In 2011, Death Cab For Cutie guitarist/producer Chris Walla helped NOW, NOW, - formerly known as Now, Now Every Children - lug gear around at SXSW, attended each of their shows, and even talked a police officer out of giving them a parking ticket. Naturally, the Minneapolis-based band wound up signed to [their musical hero] Walla's Atlantic Records imprint, Trans- Records - which released their new album 'Threads' earlier this year.

The trio - CACIE DALAGER [vocals, guitar], JESS ABBOTT [vocals, guitar], and BRAD HALE [drums, synth] - are well respected for their non-stop touring schedules, having supported everyone from the likes of Paramore, fun., Hellogoodbye, Gold Motel, and New Zealand's very own The Naked And Famous.

"There is nothing better than touring with The Naked And Famous. I love and miss them so much. It is really difficult for us to make friends on the road because we are super introverted. But it was easy with these guys."

COUP DE MAIN: For those that haven't heard Now, Now before, how would you describe your music?
NOW, NOW - CACIE DALAGER: Sad/dark pop.

CDM: Who or what, are your main songwriting influences and inspirations?
CACIE: When I was younger I listened to a lot of Jimmy Eat World, The Cranberries, The Postal Service, and Death Cab [For Cutie]. 'The Photo Album' is the first record I heard that made me want to write and be in a band.

CDM: What does the title of your new album 'Threads' mean to you personally?
CACIE: The name 'Threads' was one of the first ideas we came up with when trying to name this album. For a long time we tried to avoid it due to the literal visual interpretation we were nervous people would come up with. But ultimately it didn't matter to us because it means so much more than that. It is about sense of vulnerability. And about a delicate balance and realising how fragile and connected things are. To me it represents a dangerous and scary state of mind that we were in when writing these songs.

CDM: Do you have a favourite song on the album?
CACIE: It feels kind of like picking a favourite child, but I think 'Colony' is my favourite. Or 'The Pull'. 'Magnet' is also important to me.

CDM: What was running through your mind when you wrote 'Dead Oaks'?
CACIE: 'Dead Oaks' was the first song I wrote after recording our last full-length in 2008. So it's been around for a while. I don't think we ever really intended for it to end up on anything haha. I was reaching for something when that was first written. That song feels kind of desperate and pleading to me. Which is how most of our songs are I think.

CDM: Lyrically, what's your favourite song that you've written so far and why?
CACIE: 'Shifting'. I am really emotionally invested in that song and it takes a lot out of me. Same thing with writing it. I wrote that song in one sitting while playing a little Casiotone that I write with while camped out in my sister's bathtub.

CDM: If N.O.W., N. O. W. was a real-life acronym, what would each letter stand for?
CACIE: Nice On Water, Night Of Wonder.

CDM: How did your friendship with Death Cab For Cutie's Chris Walla first begin?
CACIE: The Internet. The birthing grounds for almost all relationships I have with anyone.

CDM: What's it like being signed to Walla's Trans-Records label and how much involvement/input does he have with Now, Now?
CACIE: It is a dream come true. I don't think there is a more perfect label fit for us. Chris helped us a lot in the mixing and tracklisting process for this record. He is really considerate and usually only chimes in if we come to him about something.

CDM: Alisa Xayalith from The Naked And Famous told me recently that she loved touring with Now, Now and said that you "are so talented and play superbly". What was touring with TNAF like?
CACIE: First of all. Alisa is a babe and a gem. Secondly. There is nothing better than touring with TNAF. I love and miss them so much. It is really difficult for us to make friends on the road because we are super introverted. But it was easy with these guys. Even their crew were all amazing people. We made best pals with their merch girl Laura. There was an on-stage proposal for her to marry the three of us. That is how much we loved her. (She said yes by the way.) Now that I'm talking about it I miss them even more. They are an amazing band and I feel really lucky to have been a part of that tour.

CDM: Tell me something no-one else knows about each member of the band, including yourself...
CACIE: We are aliens.

CDM: What are your favourite things in the whole wide world?
CACIE: My cat and my bed.

CDM: If you could be any Disney princess, which one would you want to be?
CACIE: Jasmine. She has a pet tiger.

CDM: What's next for Now, Now?
CACIE: Touring until we drop dead. I think we are booked through Fall already. Hopefully there will be time for us to write the next record at some point.

CDM: Can we hope that you'll visit us in New Zealand one day?
CACIE: I hope so! I know TNAF is from there and that is all the motivation I need.

NOW, NOW's new album 'Threads' is out now - featuring the single 'Dead Oaks'. Click HERE to purchase via iTunes.
Watch the 'Dead Oaks' music video below...