“This is the first time it’s been a full team effort,” Yard Act frontman James Smith says of the band’s new album You’re Gonna Need a Little Music, noting producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen (NIN, Deafheaven) pushed for that to happen. I want everyone to be able to see what makes a Yard Act record, because you can sense the people within it,’ which I think as a sort of recording philosophy is amazing. James and I talked about the new album and how it differed from the band’s first two — from the making of to the style of songs. We also talked about how taking a break from recording the album to tour with The Hives, and then finishing the album in Los Angeles, changed the record. You can listen to my whole conversation with James Smith on the August 3 episode of BV Interviews, which is available wherever you get your podcasts.