Aaron Dessner on the Vulnerability of Writing Music for Taylor Swift

Full episode: • Aaron Dessner of The N...
Today we’re kicking off a two-part series of interviews with members of The National, who just released their ninth album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. Today’s conversation is with Aaron Dessner, The National’s guitarist and oftentimes lead composer.
Outside of The National, Aaron is also a prolific producer, having worked with a slew of artists, including, most famously, Taylor Swift. During the pandemic Dessner and Swift teamed up to write music that would eventually become Taylor’s critically acclaimed indie-leaning albums Folklore and Evermore.
On today’s episode, Broken Record producer Leah Rose talks to Aaron Dessner about how an invitation to open an arena tour for Bon Iver led to him writing the music that he would eventually share with Taylor Swift. Aaron also talks about how The National almost came to a breaking point after a grueling tour schedule, and he opens up about his battle with depression as a teenager and how his twin brother Bryce carried him through it.
Subscribe 🎧 bit.ly/3EamIjM
ABOUT BROKEN RECORD
For generations of music lovers, the liner notes on albums were a central part of the way music was heard. You bought an album and it came with an accompanying narrative: a digression, an aside, a backstory-maybe even an invented history. We intuitively understood that great music required not just listening but conversation between the artist and the audience and the audience and the rest of the world.
Broken Record is a podcast that restarts those conversations-in a world without liner notes-for a new audience of music lovers.
Broken Record is hosted by Justin Richmond with interviews by producer Rick Rubin, writer Malcolm Gladwell, and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam.
STAY CONNECTED
Instagram: / thebrokenrecordpod
Twitter: / brokenrecord
Facebook: / thebrokenrecordpod
Website: www.pushkin.fm/show/broken-re...

[@toby4643]

I really enjoy content like this because I love hearing about the creative side of the music-making process, especially of music that I enjoy!

[@Cucumberstopickles]

Love Aaron’s work. ❤ he’s amazing

[@Kimberly-hr6ql]

i did not expect his voice to sound like that

[@Culereterno1899]

August is a beautiful song

[@Ok17777]

I love this guy

[@LukeVanGeest]

Indeed Aaron. I’ve shown my friends that I wrote with in Minnesota. Even if it’s the type of music they like, I always get a weird look in their eyes 👀 as to if they can believe me. It takes time bud. I guess that what it means to be an artist. The willingness to show every part of the creative process to friends and they’ll respond. Thanks for everything you’ve helped me with Aaron! Can’t wait to see your studio sometime!

[@Fresahippie]

Genius❤