The Lumineers explore the impact of addiction in new album and film

Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites are two members of the band The Lumineers, perhaps best known for their foot-stomping folk-rock. When they sat down to write a new album, they dove into a subject they know well: addiction.

The album, called III, follows a family who's dealing with addiction and is divided into three chapters. Each chapter introduces listeners to a different family member, spanning three generations. Mirroring the album, The Lumineers have also developed a film, which just had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Schultz and Fraites sat down with q's Tom Power to explore some of the real-life stories behind the album's complex themes.

The Lumineers' third and latest album III is out today. You can watch the first two chapters of the film that brings the record to life on The Lumineers' YouTube channel. 

Download our podcast or click 'Listen' near the top of this page to hear the full interview with The Lumineers.

— Produced by ​Emma Godmere