The Beach House members have a hard time describing their music and inspiration, but in a back and forth conversation about “10:37” found in a Pitchfork feature, their creative process for this “stretched-tape homage to toy soldier drum beats and a subject who casts no shadow” unravels in an indirect way:

“How do you describe that in language without sounding completely abstract and out-of-your-mind?” Legrand asks. “That’s how most moments of creativity feel—you almost can’t not use far-out language.”

“When you try to describe your creative moments, you veer off into a very unintelligible place of nonsense,” Scally says to her. “Because describing a moment of creativity is impossible.”

“Well, what am I supposed to say? I really don’t give a shit.” Legrand says this like she does, in fact, give a substantial shit.

“I almost think it’s not worth talking about because it’s so hard to articulate,” Scally offers in a consoling tone.

“All right, then I just won’t answer questions,” Legrand shoots back. “You can answer them.”

“That’s not what I was saying.”

“I know it’s not.”

Legrand then turns to me and adds, “He basically said I was unintelligible. I could be mildly offended by that—it doesn’t feel good when your partner tells you that you’re nonsense, but it’s the truth.”

“It’s not that,” Scally says, trying to dig himself out. “It’s just that I watch you go down these roads in your brain trying to be truthful, but there’s no concise answer.”

“It’s a lot easier to just feel it,” Legrand decides, already over it.