American singer-songwriter Sam Beam, aka Iron & Wine, sat down with Hot Press to talk about the recording process of latest release, Ghost On Ghost.

The alt. folkster told HP’s Paul Nolan; “I think the overall feel is more relaxed. The songs unfold more gently than on the last two records. There were some angry tunes on the previous album [2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean]. I thought it appropriate to make it unsettling in places. Whereas this one is a bit more laidback.”

Beam also details how he was able to record his new album in just two weeks in a NYC studio:

“The last two records, I would spend the time learning to use the studio as an instrument. I was letting the songs develop and it was more a process of discovery. Whereas this one, we worked out all the string and horn arrangements and so on before we went in. We left some room for improvisation, but it was mostly done in preproduction, so then you’d go in and hire some talented musicians and they can bust it out.”

Read the full interview with Iron & Wine in our new issue, out tomorrow (Thursday).

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