Michigan post-hardcore band La Dispute have been celebrating the 10th anniversary of their acclaimed 2014 album, 'Rooms Of The House', with an exclusive tour this year.
With just five scheduled dates globally, the final leg will take place in Sydney this November. The band's vocalist Jordan Dreyer reflects on the album, the tour and what's next for the band.La Dispute have long been known for their use of storytelling, and for Dreyer revisiting 'Rooms Of The House' a decade later has been unexpectedly profound. When asked about the experience of performing the album in full, Dreyer shared: "I was pretty struck by how, where a lot of the content on 'Wildlife' feels of a particular era in my life. . . ['Rooms'] felt pretty relevant still. The subject matter still connected, maybe even more so than it did when we wrote the songs."
The record, which incorporates fictional narratives and real occurrences from Dreyer's family history, seems to have deepened in meaning for the songwriter. "Both things I connect to on a different level now, just being at an age where I consider my own personal history more urgently and after having experienced some of the conflicts in the record between fictional characters and my own life," Dreyer explains.
The 'Five Nights Only' tour, which has already seen the band play in England, the Netherlands and Germany, has been a powerful experience for both the band and their fans.
Dreyer explains that while 'Wildlife' may be the most beloved La Dispute record for many, those who love 'Rooms Of The House' connect with it in a particularly strong way, which has made the shows feel "very intimate and connected".
The tour will wrap up in Sydney, which holds particular significance for the band. As Dreyer recounted, Australia was the first international country La Dispute visited, even before touring Europe – an uncharacteristic move for an American band.
"We made friends on the internet, and they offered to book us a tour forever ago. We were young and excited at the prospect of travelling so far away, even if there was a risk of financial ruin in doing so," Dreyer laughs. "[Australia is] somewhere that has always been home away from home and where we have a lot of really good friends and have always been received in a very kind and enthusiastic way."
This connection with Australia, coupled with practicality, made Sydney the natural choice for the Australian date. The band will also remain in Sydney to record their latest album.
Though Dreyer was cautious not to reveal too much, he offered a glimpse into the writing process. "We've been working on the record for the last calendar year. . . I think there's going to be a little bit of the last three records that we've done on [it]. . . a little bit of the kind of layered texture spaciness of 'Panorama', a little bit more of the drawn-down minimalism of 'Rooms Of The House', and a good amount, I think, of the intensity of 'Wildlife'."
Dreyer also notes the impact of the world's current state on the band's creative output. "I think we've all been absorbing the state of the universe. . . there's a lot of heavier, faster, darker things on the record."
Despite the heavy subject matter, Dreyer is optimistic about the recording process itself, which will take place during the Australian summer. Reflecting on the contrast between 'Rooms Of The House', which was written "in a cabin up north in Michigan in the winter," and the upcoming recording environment, Dreyer jokes: "Is the best thing for the record for me to be somewhere where I'm getting an adequate amount of vitamin D?"
La Dispute play Roundhouse (Sydney) on 22 November.
