AC: I took a special liking to "Bachelor of Arts" – it struck a relatable and tender contrast between all the world's possibilities and an internal lack of direction. Could you elaborate on this track, its formulation and its intentions – particularly within the context of the rest of the album?
OD: The theme of "Bachelor of Arts" started more as a joke. We just started writing some songs within the subjects we wanted to elaborate on, already knowing it's a concept album, and I [was thinking] that I'm just one of many in the modern world feeling [like] “...I'm not a kid anymore, but I'm kind of lost as an adult. I get work done, but man, sometimes I just need a hug and some peace and quiet.”
I think that feeling of being lost is so universal, but I wanted to sketch it in a way [where], by listening to the words, you can see the picture. You imagine that person, the protagonist, and it's so vivid that you can also guess the surroundings. We wanted to be free in the interpretation, because in a way the person from "Bachelor of Arts" might also be the one in [other tracks like] “This is The Internet”... we don't know that.
But what I think most of the songs on What's The Deal With Time? have in common is the humour that I think keeps us sane. Just like in “Bachelor of Arts,” I sometimes think I should get a medal for taking out the trash, but I know it's not going to happen. But yeah, I sometimes deserve it (laughs).
AC: It's mentioned that your album is inspired by Seinfeld – the cheeky reference in the title definitely gives that away! Can you elaborate on Seinfeld as an influence? What are some other cultural influences behind What's The Deal With Time?
OD: I knew this day was bound to happen! The story is kind of strange. My parents introduced me to Seinfeld when I was a kid, and I remember watching their favourite episodes and remembering the funny lines … and basically being in love with every element, creating the atmosphere of New York in the 90s.
And so [that nostalgia] was always in the back of my head – Seinfeld, my love for Saturday Night Live and movies with Chevy Chase. My favourite video is the one with [Chevy Chase] for Paul Simon's “You Can Call Me Al.” Humour for me helps in dealing with the modern world, but I also love lyrics that are about playing with words, and have some irony or sarcasm in them. David Byrne singing about peanut butter, or Ezra Koenig singing about a falafel shop just fascinate me. So on What's The Deal With Time? I didn't want to present such important topics deadly serious, I wanted to add some lightness to them by adding some absurdity. And that humour in everyday situations reminds me of how I remembered Seinfeld as a kid.
Most definitely Black Mirror's episode “San Junipero” influenced us to write [the] song of the same title. Both of us understood the plot differently but we both shared similar emotions which the episode evoked in us.
[Lastly], this might be controversial, [but] U2 also inspired us in a way. In the fall of 2018, we went to Berlin to see the guys from U2 live, and the time spent in this beautiful city inspired us in ways we couldn't even imagine. We talked a lot about the history of Europe, about how Berlin inspired U2's Achtung Baby and Zooropa, but also Bowie's Low and “Heroes.” Despite knowing all of the albums really well before, this mixture worked so well that our heads started creating a lot of ideas, and then What's The Deal With Time? happened. [That] Berlin era is just full of great ideas.
