Who is Aaron Dessner: Taylor Swift’s Folklore Producer, Explained

Taylor Swift surprised us all with her new album Folklore this week, on which 11 of 16 tracks are produced by Aaron Dessner. While Dessner may be a brand new name to many Swifties, he has been on the indie scene for some time. So, without further ado, here are top five things you need to know to be an authority on Dessner at your next socially-distant happy hour:

1. He is best known for being a songwriter and instrumentalist for the band The National.
2. He has produced many tracks for other artists such as Sharon Van Etten, Local Natives, Luluc, among others.
3. You can find him in many interesting collaborations, including a performance art piece titled Forever Love featuring famed Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson, among others.
4. Dessner is the co-founder and curator of the Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival along with Justin Vernon (AKA Bon Iver), also featured on Folklore.
5. He is a twin!

Keep reading to dig a little deeper…

The National

I remember the first time I heard “Bloodbuzz Ohio” before a drive-in screening of Warriors in Los Angeles. I was hooked. Ten years later, I saw them live in Seattle. Still hooked. From Cincinnati, Ohio, The National was…