Producer and The National co-founder Aaron Dessner is the latest guest on “Alchemy with Anthony Mason,” a long-form interview podcast hosted by the former CBS News correspondent. The episode, filmed at Dessner’s Long Pond Studio in upstate New York, is available now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
In the conversation, Dessner discusses his collaborations with Taylor Swift, including how a text from Swift during the pandemic led to the writing of “cardigan” and the “folklore” album. He also talks about his songwriting process with Gracie Abrams, a chance meeting at Electric Lady Studios that led to work with Mumford & Sons, and his connection to Noah Kahan’s music through Abrams’ contribution to “Everywhere, Everything.”
Dessner also reflects on self-doubt in songwriting despite his career success, and describes the origins of Long Pond Studio, which he says was built to let in the surrounding nature and function as an instrument in itself. New episodes of the series are released weekly.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by The Press House.