FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

[Podcast] Ben Gibbard on Zooey Deschanel and the "Divorce Record"

Song Exploder and Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard break down "El Dorado" from their latest album, 'Kintsugi.'
Image courtesy Song Exploder

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians deconstruct their songs and tell the stories behind how they were made. In the past, it's explored tracks from Game of Thrones to tUnE-yArDs and more. In the newest episode, musician, creator, and host Hrishikesh Hirway and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie breakdown "El Dorado" from their latest album, Kintsugi.

Death Cab for Cutie released Kintsugi, their 8th album, on March 31, 2015. The song "El Dorado", like other songs on the record, was written in the wake of the divorce between the band's lead singer Ben Gibbard and actress Zooey Deschanel. In this episode, Ben talks about the metaphor of the city of El Dorado and how it fit the story he wanted to tell, about separation, unrealized dreams, and Culver City. "You deal with the complex emotions that come with something like that and you find ways to unpack all these really complicated emotions in writing—and in my case, in songwriting," Gibbard recounts in the podcast

Advertisement

Plus, he explains how a few pieces of equipment—a Fender Mustang, a Rhythm Master drum machine, and the VoiceLive unit—ended up shaping the creative process.

[Download this episode] and Buy "El Dorado" on iTunes.

The clip of Kimbra using the VoiceLive effects unit is from a live performance of "Settle Down." Watch the video here.

More from Song Exploder:

[Podcast] Sylvan Esso Finds the Sound of Second Chances

[Podcast] U2 and the Dawn of Skinhead Culture

Arcade Fire's Will Butler Explores Death, Money, and Humanity in Solo Track "Anna"

Here's Why 'Game of Thrones' Theme Song Is as Treacherous as Westeros

Warped Superheroism: The Music of Marvel's 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

How tUnE-yArDs Turned the Drought into a Dance Song

Hear the Original Demos That Became the “Downton Abbey” Theme Music

Song Exploder: "Spring (Among the Living)" by My Morning Jacket

Song Exploder: "Half Dome" by Toro y Moi

Song Exploder: "Games You Can Win" by RJD2

Song Exploder: "Pour Cyril" by How to Dress Well

Visual Sampling: How To Dress Well's Album Package Is A Futuristic Artifact

Song Exploder: "I Want Wind To Blow" By The Microphones

This Is Why the 'House of Cards' Theme Song Is Killer