When the romance dies, the music still goes on for Baltimore-born Wye Oak

Wye Oak’s Andy Stack speaks in a low, reflective murmur. "We sort of burnt ourselves out touring our last album," he says.

“There was a question as to whether we had it in us to make another record. We were tired, living on opposite sides of America. It was difficult.”

Stack and Wye Oak bandmate Jenn Wasner have a complicated history.

They used to be a romantic couple (once backpacking around Ireland together). While the relationship is long ended, the artistic partnership endures: as Wye Oak they create heart-achingly lovely alternative pop.

However, life circumstances have conspired to place Stack and Wasner thousands of miles apart, in Portland, Oregon and Baltimore, Maryland. For that reason, making music together is convoluted. Just finding a moment to sit down together can be fraught.

“We literally did not see one another from one end of the process to the other,” says Stack. “We’d email each other song ideas, pieces of recordings — put it together that way. It was a new way of working. I was surprised how well it came together.”

They needed time apart. For the previous two-and-a-half years they extensively toured a third LP, Civilian. A folky, ethereal piece it proved a surprise hit. Happy to be in demand, Stack and Wasner said yes to every gig offer. Soon they realised they were pushing too hard.

They crisscrossed America and Europe, then went and did it all over again. Life became a blur.

“We stayed out on the road a long time,” says Stack. “The problem was a lot of those dates were as support. We’re happy to play with whoever wants us. At the same time, it’s difficult to gauge your level of support based on opening slots. A lot of people are there for the headliner.”

By the time they finally finished touring, they were disillusioned — not so much with each other as with their bucolic sound. A reinvention was required. They put away their guitars and invested in synthesisers. The result is this year’s Shriek LP, an entirely digital collection of bittersweet indie rock.

“Civilian is a record we are really proud of. It has obviously resonated with a lot of people. On the other hand, you do somewhere in the order of 200 shows and you are going to be a little tired of that material. When Jenn went back and tried to write again with guitar, she found the songs weren’t coming as easily.”

Wye Oak formed in Baltimore, a scrappy town with a high crime rate and a booming arts scene (Future Islands, Beach House and Dan Deacon are all based there). The city was essential to the evolution of the group, says Sack. He doesn’t miss it exactly. However he understands that without Baltimore, Wye Oak would not exist.

“Baltimore is a pretty troubled place,” he says. “It’s violent — there is a lot of poverty. I can’t say I missed that and to glorify it would be short sighed. The upside is that you get an enormous vibrancy in the arts.

There is a large community of creative people who have come to Baltimore for the cultural scene. You can live very cheaply and make some very bold artistic decisions. It creates a very special dynamic.” Sack seems an easygoing sort. Still, we have to ask: what’s it like touring with your ex? Sure life get little awkward at times? “It [the relationship] is ancient history,” he says.

“We were together for the first few years. Nowadays, it’s more like we are siblings.”

* Wye Oak play the Sugar Club in Dublin on Saturday