One or two people have named their children after characters in my songs. That's pretty intense. John Darnielle characterchildintense Change image and share on social
My feminism is what came squarely up against my faith. There's a lot of ecstatic post-patriarchal Christians who have stuff they do with that. But at that point, you're doing Christianity with a double-superscript. The Bible, and especially the book of Genesis, is pretty unapologetically patriarchal. John Darnielle biblebookchristian share on social
I think wrestling is the one that presents theater for people who want to see some theater but don't necessarily have to dress up or be quiet while they're watching. John Darnielle dressnecessarilypeople Change image and share on social
I think the self is complicated, that at various times we are all various people, and wrestling actually does a lot with that. You have things like heel turns where a person goes from being a good guy to a bad guy. John Darnielle badcomplicategood share on social
I think I am a religious person just by nature. I think I sort of view everything through the lens of some inner undying thing in people that drives them to act as they do or to feel ashamed of not acting in some other way. John Darnielle actashameddrive share on social
I love Joan Didion, but I love her writing. I don't think meeting her could solve my problems or make me understand the world better. John Darnielle didionjoanlove Change image and share on social
I think there are some writers - like, if you read Kerouac, I think you probably need to take a little break before you sit down to the typewriter because he's the type of writer whose voice infects you. John Darnielle breakinfectkerouac share on social
People do all sorts of things impulsively and follow those impulses into strange places. John Darnielle followimpulseimpulsively Change image and share on social
My songs tend to sprint toward some epiphany and then explode. John Darnielle epiphanyexplodesong Change image and share on social
Most of my interests in terms of writing are dark, so it's discordant how much I try to lock into the vibe of wherever I'm at. Inhabiting the life of the imagination is the nature of survival strategy - you build yourself little worlds to enjoy. John Darnielle builddarkdiscordant share on social