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Big Red Machine

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Big Red Machine (formed in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 2018) is an indie-folk band made between two recently frequent collaborators with Taylor Swift, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, and The National's Aaron Dessner. Before they became a band, they mainly used the name as a means of making compilation albums. These included awareness for problems throughout the world via social media websites like MySpace.

They released their debut album that is self-titled on August 31st, 2018, via their label Jagjaguwar. It got created in a studio in the Hudson Valley area, which is near the Hudson River. It featured most Aaron Dessner playing tons of the instrumentals like the acoustic guitar, piano, and drum machine and writing some of the songs. Justin Vernon played his part by doing lead vocals and a lot of songwriting. It peaked 18 on Billboard's Top Alternative Albums.[1]

Their second album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?, was published on August 27th, 2021, after nearly a 3-year long wait. The album had come after multiple collaborations on other artists' albums and by both individuals - like Taylor Swift through her two albums Folklore and Evermore. Vernon had worked with her on Folklore's "exile" and the title track of the Evermore album. Aaron Dessner featured in the song "Coney Island" off Evermore. The album had many teasers and singles leading up to it beforehand. The most notable was their collaboration with Taylor Swift, through the song Renegade that peaked at number seven on Billboard's alternative songs.[2]

Career[]

While both Justin and Vernon focused on their projects, they had met many times before the band.[3] Their first interaction was in MySpace in 2008, where Dessner messaged Vernon to sing for Dark Was the Night, an album meant to spread awareness for HIV and AIDS.[4]

Their second interaction wouldn't be until 2016 when they founded the artist collective PEOPLE with Dessner's brother, which aimed to make an independent nurturing space for collaborations without obstacles that get in the way of collaborating.[5] They performed a few festivals together with the people involved.[6][7]

The first official showing of the band Big Red Machine was through their self-titled debut album[8], as is most debuts to reportedly introduce a band's name and get it in the limelight and make it familiar for later records.[9] It was released on August 31st, 2018, and featured 10 tracks without any featured artists.[10][11] However, it had around 40 collaborators including indie artist Phoebe Bridgers - who is going to feature on Red (Taylor's Version)[12], Irish singer Lisa Hannigan, and French band This Is the Kit.[13] It was fully recorded in Dessner's studio in Hudson Valley[14], where he recorded his other band The National's 2017 album Sleep Well Beast.[15]

Their most recent album was How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? which was released on August 27th, 2021.[16] It received a heavy promotion in comparison to their previous works, with 5 singles being released before it was fully released. The first single was Latter Days featuring Anais Mitchell on June 29th, 2021.[17] It was followed with a string of releases including The Ghost of Cincinnati[18], their single with Taylor Swift called Renegade[19], Phoenix[20], and finally Mimi which was shown on August 5th.[21] The tracklist consists of sad themes like loss, heartbreak, and nostalgia for a childhood long gone. It consisted of 15 tracks, most of which had featured artists like Swift's Birch and Renegade, with only 4 songs opting without.[22] The album was met with positive critical reception, being called a "masterclass" in production.[23]

Relation to Taylor Swift[]

Throughout both members' careers, they never acknowledged Swift. However, Swift did meet Dessner on Saturday Night Live in 2014 where they both talked and she revealed she was a fan of the Nationals, which Dessner revealed in a Rolling Stone interview.[24] After recruiting Dessner to co-produce her isolation album with frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, William Bowery (Joe Alwyn) wrote the song Exile and showed it to her, in which she originally sand both the female and male parts.[25] But that was later changed when she talked about the song with Dessner, and how she loved Vernon's voice and their duets on Big Red Machine.[26] This introduced Bon Iver to the project, and they would later rerecord the song for Folklore, with Iver singing the male parts.[26] It became an instant success with New York Times author Jon Caramanica calling it a "lovely, anguished duet".[27]

Later on, the band and Vernon's vocals would feature on her ninth studio album, Evermore.[28] Dessner produced all but one track on the album, Gold Rush.[29] She also traveled to Long Pond Studio to film and record with both, however, Iver chose to stay in a remote location due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19.[30] The song "Coney Island" featured Aaron Dessner's band The National and is the ninth track off the album.[31] The other collaboration was the title track Evermore, which featured Bon Iver.[31]

Their most recent interaction was through the How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? album.[32] She was featured twice in the album.[32] The first song was the track four-song Birch.[32] The other song was the single Renegade, which got to number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[33] It was noted by NPR critic Stephen Thompson as "staring down at a relationship that is toxic.." and sounded more like a Swift song just featuring Big Red Machine since most of the vocals were of hers.[34]

Personal life[]

Both members have chosen to keep most of their personal life hidden from public view, most likely due to the intense media scrutiny many artists receive similar to Swift's case.[35] Dessner has a brother named Bryce who is a composer and guitarist who mostly works for their band The National.[36] He is married to Stine Wengler, who also was shown at the 2021 Grammy Awards on the red carpet.[37]

Much of Vernon's life is unknown, being even more private than Dessner's. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and picked up an interest in music.[38] His first ever band was Mount Vernon in 1997, and he attended college while also spending a semester of it in Ireland.[39] Some of his albums he has contributed to or made throughout the years include Home Iss by himself,[40] Self Record again made by him,[41] DeYarmond Edison's albums which would later be disbanded,[42] and Volcano Choir's Unmap[43] and Repave.[44]

Official accounts[]

References[]

  1. ↑ "Big Red Machine". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/Big-Red-Machine/chart-history/ALT. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  2. ↑ "Big Red Machine". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/big-red-machine/chart-history/AVS. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  3. ↑ Newstead, Al (September 5, 2018). "How Aaron Dessner & Justin Vernon's Big Red Machine is the tip of a collaborative iceberg". ABC. https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/how-aaron-dessner-38-justin-vernons-big-red-machine-is-the-tip-o/10265280. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  4. ↑ Aaron Dessner. "Eaux Claires Opens Up". Interview Magazine. https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/justin-vernon-x-aaron-dessner-eaux-claires-music-festival. Retrieved 2021-10-24. "AARON DESSNER: How did we meet? I think I messaged you on MySpace, didn’t I? JUSTIN VERNON: It was on MySpace? No kidding. We met a long time ago. You and Bryce were doing the Dark Was The Night project, and you reached out to me to do some songs for the AIDS charity album."
  5. ↑ "PEOPLE Collective Launches Website With Tons Of New Music From Justin Vernon, The Dessner Brothers, & More". Stereogum. https://www.stereogum.com/1999977/people-collective-launches-website-with-tons-of-new-music-from-justin-vernon-the-dessner-brothers-more/music/. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  6. ↑ "PEOPLE Festival Berlin 2018". Festivals United. https://www.festivalsunited.com/festivals.php?op=showf&people-festival-berlin-2018&fid=6345. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  7. ↑ "PEOPLE Collective Launches Website With Tons Of New Music From Justin Vernon, The Dessner Brothers, & More". UpRoxx. https://uproxx.com/indie/big-red-machine-how-long-do-you-think-its-gonna-last-review/. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (July 12, 2018). "Justin Vernon And Aaron Dessner's New Band, Big Red Machine, Announces Debut Album". NPR (United States). https://www.npr.org/2018/07/12/628378337/justin-vernon-and-aaron-dessners-new-band-big-red-machine-announces-debut-album#:~:text=Justin%20Vernon%20And%20Aaron%20Dessner%27s%20New%20Band%2C%20Big,Announces%20Debut%20Album%20July%2012%2C%20201811%3A18%20AM%20ET.
  9. ↑ "Why are albums self-titled?". Ennui Magazine. https://ennuimagazine.com/why-are-albums-self-titled/. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  10. ↑ "Stream Justin Vernon & Aaron Dessner’s Debut Album As Big Red Machine". Stereomagazine. https://www.stereogum.com/2012403/stream-justin-vernon-aaron-dessners-debut-album-as-big-red-machine/music/. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  11. ↑ "Big Red Machine - Big Red Machine". Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/big-red-machine-big-red-machine/. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  12. ↑ Willman, Chris (August 5, 2021). "Taylor Swift Teases Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Stapleton Collaborations for ‘Red’ Album in Word Puzzle". Variety (United States). https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-red-remake-word-puzzle-1235035385/#!.
  13. ↑ "Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon’s Big Red Machine announce debut LP, share four songs: Stream". Consequencenet. https://consequence.net/2018/07/big-red-machine-debut-album/. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  14. ↑ "Big Red Machine". Middle West MGMT. https://www.middlewestmgmt.com/artist-page-big-red-machine. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  15. ↑ "The Hudson valley oasis where The National recorded their new album". CBS (United States). September 9, 2017. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-national-new-album-sleep-well-beast-hudson-valley-barn/.
  16. ↑ "How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?". Big Red Machine Bandcamp. https://bigredmachine.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  17. ↑ "Aaron Dessner, Justin Vernon’s Big Red Machine Previews New Album With ‘Latter Days’". RollingStone (United States). June 29, 2021. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/aaron-dessner-justin-vernon-big-red-machine-new-album-1190641/.
  18. ↑ "From Ault Park to Price Hill, Aaron Dessner of The National's new song is an ode to Cincinnati". Cincinnati (United States). June 30, 2021. https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2021/06/30/the-ghost-of-cincinnati-lyrics-aaron-dessner/7811568002//.
  19. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (June 30, 2021). Variety (United States). https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-renegade-big-red-machine-video-watch-1235010439/#!.
  20. ↑ "Big Red Machine Shares 'Phoenix' Featuring Fleet Foxes and Anaïs Mitchell". IHeart. https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-07-22-big-red-machine-shares-phoenix-featuring-fleet-foxes-and-anas-mitchell/. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  21. ↑ "Big Red Machine Shares New Single “Mimi” feat. Ilsey". NorthernTransmissions. https://northerntransmissions.com/big-red-machine-shares-new-single-mimi-feat-ilsey/. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  22. ↑ "Big Red Machine Announce New Album, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?". Paste Magazine. https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/big-red-machine/big-red-machine-new-album-how-long-do-you-think-it/. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  23. ↑ "Big Red Machine Continue Prioritizing Vibes over Riffs on 'How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?'". Exclaim!. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/big_red_machine_how_long_do_you_think_its_gonna_last_album_review. Retrieved 2021-10-28. "Nevertheless, this second Big Red Machine is a masterclass on the aesthetic that Vernon and Dessner have been honing across their careers."
  24. ↑ "How Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift Stripped Down Her Sound on ‘Folklore’". Rollingstone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aaron-dessner-taylor-swift-interview-folklore-1033870/. Retrieved 2021-10-28. "We met Taylor at Saturday Night Live in 2014, or whenever that was that we played and Lena Dunham was hosting."
  25. ↑ "Taylor Swift Revealed Joe Alwyn Is "Exile" Co-Writer William Bowery". TeenVogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/taylor-swift-revealed-joe-alwyn-william-bowery. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "How Taylor Swift & Bon Iver's Stirring 'Exile' Duet Was Born". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9424761/taylor-swift-bon-iver-exile-song-folklore. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  27. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (July 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift, a Pop Star Done With Pop". New York Times (United States). https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/arts/music/taylor-swift-folklore-review.html. "And then there’s “Exile,” the most atypical song on the album. A lovely, anguished duet with Justin Vernon (credited as Bon Iver), it’s a stark and unsettling back and forth of recriminations."
  28. ↑ "Taylor Swift Joins Big Red Machine for 'Birch' Song from the Duo's New Album — Listen!". People. https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-collaboration-big-red-machine-song-birch/. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  29. ↑ "Aaron Dessner Calls Working With Taylor Swift 'Experience Of A Lifetime'". IHeart. https://www.iheart.com/content/2020-12-14-aaron-dessner-calls-working-with-taylor-swift-experience-of-a-lifetime/. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  30. ↑ "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions". rottentomatoes. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/folklore_the_long_pond_studio_sessions. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Taylor Swift Shares Her Evermore Tracklist; Thanks Her Fans For Being Supportive". RepublicWorld. https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/music/taylor-swift-shares-her-evermore-tracklist-thanks-her-fans-for-being-supportive.html#:~:text=Taylor%20Swift%E2%80%99s%20Evermore%20Tracklist%201%20Willow%202%20Champagne,%28feat%20The%20National%29%2010%20Ivy%20More%20items...%20. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 "Taylor Swift is Among the Guests on Big Red Machine’s ‘How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?’". RollingStone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/big-red-machines-how-long-do-you-think-its-gonna-last-1219571/. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  33. ↑ "Big Red Machine". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/Big-Red-Machine/chart-history/HSI. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  34. ↑ "Big Red Machine (Feat. Taylor Swift), 'Renegade'". NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/07/02/1012551498/big-red-machine-feat-taylor-swift-renegade. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  35. ↑ Green, Todd; Sinclair, Gary; Tinson, Julie (2016). "Do they Know it's CSR at all? An Exploration of Socially Responsible Music Consumption". Business Ethics (Springer) 138 (2): 231-246. doi:10.1007/s10551-015-2582-8. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24755866. Retrieved 30 October 2021. "TAYLOR SWIFT, SEXISM, AND INTERNALIZED MISOGYNY". UniversityGirls. https://universitygirlsu.com/culturearticles/2021/3/14/taylor-swift-sexism-and-internalized-misogyny. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  36. ↑ "Bryce Dessner". BryceDessner. https://brycedessner.com/#about. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  37. ↑ "Couples Are Back on the Red Carpet! The Cutest Pairs at the 2021 Grammys". PEOPLE. https://people.com/music/grammys-2021-red-carpet-couples/. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  38. ↑ "In Eau Claire, Justin Vernon's roots run deep". Madison. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/on-wisconsin-in-eau-claire-justin-vernons-roots-run-deep/article_3d3bad28-60aa-11e1-9172-001871e3ce6c.html. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  39. ↑ "Bon Iver Back Tracks". VolumeOne. https://volumeone.org/articles/2008/12/04/200269-bon-iver-back-tracks. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  40. ↑ "Home Is". Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/5547891-J-D-Vernon-Home-Is. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  41. ↑ "Self-record". Genius. https://genius.com/albums/Justin-vernon/Self-record. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  42. ↑ "Deyarmond Edison". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/deyarmond-edison-mn0002329573/discography. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  43. ↑ "Unmap". VolcanoChoir Bandcamp. https://volcanochoir.bandcamp.com/album/unmap. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  44. ↑ "Repave". Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18447-volcano-choir-repave. Retrieved 2021-10-30.

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