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Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard opened up about how recording the band's new album, I Built You a Tower, helped him through "painful moments."
"The hope is that I'm writing from a position of elevated emotional intelligence and experience both as a human being and as a songwriter," the rocker told PEOPLE on Monday (June 8). "This is a reflection of a time in my life that is now three years in my rearview."
Gibbard explained that while recording the band's 11th studio LP, he was dealing with a divorce from his wife, Rachel Demy.
"When you go through these painful moments, you're going to be dealing with it in some form or fashion for the rest of your life because that's how pain works," the "Transatlanticism" musician admitted. "It wasn't my desire to use this as a score-settling opportunity. It's more compelling to hear your internal experience, and for the listener to empathize with those feelings too, because anger fades."
The Postal Service singer also cited the 1961 acclaimed Italian film La Notte as both inspiration and a healing vehicle while making new music.
"The conclusion is just devastating," Gibbard explained. "I keep coming back to it and wanting to see it again. It's beautiful."
I Built You a Tower is out now.