Aaron Dessner

Last updated

Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner at Way Out West 2014.jpg
Dessner at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014
Background information
Birth nameAaron Brooking Dessner
Born (1976-04-23) April 23, 1976 (age 48)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • instrumentalist
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Years active1998–present
Member of
SpouseStine Wengler

Aaron Brooking Dessner (born April 23, 1976) is an American musician. He is best known as a founding member of the rock band the National, with whom he has recorded nine studio albums; a co-founder of the indie rock duo Big Red Machine, teaming with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon; and a collaborator on Taylor Swift's critically acclaimed studio albums Folklore and Evermore , both of which contended for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively, with the former winning the accolade; as well as The Tortured Poets Department (2024).

Contents

Dessner has co-written, produced or co-produced songs by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Michael Stipe, Gracie Abrams, Frightened Rabbit, Ben Howard, Sharon Van Etten, Local Natives, This Is the Kit, Adia Victoria, Lisa Hannigan, Fred Again, Girl in Red, Mustafa the Poet, Brian Eno and Lone Bellow, among others. Dessner co-founded and curates three music festivals: Eaux Claires in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, alongside his Big Red Machine partner Vernon; HAVEN in Copenhagen with his brother Bryce, and Boston Calling Music Festival.

On May 19, 2022, alongside Questlove, Dessner was awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa from The University of the Arts, for "his eagerness to seek out opportunities, to really be a thoughtful collaborator, and someone who would encourage every single student at UArts to explore with their peers across disciplines, new opportunities, and new ideas." [1]

Dessner, along with his twin brother Bryce, was named the 243rd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. [2]

Early life

Dessner grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio with his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. [3] Dessner was raised as Jewish and has Polish Jewish and Russian Jewish ancestry. Dessner has said that his Jewish background influences his music: "My brother and I have always been fascinated by liturgical religious melodies in Judaism ... I don't like major chords. I like the meditative patterns in certain prayers, and I like music that repeats itself." Dessner attended high school at Cincinnati Country Day School and graduated in 1994. Dessner went on to study Modern European History at Columbia University. [4]

Career

The National

Aaron Dessner and his twin brother Bryce were childhood friends with Bryan Devendorf. In 1998, after Dessner's earlier band, Project Nim, broke up, Devendorf invited the brothers to join his band the National. With Devendorf and the Dessner brothers were Scott Devendorf, Bryan's older brother, and Matt Berninger. The band's self-titled first album was released in 2001 on Brassland Records, a label Dessner co-founded along with his brother Bryce and Alec Hanley Bemis. [5] The band's second album, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers , was released in 2003, also on Brassland. After some critical success with Sad Songs, [6] the band signed with Beggars Banquet Records. With the new label, they released their third studio album, Alligator , in 2005. The album received a positive response from critics, [7] [8] which exposed the band to a larger audience.

In 2007, the band released their fourth album, Boxer , also through Beggars Banquet. Upon release, the album received widespread critical acclaim, [9] and was named to "album of the year" lists. [10] [11] Several songs from the album appeared in TV shows and movies. In 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama used an instrumental version [12] of the song "Fake Empire" in a presidential campaign video. [13]

Following the success of Boxer, the band began collaborating with other artists on various songs and compilation albums. In 2009, the band participated in Dark Was the Night , a charity album to benefit the Red Hot Organization. That same year, they recorded a song for the album Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy , [14] to help support Polaris frontman Mark Mulcahy who had recently lost his wife. In 2010, the band released High Violet , their fifth full-length album. The album saw both critical and commercial success, debuting at No. 3 on US charts, and going on to sell over 850,000 copies worldwide. [15] The band followed up High Violet by releasing their sixth album, Trouble Will Find Me , on May 21, 2013, via 4AD. Like their previous two efforts, Trouble was named to several year-end best-of lists. The album was nominated for Best Alternative Album at the 56th Grammy Awards. Later that year, Dessner and the rest of the band were featured in the documentary Mistaken for Strangers , which followed the band's tour for High Violet and early recording of Trouble.[ citation needed ]

In 2017, the band released Sleep Well Beast , their seventh full-length album. [16] The lead single from the album, "The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness", became the band's first song to reach No. 1 on a Billboards chart after topping the Adult Alternative Songs list in August that same year. [17] The band released their eighth studio album I Am Easy to Find in 2019 alongside a short film by Mike Mills. [18] In 2023, the band released two studio albums, First Two Pages of Frankenstein and Laugh Track , with the latter being a surprise album. [19] [20]

Dessner has production credits on all of the band's albums since Alligator. The majority of both High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me were recorded in his garage studio behind his house in Brooklyn, and Alligator and Boxer were partially recorded in his attic and in his sister's attic, which is on the same street in Brooklyn. [21]

Big Red Machine

In 2008, Dessner sent Justin Vernon an instrumental sketch of a song called "Big Red Machine" for the compilation album Dark Was the Night. Vernon wrote a song to it, interpreting the Big Red Machine title as a heart. After 10 years, the pair formed a band called Big Red Machine, and on August 31, 2018, released a self-titled album. The record was produced by Vernon and Dessner with longtime collaborator Brad Cook and engineered by Jonathan Low primarily at Dessner's studio Long Pond in Upper Hudson Valley, New York.

The duo released a second studio album How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? on August 27, 2021. The album was produced by Dessner and featured many guests and many of his previous collaborators, including Ben Howard, Sharon Van Etten, and Taylor Swift. [22]

Other production work

Dessner worked with singer Sharon Van Etten on her album, Tramp (2012). Van Etten and Dessner spent over fourteen months working in his studio, finally releasing the album to widespread critical success. [23] Dessner produced Local Natives' second full-length album Hummingbird, in 2013. Dessner was first introduced to the band while on tour with the National. Hummingbird received positive reviews, and Pitchfork praised Dessner's production work especially, saying that he "knows how to make things sound good, and there's plenty of richness and depth to these songs." [24] Dessner produced the Lone Bellow's Then Came the Morning, which was recorded in Dessner's garage as well as in a 19th-century church in upstate New York. The album was released in January 2015 on Descendent Records. That same year, he worked with This Is the Kit for their album Bashed Out, which was released through Dessner's Brassland Records. [25]

In 2016, Dessner produced Lisa Hannigan's album At Swim . The album reached No. 1 in Ireland, No. 7 on the US Top Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 24 in the UK, and received widespread critical acclaim. The Guardian , which awarded it four out of five stars, commented on the album's "stunningly pretty songs with quietly powerful undertones" and the Evening Standard , which also awarded it four out of five stars, praised the "new-found accessibility" of the album. Frightened Rabbit's fifth album Painting of a Panic Attack , released in 2016 via Atlantic Records, was also produced by Dessner. Dessner produced the Lone Bellow's 2020 album Half Moon Light and co-wrote several tracks on it. [26] He also co-wrote and produced the acclaimed debut of UK songwriter Eve Owen, Don't Let the Ink Dry, released in 2020. [27]

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dessner was approached by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift to collaborate on music, and he subsequently produced and co-wrote her eighth studio album, Folklore . It was a surprise release that debuted to critical acclaim on July 24, 2020, and won Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021. [28] Dessner continued his collaboration with Swift on her subsequent albums Evermore (2020), [29] Midnights (2022), and The Tortured Poets Department (2024), [30] as well as her re-recorded albums Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021), [31] Red (Taylor's Version) (2021), and Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (2023). [32] After the release of Folklore, the documentary film Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions and Evermore, artists such as Maya Hawke, [33] Gracie Abrams, [34] Ed Sheeran, [35] King Princess, [36] and Girl in Red [37] expressed interest in collaborating with Dessner and recording songs at his Long Pond Studio. Dessner stated, "After Taylor, it was a bit crazy how many people reached out. And getting to meet and write songs with people you wouldn't have had access to… I'm so grateful for it." [36]

Dessner also co-produced British singer-songwriter Ben Howard's fourth studio album, Collections from the Whiteout , alongside Howard himself, which was released on March 26, 2021. [38] Additionally, Dessner produced Day of the Dead , which was released in 2016, and Dark Was the Night , both of which are AIDS charity compilations for the Red Hot Organization; and Doveman's 2009 release The Conformist.

Film scores

Dessner and his brother Bryce co-composed the score for Transpecos , which won the Audience Award at the 2016 South by Southwest. They also worked together on the score for 2013 film Big Sur , an adaptation of the 1962 novel of the same name by Jack Kerouac. The film debuted on January 23, 2013, at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received positive reviews. In 2021, together with his brother, Dessner scored two films – Mike Mills' C'mon C'mon and Cyrano .

Collaborations

Day of the Dead

On March 17, 2016, Aaron and Bryce Dessner announced Day of the Dead, a charity tribute album to the Grateful Dead released by 4AD on May 20, 2016. Day of the Dead was created, curated and produced by both Dessner brothers. The compilation is a wide-ranging tribute to the songwriting and experimentalism of the Dead which took four years to record, features over 60 artists from varied musical backgrounds, 59 tracks and is almost 6 hours long. All profits will help fight for AIDS/ HIV and related health issues around the world through the Red Hot Organization. Day of the Dead is the follow-up to 2009's Dark Was the Night (4AD), a 32-track, multi-artist compilation also produced by the Dessner brothers for Red Hot.

Of the 59 tracks on the compilation, many feature a house band made up of Aaron, Bryce, fellow the National bandmates and brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf, Josh Kaufman (who co-produced the project), and Conrad Doucette along with Sam Cohen and Walter Martin. The National have a couple of tracks on the album, including "Peggy-O," "Morning Dew" and "I Know You Rider".

A Day of the Dead live performance took place in August 2016 at the second annual Eaux Claires Festival (August 12–13) featuring Jenny Lewis, Matthew Houck, Lucius, Will Oldham, Sam Amidon, Richard Reed Parry, Justin Vernon, Bruce Hornsby, Ruban Nielson and The National.

Forever Love

Forever Love is a collaboration between Aaron and Bryce Dessner, renowned Icelandic performance artist Ragnar Kjartansson and Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir, formerly of the Icelandic band múm. The project is a blending of visual and performance art with live music, all centered around a song cycle written and performed by Aaron and Bryce alongside Gyða and Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir. It was commissioned by Eaux Claires Festival and made its world premiere in 2015 where it served as the official starting point of the festival on both Friday and Saturday.

Forever Love marked a live performance reunion for the Dessner twins and Kjartansson, as both artists had previously collaborated on a six-hour video work, A Lot of Sorrow, which documents the National performing their three-song "Sorrow" for six hours in front of a live audience at MoMA PS1. [39]

The Long Count

The Long Count was a large commission for the BAM Next Wave Festival in 2009. [40] Dessner and his brother, Bryce, worked alongside visual artist Matthew Ritchie, creating a work loosely based on the Mayan creation story Popol Vuh. The work included a 12-piece orchestra and a number of guest singers, including Kim and Kelley Deal (the Breeders, the Pixies), Matt Berninger (the National), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), and Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio). The work had its world premiere at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in September 2009 as part of the Ellnora Festival. [41]

Dark Was the Night

In 2009, Aaron and Bryce Dessner produced an extensive AIDS charity compilation, Dark Was the Night, for the Red Hot Organization. Dark Was the Night has raised over 2 million dollars for AIDS charities as of January 2012. In 2009, Dessner contributed a track to the Dark Was the Night compilation. On May 3, 2009, 4AD and Red Hot produced Dark Was the Night – Live, a concert celebrating the newest Red Hot album. The show took place at Radio City Music Hall and featured several of the artists that contributed to the compilation.[ citation needed ]

Aaron Dessner performing with The National at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Easter 2016 AaronDessnerBluesfest2016.jpg
Aaron Dessner performing with The National at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Easter 2016

Other collaborations and contributions

Dessner is a frequent collaborator with a wide range of musicians, including his brother and bandmate Bryce Dessner. In August 2008, Aaron and Bryce performed a collaborative concert with David Cossin, and Luca Tarantino as a part of Soundres, an international residency program for contemporary music and art in Salento, Italy and at the Guitare Au Palais Festival Perpignan France. They also performed at Matthew Ritchie's Ghost Operator opening at the White Cube Gallery in London. Aaron and Bryce have also collaborated with many world-renowned orchestras. Most recently the brothers played with the Copenhagen Philharmonic in a concert billed as "Sixty Minutes of the Dessners."

The program included "St. Carolyn by the Sea," "Lachrimae" and "Raphael," all of which were composed by Bryce Dessner. Bryce and Aaron have also performed "St. Carolyn by the Sea" and "Raphael" with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta during the Holland Festival. These performances took place at Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam and Muziekgebouw Frits Philips in Eindhoven. In October 2011, Dessner joined his brother to perform "St. Carolyn by the Sea" with the American Composers Orchestra at The World Financial Center in New York City.

Marshall Curry's award-winning documentary Racing Dreams includes music contributed by both Dessner and the National. "Win Win" directed by Thomas McCarthy closes with "Think You Can Wait," a track written by Dessner and Matt Berninger, recorded by the National with additional vocals from Sharon Van Etten. Dessner also played an important role in the National's contribution to the HBO show Game of Thrones.

In March 2012, Dessner, Scott Devendorf and Bryan Devendorf teamed up with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir for a live webcast, which featured two musical sets and a political discussion. The event was produced by Head Count, a non-partisan organization that uses live music events to promote voter registration and awareness. In May 2012, the National's performance of "Rains of Castamere" played during the closing credits of season two episode nine. In December 2012, Dessner curated a day of Other Voices, an Irish music festival that aired live on RTÉ Two in Ireland. The performances took place in the Church of St James in Dingle, County Kerry.

Curator

Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival

Eaux Claires is a music festival founded and curated by Dessner and Justin Vernon. The inaugural festival took place in July 2015 in Vernon's hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Speaking about the festival, Dessner and Vernon said they were driven by the idea that this festival would "encourage music-genre-walls to melt away." [42]

PEOPLE Festival

PEOPLE Festival is a not-for-profit gathering of artists in Berlin for a weekend-long festival of music curated and produced by Aaron Dessner along with his brother Bryce Dessner, Bon Iver, Berlin's Michelberger Hotel and others. The first festival took place October 1–2, 2016, under the name "Michelberger Music" in the Funkhaus, [43] the historical radio recording studios of the former GDR.

Boston Calling Music Festival

Boston Calling is a music festival co-curated by Dessner. Debuting in May 2013, Boston Calling previously took place twice a year, May and September, at City Hall Plaza. Boston Calling moved to the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston in May 2017 and transitioned to one festival per year. [44]

Record labels

Dessner co-founded the record label 37d03d (read: PEOPLE upside down) with Justin Vernon and Bryce Dessner.

Alongside Alec Hanley Bemis and Bryce Dessner, Dessner founded Brassland Records, a label that has released albums from the National, This Is the Kit, Clogs, Doveman and Nico Muhly. [45] [46]

Musical equipment

Dessner often plays a 1965 Gibson Firebird purchased on eBay and refurbished. During the Sleep Well Beast recording sessions, he used the Firebird as well as a 1972 Fender Telecaster. During live shows, Dessner usually plays the Firebird and a 1963 Fender Jazzmaster. [47]

For the Sleep Well Beast sessions, amplifiers used include a 1959 Fender Champ, a 1960s Fender Princeton, a 1970s Music Man, an Ampeg Gemini, and a Fender Bassman. [47]

Personal life

Dessner married Stine Wengler around 2016. [48] [49] They have three children, one of whom is named Robin. [48] [50] Taylor Swift's song of the same name is speculated to be about him. [51] [52] Dessner is a keen soccer fan and an avid supporter of Liverpool F.C. [3] [53]

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

YearWorkAwardResultRef.
2014 Trouble Will Find Me Best Alternative Music Album Nominated [54]
2018 Sleep Well Beast Won [54]
2021 "Cardigan" Song of the Year Nominated [55]
Folklore Best Pop Vocal Album Nominated
Album of the Year Won
2022 Evermore Nominated [54]
2024 - ("subtract") Best Pop Vocal Album Nominated [56]

Discography

With The National

With Project Nim

With Equinox

With Big Red Machine

With Complete Mountain Almanac

Film scores

Stage musicals

Production and songwriting credits for other artists

Key
‡Indicates songs solely written or produced by Aaron Dessner
YearArtistSongAlbumWritten withProduced with
2016 Frightened Rabbit "Death Dream" Painting Of A Panic Attack Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon LiddellSole production ‡
"Get Out"
"I Wish I Was Sober"
"Woke Up Hurting"
"Little Drum"Aaron Dessner, Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"Still Want to Be Here"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"An Otherwise Disappointing Life"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"Break"Aaron Dessner, Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"Blood Under the Bridge"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"400 Bones"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"Lump Street"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
"Die Like A Rich Boy"Andy Monaghan, Billy Kennedy, Grant Hutchison, Scott Hutchison and Simon Liddell
2019 Adia Victoria "Clean" Silences [60] Mason Hickman Adia Victoria, Aaron Dessner
"Bring Her Back"
"Pacolet Road"
"The City"Mason Hickman, Herbert Nichols, Adia Victoria, Billie Holiday
"Devil is A Lie"Mason Hickman
"The Needle's Eye"
"Cry Wolf"
"Heathen"
"Nice Folks"
"Dope Queen Blues"
"Get Lonely"
2020Eve Owen"Tudor"Don't Let The Ink DryEve OwenSole production ‡
"Lover Not Today"
"Mother"
"After The Love"
"For Redemption"
"Bluebird"
"She Says"
"I Used To Dream In Color"
"So Still For You"
"Blue Moon"
"29 Daisy Sweetheart"
"A Lone Swan"
Taylor Swift "The 1" Folklore Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"Cardigan"
"The Last Great American Dynasty"
"Exile" (featuring Bon Iver)— Joe Alwyn
"Seven"Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"Invisible String"
"Mad Woman"
"Epiphany"
"Betty"—Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
"Peace"Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"Hoax"
"Willow" Evermore
"Champagne Problems"—Taylor Swift
"'Tis the Damn Season"Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"Tolerate It"
"No Body, No Crime" (featuring Haim)—Taylor Swift
"Happiness"Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"Dorothea"
"Coney Island" (featuring the National)Taylor Swift, Joe Alwyn, Bryce Dessner Bryce Dessner
"Ivy"Taylor Swift, Jack AntonoffSole production ‡
"Cowboy Like Me"Taylor Swift
"Long Story Short"
"Marjorie"
"Closure"
"Evermore" (featuring Bon Iver)—Taylor Swift
"Right Where You Left Me"Taylor SwiftSole production ‡
"It's Time to Go"
2021"You All Over Me" Fearless (Taylor's Version) —Taylor Swift
"We Were Happy"
"Better Man (Taylor's Version)" Red (Taylor's Version)
"Nothing New" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)
"I Bet You Think About Me" (featuring Chris Stapleton)
"Run" (featuring Ed Sheeran)
Gracie Abrams "Rockland" This Is What It Feels Like Gracie AbramsSole production ‡
"Camden" Blake Slatkin
"Hard to Sleep"Sole production ‡
"Augusta"
2022Taylor Swift"Carolina" Where the Crawdads Sing (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) —Taylor Swift
"The Great War" Midnights (3am Edition)Taylor Swift
"High Infidelity"
"Would've, Could've, Should've"
"Hits Different"Midnights (Deluxe edition)Taylor Swift, Jack AntonoffTaylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
2023Gracie Abrams"Best" Good Riddance Gracie AbramsSole production ‡
"I Know It Won't Work" Matias Tellez
"Full Machine"Sole production ‡
"Where Do We Go Now?"Matias Tellez
"I Should Hate You"Sole production ‡
"Will You Cry?"
"Amelie"
"Difficult"
"This Is What the Drugs Are For"
"Fault Line"
"The Blue"
"Right Now"Gracie Abrams, Brian Eno
"Block Me Out"Gracie Abrams
"Unsteady"
"405"
"Two People"Gracie Abrams, Delancey
Ed Sheeran "Boat" - Ed SheeranSole production ‡
"Salt Water"
"Eyes Closed"— Max Martin, Shellback, Fred Again
"Life Goes On"—Sole production ‡
"Dusty"Ed Sheeran
"End of Youth"—
"Colourblind"
"Curtains"Ed Sheeran
"Borderline"
"Spark"
"Vega"
"Sycamore"
"No Strings"
"The Hills of Aberfeldy"—
"Wildflowers"
"Balance"Ed Sheeran
"Stoned"
"Fear"
"Get Over It"
"Toughest"—
"Ours"Ed Sheeran
"Moving"
"Untitled"
"Magical" Autumn Variations Ed SheeranSole production ‡
"England"
"Amazing"
"Plastic Bag"
"Blue"—
"American Town"Ed Sheeran
"That's on Me"
"Page"
"Midnight"
"Spring"Ed Sheeran, Bryce DessnerBryce Dessner
"Punchline"Ed SheeranSole production ‡
"When Will I Be Alright"
"The Day I Was Born"
"Head > Heels"
Taylor Swift"Electric Touch" (featuring Fall Out Boy) Speak Now (Taylor's Version) —Taylor Swift
"When Emma Falls in Love"
"Foolish One"
Nanna "Crybaby"How To Start a Garden [61] —Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Bjarni Þór Jensson
"Milk"Nanna Bryndís HilmarsdóttirSole production ‡
"Seabed"Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir
2024Taylor Swift"So Long, London" The Tortured Poets Department Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift
"But Daddy I Love Him"Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
"Loml"Taylor Swift
"The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived"
"Clara Bow"
"The Albatross" The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology
"Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus"
"How Did It End?"
"So High School"
"I Hate It Here"
"Thank You Aimee"Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
"The Prophecy"Taylor Swift
"Cassandra"
"Peter"—
"The Bolter"Taylor Swift
"Robin"
"The Manuscript"—
Bess Atwell"Everyone Who's Not In Love With You Is Wrong"Light SleeperBess AtwellSole production ‡
"Release Myself"
"Sylvester"
"Fan Favourite"
"The Weeping"
"Something Now"
"Spinning Sun"
"I Am Awake"
"Crowds"
"Light Sleeper"
Gracie Abrams"Felt Good About You" The Secret of Us Gracie AbramsGracie Abrams
"Risk"—
"Blowing Smoke"Gracie Abrams, Audrey Hobert
"I Love You, I'm Sorry"
"Us" (featuring Taylor Swift)Gracie Abrams, Taylor SwiftGracie Abrams, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff
"Let It Happen"Gracie Abrams, Audrey HobertGracie Abrams
"Tough Love"Gracie Abrams
"I Knew It, I Know You"—
"Gave You I Gave You I"Gracie Abrams
"Normal Thing"Gracie Abrams, Audrey Hobert
"Good Luck Charlie"Gracie Abrams
"Free Now"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The National (band)</span> American indie rock band

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, as well as brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). During live performances, the band is joined by longtime touring members, Ben Lanz and Kyle Resnick. Carin Besser, the wife of Berninger, is not a band member but has written lyrics for the band alongside her husband since its 2007 album Boxer.

<i>Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers</i> 2003 studio album by The National

Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers is the second studio album by indie rock band the National. It was released in 2003 on Brassland Records. This is the first album on which the band worked with Peter Katis, who would produce the band's next albums Alligator and Boxer.

<i>The National</i> (album) 2001 studio album by The National

The National is the debut studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on October 30, 2001, on Brassland Records. Recorded prior to guitarist Bryce Dessner's full arrival into the band, The National was produced by both Nick Lloyd and the band itself. Now-bass guitarist Scott Devendorf performs both guitar and backing vocals on this album, with guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner on bass guitar and guitar duties.

Brassland is an independent record label founded in 2001 by Alec Hanley Bemis, Aaron Dessner, and Bryce Dessner.

<i>Boxer</i> (The National album) 2007 studio album by The National

Boxer is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 22, 2007, on Beggars Banquet Records. Following its release, the album debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Vernon</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1981)

Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon is an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known as the primary songwriter and frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver. He is also a member of the bands Volcano Choir, Big Red Machine, the Shouting Matches, and Gayngs, and was previously a member of the now-defunct band DeYarmond Edison. Known for his distinct falsetto voice, Vernon has received widespread acclaim for his work, predominantly with Bon Iver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Dessner</span> American musician

Bryce David Dessner is an American composer and guitarist based in Paris, and a member of the rock band the National. Dessner's twin brother, Aaron is also a member of the group. Together, they write the music in collaboration with lead singer and lyricist Matt Berninger.

Scott Devendorf is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the bass guitarist for the American indie rock band the National, with whom he has recorded eight studio albums. Devendorf is also a member of the indie rock project LNZNDRF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is the Kit</span> British folk rock musician

This Is the Kit is the alias of British musician Kate Stables, as well as the band she fronts.

<i>Tramp</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Sharon Van Etten

Tramp is the third album by American singer–songwriter Sharon Van Etten, released on February 7, 2012.

<i>Trouble Will Find Me</i> 2013 studio album by the National

Trouble Will Find Me is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 17, 2013, on 4AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Kaufman (musician)</span> American musician

Josh Kaufman is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, composer, arranger and engineer based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of the collaborative ensembles Muzz and Bonny Light Horseman. He was previously a member of the band Down Home Souls.

<i>Day of the Dead</i> (2016 album) 2016 compilation album from the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series

Day of the Dead is the twenty-fifth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Featuring fifty-nine exclusive recordings of covers of Grateful Dead songs by a number of independent artists as a tribute to the band, the compilation was released on May 20, 2016, as five CDs, a limited edition vinyl LP box set, and as a digital download. John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization, was the executive producer for the album. The members of The National first performed with Bob Weir at his Bay Area studio in 2012 as part of the Headcount benefit The Bridge Session. The group's budding friendship with the Dead cofounder pushed them to record the massive Dead tribute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Red Machine (band)</span> American indie music band

Big Red Machine is an American indie folk band that began as a collaboration between musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. The band is named after the nickname for the dominant 1970s Cincinnati Reds baseball team, which won the 1976 World Series in Dessner's birth year.

"Coney Island" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the American band the National. Swift, Joe Alwyn, and the brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner wrote the song for Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). The track was produced by the Dessner brothers, and Matt Berninger contributed guest vocals. An alternative rock and indie folk track, "Coney Island" has lyrics depicting a separated couple's memories in Coney Island. Swift and Berninger respectively sings about their character's perspective reflecting on their past relationship.

<i>How Long Do You Think Its Gonna Last?</i> 2021 studio album by Big Red Machine

How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is the second studio album by American indie duo Big Red Machine, which consists of musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. It was released on August 27, 2021, via 37d03d and Jagjaguwar record labels. Dessner stated the album is built around themes of childhood, familial dynamics, and mental health. He cited The Last Waltz, the 1978 live album by the Band, as an inspiration for the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegade (Big Red Machine song)</span> 2021 single by Big Red Machine featuring Taylor Swift

"Renegade" is a song recorded by American indie band Big Red Machine featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on July 2, 2021, by 37d03d and Jagjaguwar. It was serviced to US triple-A radio on the same day as the third single from the band's second studio album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? (2021).

<i>Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy</i> 2020 Bartees Strange EP

Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy is a 2020 EP by Bartees Strange, covering songs by The National. It was reissued as a deluxe edition 2024. The digital version was seven tracks rather than five tracks long and included an extended version of "Looking for Astronauts." The new vinyl edition included a bonus track: "Lemonworld".

"Would've, Could've, Should've" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is a bonus track originally released as part of the 3am Edition of her tenth studio album, Midnights (2022). Written and produced by Swift and Aaron Dessner, it is a new wave-leaning soft rock song about a narrator's rumination of a flawed, age-inappropriate romantic relationship in the past.

<i>First Two Pages of Frankenstein</i> 2023 studio album by the National

First Two Pages of Frankenstein is the ninth studio album by the American indie rock band the National, released on April 28, 2023, by 4AD. The album was produced by The National at Long Pond studio in upstate New York and features guest appearances from Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift.

References

  1. ↑ Yager, David (May 19, 2022). "University of the Arts Commencement 2022" (video). Youtube.
  2. ↑ "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "The National's Aaron Dessner: 'We plan our tour around LFC games'". Liverpool F.C. June 11, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Secret Jewish History of The National". The Forward. August 21, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Brassland | About Us". brassland.org. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Brassland | Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers". brassland.org. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  7. ↑ Alligator by The National , retrieved February 6, 2019
  8. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2000s – Page 2". Pitchfork. October 2, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ Boxer by The National , retrieved February 6, 2019
  10. ↑ "Pitchfork Feature: Top 50 Albums of 2007". December 20, 2007. Archived from the original on December 20, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Decade : The National, Boxer (2007)". Aquarium Drunkard. November 24, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ "You Can Vote However You Like". Pitchfork. October 29, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  13. ↑ "The National Team Up With Obama To Bring "Signs Of Hope & Change"". Stereogum. September 3, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe, Dinosaur Contribute To Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs Of Mark Mulcahy". Stereogum. June 25, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  15. ↑ Maloney, Devon (May 20, 2013). "The National Stop Fighting the 'Dad Rock' Label: 'This Time, We Didn't Care'". Billboard.
  16. ↑ Empire, Kitty (September 10, 2017). "The National: Sleep Well Beast review – a study in midlife angst". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  17. ↑ "The National Notches First No. 1 on a Billboard Songs Chart". Billboard. August 3, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  18. ↑ "The National Announce New Album and Film I Am Easy to Find, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. March 5, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ Paul, Larisha (January 18, 2023). "The National Recruit Three Special Guests for New Album 'The First Two Pages of Frankenstein'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ "The National Announce 'Laugh Track,' Second Album Of 2023, Onstage At Homecoming Fest". Stereogum. September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Aaron Dessner – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  22. ↑ Blistein, Jon (June 29, 2021). "Aaron Dessner, Justin Vernon's Big Red Machine Previews New Album With 'Latter Days'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Tramp by Sharon Van Etten". Metacritic . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Local Natives: Hummingbird Album Review – Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  25. ↑ "It'd be a pointless compartmentalising exercise to still call This Is The Kit a "folk" band". Thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Exclusive: Watch a New Documentary on The Lone Bellow". Paste . February 7, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  27. ↑ "The National collaborator Eve Owen reveals details of debut album, 'Don't Let The Ink Dry'". NME . January 30, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  28. ↑ Sodomsky, Sam (July 24, 2020). "The National's Aaron Dessner Talks Taylor Swift's New Album folklore". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  29. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (December 10, 2020). "Taylor Swift Announces Ninth Album 'Evermore'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  30. ↑ Brow, Jason (April 16, 2024). "Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' Songwriting Credits Reveal Familiar Collaborators". US Magazine . Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  31. ↑ Willman, Chris (April 2, 2021). "Taylor Swift Reveals Track List for 'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'; Keith Urban Delighted to 'Join the Band'". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  32. ↑ Yahr, Emily (July 7, 2023). "What to know about 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' as it consumes the internet". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  33. ↑ Robert, Moran; Shand, John; Au-Nhien Nguyen, Giselle; Ross, Annabel (September 28, 2022). "What to listen to this month: A worthwhile album from a nepo baby? Stranger things happen". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  34. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (April 5, 2022). "Gracie Abrams on How Songwriting Is 'Like Breathing,' Touring With Friend Olivia Rodrigo and Making New Music With Aaron Dessner". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  35. ↑ Curto, Justin (March 8, 2022). "Ed Sheeran Is Working on His folklore". Vulture. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  36. 1 2 "Recording's Great Escapes: Inside The World's Most Scenic, State-of-the-Art Studios". Billboard. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  37. ↑ Holden, Finlay (October 3, 2022). "girl in red has announced that a new single, 'October Passed Me By', is due next week". Dork. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  38. ↑ Skinner, Tom (January 26, 2021). "Ben Howard shares new single 'What A Day' and announces fourth album". NME. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  39. ↑ "The National: A Lot of Sorrow". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  40. ↑ "The Long Count". January 1, 2011. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  41. ↑ "ELLNORA: The Long Count | Krannert Center for the Performing Arts | U of I". August 17, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  42. ↑ Dessner, Aaron. "EAUX CLAIRES OPENS UP". Interview Magazine. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Michelberger Music – Films, Photos, Radio". michelbergermusic.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Boston Calling is moving to Allston and nixing its September '16 edition". Boston.com. May 27, 2016. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Brassland About Us" . Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  46. ↑ Snapes, Laura (June 16, 2011). "Brassland: the record label at the centre of New York's other music scene". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  47. 1 2 Guitar.com (December 12, 2017). "Interview: The National – National Anthems". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  48. 1 2 Sims, Brittany (November 17, 2021). "Who Is Aaron Dessner? The Man Behind Taylor Swift's Last Two Albums". TheThings. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  49. ↑ Mèmon, Alishba (April 19, 2024). "Who is Aaron Dessner? Musician collaborated with Taylor Swift as songwriter for The Tortured Poets Department". Sportskeeda. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Aaron Dessner son Robin reacts to Robin TTPD". www.tiktok.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  51. ↑ "Robin Taylor Swift Meaning: A Tender Ode to Childhood Innocence". Stay Free. April 21, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  52. ↑ "Let's Talk about Taylor Swift Song Name Robin". www.tiktok.com. April 25, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Men in Blazers 01/23/14: With Aaron Dessner". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  54. 1 2 3 "GRAMMY Award Results for The National". GRAMMY.com. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  55. ↑ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners List". GRAMMY.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  56. ↑ Guglielmi, Jodi (February 4, 2024). "Grammys 2024: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  57. ↑ "Columbia Spectator 26 March 1998". Columbia Spectator Archive. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  58. ↑ Neale, Matthew (October 19, 2022). "Complete Mountain Almanac announce debut album, share first single 'May'". NME . Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  59. ↑ "Cyrano". Kuperman Brothers. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Silences". All Music. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  61. ↑ "How To Start a Garden". Genius . Retrieved February 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.