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Switched on Pop

From Taylor Swift to Bon Iver, Aaron Dessner Finds Meaning in Musical Community

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2021

⏱️ 26 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On August 27th Big Red Machine, the joint musical project of Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner - artists known for their work as Bon Iver and in the rock band The National, respectively - returned with new music. You’ve most definitely heard Dessner’s production work elsewhere, like on Taylor Swift’s pandemic albums evermore and folklore. The Big Red Machine album, titled How Long Do You Think it's Going to Last, celebrates the fruits of creative partnership and the importance of family and community. At least, that’s what we took from our conversation with Dessner. “A lot of my favorite music - usually there's something elusive about it, in that whatever is elusive is coming from this weird cocktail of different people's input. There's just this weird, swampy alchemy, and you can't easily put your finger on why it's so moving.” Dessner told us he draws much of his creative inspiration from the kinetic energy generated by multiple musical brains working in tandem, which makes sense given the list of features on this album - everyone from Swift to Sharon van Etten to Anaïs Mitchell to The Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold. “I'm such a born collaborator. I'm definitely interested in this exchange where you make something and you send it out into the ether and then it comes back slightly changed or radically changed. Then you work on it and send it again. I like this handoff, this communal approach to music making.” The musical collective fostered by Vernon and Dessner on How Long Do You Think It's Going to Last is a testament to the power of musical communities in a year of intense isolation. We’re so pleased to bring you Nate’s conversation with Aaron Dessner in this week’s episode. Songs Discussed Big Red Machine - Birch, feat. Taylor Swift Big Red Machine - Phoenix, feat. Fleet Foxes & Anaïs Mitchell Big Red Machine - Magnolia Big Red Machine - Renegade, feat. Taylor Swift Big Red Machine - Mimi, feat. Ilsey Big Red Machine - The Ghost of Cincinnati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

With O2, connect with family and friends for less this Christmas.

0:03.7

Save up to 500 pounds on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

0:07.9

So go on, send those antler selfies and Santa emojis

0:11.4

and give those distant relays a video call.

0:14.1

Hiya, Janet and Alan.

0:16.3

Connect for less this Christmas.

0:18.1

Search O2 Christmas.

0:19.9

O2, we're better connected.

0:22.0

Plus RPI plus 3.9% 500 pounds serving over 36 months.

0:24.7

And 20th of December 2022, 36 months advice

0:26.8

by my little late time plan up to 24 months 18 plus crutches

0:29.0

and a year 10 times a fly.

0:30.2

It's time for a new year.

0:32.2

It's time for a new year.

0:34.2

It's time for a new year.

0:36.2

Which dawn, pop?

0:43.2

A couple weeks ago on August 27th,

0:46.0

which also happens to be my colleague, Charlie Harding's birthday.

0:50.2

Many happy returns to see my friend.

0:52.2

On that Friday, the music world got not one,

0:54.9

but two long awaited albums from artists

0:57.6

who have dramatically shaped the sound

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