Charlotte Graham talks to John Darnielle, who sets poetry to music as the leader of American indie outfit the Mountain Goats. Since he began the project in 1991, his work has gained a cult following, partly for his ability to cram richly-cast narratives and stories about the transcendence of existential pain into two to four minute songs. Darnielle has been referred to in the New Yorker as "America's best non-hip-hop lyricist"; Paste magazine named him one of the "100 Best Living Songwriters"; and his fans once started a petition to have him made US Poet Laureate.
In this interview, he talks about some of the philosophies behind his music, and newcomers to the Mountain Goats are given an introduction to his songs.
