Over the course of three decades and 22 studio albums, John Darnielle's band The Mountain Goats have blazed a fiercely independent, lo-fi trail that has since been followed by many indie bands.

In this episode, Darnielle discusses how songs by Stockholm Monsters, Digital Underground and Ava Gabriel shaped his creative process.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.