When, and why, did you decide to expand your project beyond solo work? 

I started getting offers for shows and reckoned I wouldn't be much fun on my own. 
  
Is it easier writing music as a group? Is is more creative or more stressful? 

As far as the writing goes, I'm still on my own for the most part. Mark (drummer) helped out with arrangement and production, which was great, and putting the live show together with these guys has been fantastic. They're all extremely talented.  

What did you want to achieve with your new album? 

I wanted to create a collection of songs that belong together, and are complimented and deepened by their proximity to one another. 

Your music is extremely visual; you are capable of creating musical landscapes that are quite evocative of open spaces. How far would you say your inspiration, and technique, comes from your passion for the visual arts? 

I certainly think about music in visual terms. Maybe it's just how my mind works. I often set out with an image in mind and try to describe it sonically.  
  
Your stage name was inspired by quite intimate memories of playing guitar with your father at Lake Huron— are those the landscapes and memories you are trying to evoke in your songs?

That place and my experiences there are a big part of my music. But so is my time out west and elsewhere. Huron is the starting point and the constant. It's home.  

Your music combines quite a few interesting elements; could you talk me though your compositional process? 

Honestly, it varies greatly from song to song.  

What has influenced your musical style? 

American folk / country is at the center of it, but I've been into so much varied stuff over the years. It's hard for me to say what's made it into my own music. From Punk to Bollywood.  

Tell me about your appearance on the Tonight Show. Was your first time performing on National Television nerve-wracking? When were you told you would be performing? 

It was a little nerve-wracking but they do a pretty good job making you feel at home. There's a lot of waiting around during the day and then the curtain comes up and you play and it's over.  
I remember when we got word about that. We were on tour and our van had broken down. We had just finished a 16-hour drive jammed in 2 small rental cars with our gear. We were in a mad dash back to Kentucky to get our fixed van back. It was a nice bit of news. 

What about Coachella—It must have been so much fun! Would you say it was the biggest venue you've played so far? How was the crowd? 

We weren't sure what to expect in such an early slot on the first day, but people showed up. It was great. Probably our biggest crowd ever.  

I'm a music student, learning about studio recording technologies for one of my papers. I can only imagine the difficulty in translating your studio-produced work on to the live stage.  How do you find the balance between pre-recorded and live elements? It's tricky. I think it's best to just accept and embrace the fact that it will be a different experience live. You can really dig yourself a hole trying to be true to recordings. If you've got good songs and a good band, the tunes will hold up.  Are you using your visual art in any way whilst touring?We're trying to incorporate more visual elements in the live show. It tough because we're playing such varied venues at the moment. We often use a backdrop when touring in the States.    Is this your first time in the UK? It doesn't look like you'll have much time for sight-seeing!We were here back in February. Not to much time to explore, but we see a lot just driving around.

How do you feel about the future? You're becoming quite big now—is it overwhelming or just exciting? 

We're all feeling good. Looking forward to seeing where this trip takes us.  

Cambridge is Lord Huron's first venue on their UK tour, where they will be performing at the Junction on Monday 13th May. Get your tickets online (£8 adv).

Visit the band's webpage for News, Tour Dates, and Releases.