Of Montreal Frontman Kevin Barnes Tells Us How the Current State of Politics Has Them Taking a Different Route for Their U.S. Tour

Char Little

Of Montreal is ready to hit the road again, and even though it’s only been four months since they last rocked the stage, they’re already back on tour in support of their latest album “Innocence Reaches.”

But don’t think concertgoers will have the same experience as the previous shows. This time around, the band is switching things up a bit in a way that is unexpected, yet fulfilling. Lead singer Kyle Barnes spoke with Entertainment Voice about why they decided to go a different route – and what Donald Trump has to do with it.

“At this point, we have sort of a template that we work within,” Barnes said about the creative process. “We like there to be a lot of dynamic visually and theatrically and musically so that it never gets boring for people. It feels very transformative, psychedelic, and exciting. I think with this tour we will focus even more on having quieter and more intimate moments. We want to engage with the audience more and try to keep it as communal as possible.”

When asked what sparked their interest to change the atmosphere for this tour, Barnes revealed that it has much to do with President Trump and his leadership style. “I think a lot of us are wanting to sort of circle the wagons and interact with people that are like-minded,” Barnes said. “I’m sure on all levels everyone is sort of reacting to the new reality. For us, we definitely feel threatened by Trump and his regime, and we know that a lot of our fans and supporters feel the same way. I think it’ll be a very therapeutic experience for all of us and kind of reinforce the fact that America is not Trump. There are all types of different people who live here. It’s great country and there are really great people who are loving and positive people. We want to be a part of that wave and ride it.”

The stage isn’t the only place Barnes and of Montreal addresses what is going on in the United States. The band spoke about social issues in two of their latest songs. “It’s Different For Girls“ speaks to gender norms, and “Let’s Relate” brings light to the tragic Orlando nightclub shooting. Barnes explained why it was so important for him and the group to add songs like this to “Innocence Reaches.”

“I think I’m trying to educate myself,” he confessed. “As I learn certain things about certain aspects of society that I feel are messed up and should be changed, things I feel are preventing us from connecting with each other, and that are keeping people in a state of terror… a state of where they’re not able to be comfortable with themselves.”

Barnes added that he hopes content like this can help promote unity. “I think there’s a lot of pressure for people to conform when they think no one is on their side and no one is hearing their voice. I think on some small level, as I uncover these things and share them, be a beacon of light and let them know ‘you’re not alone.’ We’re all going through these things together. That’s the beauty of sharing your art with the world. It’s creating a community that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.”

After a change in his personal life also inspired the direction of the album to be, as he called it, “more optimistic,” Barnes decided to share some of those experiences on “Innocence Reaches.” He said much of that came after going through the healing process after the end of his eleven-year marriage.

“The album took about a year to write, so I went through a bunch of different phases. Early on I was dealing with the breakup of my marriage,” he said. “I had a couple of disastrous relationships after that. So it took a while for me to sort of get my feet on the ground again. I think that’s why the album is emotionally all over the place. There are some darker songs and sad songs and some optimistic songs. It reflects the phases of life I went through.”

 
Of Montreal‘s U.S. tour kicks off April 5 in New Orleans and comes to L.A.’s Teregram Ballroom April 11 and Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg April 27. Full tour dates can be found on the band’s website. Their “Rune Husk” EP is available on Apple Music.