Welcome the feature where we ask musicians or bands five really tough questions about music! Today I speak to Nightbird Casino who have recently released the single called Gazelles. There are so many difficult questions that I always enjoy asking bands and today I find out all about the band.

What is the hardest lyric you have ever had to write and why? 

The Squid was difficult to write, I suppose, because it was so personal.  No individual lyric, just the song itself. It’s seven minutes long so I had a lot of space to fill, for one. We almost always write lyrics last, so I sat down to write them and realized I had 2.5 times as much time to work with as usual. Add in the intensely personal nature of the song, and, for me, the extremely emotional English horns playing throughout the song, and it was an intense experience. 

What is the weirdest gift or compliment a fan has given you?

I don’t know that it was intended as a compliment, but someone referred to us as a “poor man’s version of The National.” Given that I love The National, I took it as a compliment anyway. 

Who is the best band or musician you have had the pleasure to share the stage with? 

We’ve been lucky to share the stage with so many amazing musicians, but if I had to choose one, it would be Vertacyn Arc Materializer – just an incredible band and a great bunch of amazing humans. They’re from the Bay Area. I’d describe them as Radiohead meets The Flaming Lips. 

What one of your songs has been the most difficult to rehearse for a live audience? 

We have quite a few of these, but currently we have a new song called Lynx that was pretty difficult to get down because of the constantly changing time signatures – it goes from 9/8 to 12/8 several times and then ends in 5/4. Catharsis Train (our lead single from Russian Carpet) can be a bitch too because of the drum machines that are stopping/starting throughout the song that we all have to stay in time with (and stop / start at the exact right moments)

Dream Collaboration and why ? 

I’m sure each of us would have a different answer but my answer is Thom Yorke.