Aaron Dessner

“When you're working with someone new, it takes a second to understand their instincts and range. It's not really conscious.”

“There are so many books out about Abraham Lincoln out now because it's the bicentennial of his birth. I've known a lot about the Civil War, but I'm just getting more into it.”

“The great thing about being on tour is that... the band plays at night and other than that we have a lot of free time.”

“The National guys will tell you the same thing - I tend to work until the last possible minute.”

“But I'd say recording and playing on stage are two completely different things. Being up there in front of all those people is like jumping off a cliff into icy water. The recording process is a totally different energy.”

“I kind of love opening, because it's easier and kind of just more fun to get up and play fast and furious and have a good time.”

“I used to think of 'alternative rock' as a radio format, kind of the way 'indie rock' used to have more meaning. But it means different things depending on where you are or what country you're in.”

“Seven' is this kind of nostalgic, emotional folk song.”

“I think for me to be involved in a festival, there has to be a strong element of songwriting and musicianship.”

“One of the hardest things about being a musician is finishing a project and then having to wait three or six months to publish it and to do all the sort of promotional behaviour.”