From Taylor Swift to Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams, Aaron Dessner is one of the industry’s most sought-after collaborators. The musician, producer and record label owner has built a career across many different corners of the music industry, from his work with The National to producing and writing with some of today’s biggest artists to launching a studio, record label and a number of music festivals. Dessner joins Billboard’s Kristin Robinson on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record to talk through his music industry journey, the art of collaboration, and how his experimentation with founding record labels and music festivals fed his artistic drive.
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00:00 Cold open: “born collaborator”
01:03 Episode intro + Dessner bio
01:59 Twin bond + early music roots
04:35 Producer mindset: emotional “current”
08:20 Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan & Gracie Abrams
12:16 Long Pond studio: place + process
15:39 The National next chapter + touring
20:37 Making Taylor Swift’s “Peace”
27:19 ASCAP break (PROs + royalties)
28:26 Indie vs pop + mainstream visibility
37:15 Brassland + labels + Long Pond Music
48:02 Festivals: Boston Calling + Eaux Claires
57:55 Games: Spin the Record
01:00:48 What Would You Cue? + wrap
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Aaron Dessner on Songwriting & Collaborating w/ Taylor Swift, Noah Kahan & Gracie Abrams
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Aaron’s really done it all. Multiple critically acclaimed projects. Multiple labels and festivals. A legendary recording studio. And some of the best collaborations in pop this decade. Thanks for coming through, Aaron!
I would love to see Aaron work with Johnny Rzeznik and Goo Goo Dolls!
Very cool!
Yeah POMME is an amazing artist !!!
This edit is making me seasick. Please just let people talk.
It was a blessed day in the Taylor Cinematic Universe when she called Aaron up to make some songs in the pandemic.
Great interview! Wonderful questions and passion comes through!