The National on ‘Laugh Track’ Phoebe Bridgers collaboration: “She embodies that weird mix of dread, humour and beauty”

nme.com:

The National‘s Aaron Dessner has opened up about their album ‘Laugh Track‘ and working with Phoebe Bridgers.Speaking to Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Dessner discussed ‘Laugh Track’, the band’s surprise ninth album that came in quick succession off the back of April’s acclaimed ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein’.

It was announced this past weekend (September 15) during a concert at their Homecoming Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. The LP was released three days later on September 18.“It’s always like this special moment when you realise it’s bouncing off people and it’s cathartic in people’s lives and just songs take on a much different, they always surprise us,” Dessner told Lowe.He continued: “The life that a song has is unpredictable and that’s the best part of making music, I think, is seeing where it goes. …I’m also thinking you’ve learned how to deal with anxiety and the suffering that’s in your thoughts better and you start to be able to be more in the moment with the process.“I think we also have been playing really well live all of a sudden.

I think these are best shows that we’ve ever played. The whole thing just feels, it feels like a new chapter. I know maybe we say that every time, but this time I really mean it.”A post shared by The National (@thenational)‘Laugh Track’ features various collaborations from Bon Iver on ‘Weird Goodbyes’, Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny Cash) on ‘Crumble’ and Phoebe Bridgers on the title track.Speaking about teaming up Bridgers on the song, Dessner said: “I think we all know and love Phoebe.

She’s obviously such an amazing artist and songwriter. Years ago, we toured a lot together and got to know her really well. I think she really is a fan of Matt’s writing and I think that song in.