The Twilight Sad: James Graham & Andy MacFarlane on 'It's The Long Goodbye' (#276)

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with James Graham and Andy MacFarlane — the creative core of Scottish band The Twilight Sad — to talk about their powerful sixth album It's The Long Goodbye. Written across a seven-year period, the album became the band's most personal and emotionally direct record to date. Much of it was shaped during a difficult chapter in James Graham's life as he navigated his mother's illness, his own struggles with mental health, and the weight of grief and loss. During the conversation, James and Andy reflect on the long journey behind the record — from early demos developed during lockdown to the moment the songs finally came together as a cohesive album. They also discuss their close relationship with Robert Smith of The Cure, who contributes guitar and six-string bass to several tracks after years of friendship and touring together. Along the way, the band look back at their early years, the evolution of their sound over two decades, and how songwriting helped transform personal experiences into music that connects deeply with listeners. Listen to the XS Noize Podcast: https://linktr.ee/xsnoizemusicpodcast