The future of Grammy-nominated band Death Cab for Cutie was hanging in the balance last year when a founding member left abruptly partway through recording their latest album.
But the band is now embracing change as they gear up to perform in New Zealand for only the second time.
Death Cab for Cutie has been together for almost 20 years, but that run almost came to an end last year for the American Indie band when founding member Chris Walla left partway through recording their eighth album.
"We had this moment internally, when we were like, 'what's going to happen? What are we going to do as a band? Are we going to be able to do this as band?'," says bass player Nick Harmer.
They eventually found two new members, taking the band from a four-piece to a five-piece.
Harmer says it's reinvigorated them.
"[The new members] kind of brought a lot back into the band, and allowed us to explore some things that we just hadn't been able to."
The departure of Walla inspired the name of their latest album, Kintsugi, which is a Japanese ceramic repair technique where cracks are fixed with 24-caret gold.
"The idea of bringing beauty into the breakage, highlighting the fractures and making something whole again just resonated," Harmer says.
Kintsugi received positive reviews, picking up a nomination for Best Rock Album at the Grammy Awards.
It was their eighth nomination and their eighth loss.
They didn't even go to the awards, Harmer says.
"We've been deeply suspicious of the Grammy's."
Death Cab for Cutie plays tomorrow night in Wellington, then on Tuesday at the St James in Auckland.
Newshub.