Blitzen Trapper have been writing and recording on their own terms long before Sub Pop decided to sign them up; and nothing, it seems, has changed since. ‘Destroyer of the Void’ merges Folk, Rock and even a bit of Prog; leaving it one of the band’s most varied releases to date. Bowlegs got some questions to front man Eric Earley about the Portland six piece.

Bowlegs: Did you have a pre-planned sound for ‘Destroyer of the Void’?

Eric: No, I just a group of songs in early 2009 and early 2010 and pulled from those.

Bowlegs: Did the approach differ from ‘Furr’?

Eric: Only in that I recorded at a separate studio run by my friend Mike Coykendall. Otherwise it was still me writing and arranging in my usual manner.

Bowlegs: The guitar solos and grand gestures on the album suggest a bit of Prog Rock crept into the Blitzen Trapper sound. Would you agree?

Eric: I think there’s always been a certain experimental flavour to our records and this one is no different.

Bowlegs: Despite the above observation, you’ve always maintained an earthy country/folk sound in your music. Which bands were an influence on your sound?

Eric: All the bluegrass and folk I grew up listening to, as well as a lot of the alt country of the early nineties, has influenced my writing and the way I like to record.

Bowlegs: Singing with Alela Diane seems to work beautifully on the record. Is collaboration something you might do more of?

Eric: Maybe, maybe not. I enjoyed that collaboration because she’s a good friend and has a swell voice and it just sort of came about naturally.

Bowlegs: Are Sub Pop fairly open to the sound you create from album to album?

Eric: They seem to be open to the records I’ve made thus far.

Bowlegs: Was there a time before you signed to Sub Pop that you nearly called it a day?

Eric: Not really. Maybe. It all happened so fluidly, I never really had a chance to go down that road I guess.

Bowlegs: Being a band of six, is it a democratic vote for each and every decision?

Eric: Not each and every decision, but the majority of the decisions are discussed with everyone.

Bowlegs: What bands have you been listening to lately?

Eric: Townes Van Zant, Judas Priest, Waylon Jennings, Avi Buffalo to name a few.

Bowlegs: Is there a formula to the song-writing?

Eric: Not that I can tell. I just sit down and write songs when I feel like it.

Bowlegs: Are the tours as enjoyable as they’ve always been? Are the venues getting bigger?

Eric: I enjoy playing new music and figuring out the songs each night. Slowly tightening everything. The venues in the states have gotten bigger.

Bowlegs: How soon after an album is released do you start thinking about the next record?

Eric: I never really stop writing and recording songs. There’s no real break from that for me.

Bowlegs: From the bands you have played with, who are the best live?

Eric: Wilco are one of my favourite live bands. Also Malkmus is great to watch live.

Bowlegs: If you had to take three albums into the wilderness for six months, what would they be?

Eric: Tonight’s the Night by Neil. Rearview Mirror by Townes. Mona Bone Jakon by Cat Stevens.