March 23 at Pappy & Harriett's, 53688Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown
Coldwarkids.com
favorites on the record, is a different kind of breakup song, written after his therapist of many years told him she was leaving her practice and would no longer be able to see him.
“Runaway With Me” is a joyful soul-funk number with a huge chorus, a song that Willett says incorporates influences such as Sly Stone and David Bowie, while not losing its essential Cold War Kidsness.
The album was made with the intention of shaking things up in the studio, he says. Longtime producer Lars Stalfors stepped aside as Willett sought out a variety of producers from various backgrounds and genres.
He also slowed the pace at which the band has worked, taking time to make one of its most cohesive albums yet.
“I like to move fast and I like to keep music coming,” Willett says. “I think I've always resisted being the kind of artist that has three years between records, and he's always kind of trying to paint your masterpiece. I realized pretty early on that I don't have an `OK Computer' (the classic Radiohead album) in me. I don't think that's going to come out.”
The eclectic team of producers Willett pulled into the studio included Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, M83), Ethan Grushka (Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer), Jenn Decilveo (Miley Cyrus, Hozier) and Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde).
“I wanted to find these people that were not necessarily known for this genre or that but had worked on records that I really liked,” Willett says. “A lot of that for me was just going, OK, good, and having to go in with a producer like Malay, who's done Frank Ocean and stuff that I put on the highest shelf, and feel like I'm going to get the best from him and I don't have to be afraid it's going to be something that isn't right for Cold War Kids.
“Knowing that we haven't done these kinds of things before, and that it's very new sonically, that's the stuff that makes this really exciting and surprising,” he says. “Like, wow, there's still ways to make songs that I can feel that first feeling again.”