Why everyone finds inspiration at Aaron Dessner's Long Pond Studio

We traveled to a special place this week: Long Pond Studio in upstate New York. It's the home and workplace of Aaron Dessner, a member of the indie rock band The National and a GRAMMY-winning producer behind some of this year's biggest albums. We discuss the alchemy that's happened there with artists like Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Marcus Mumford and Taylor Swift. 00:00 Welcome to Long Pond 01:03 Sleep Well Beast, the first album made here 02:11 Building a studio that lets nature in 05:58 How folklore put Long Pond on the map 06:57 The chance meeting behind Mumford & Sons' Prizefighter 10:38 Taylor Swift's out-of-the-blue text 13:08 "Cardigan" arrives at 3 a.m. 16:49 Making space for artists in the room 19:29 How Aaron starts a song 25:02 Dad's drum set and growing up with twin Bryce 28:44 Music as a refuge 30:21 Where does music come from? 34:35 Producing without "peeing on a tree" 38:46 Chasing hits vs. the "ugly ducklings" 42:24 Meeting Gracie Abrams and writing in the room 46:25 Pop pressure and making "That's So True" 50:55 "I still feel like a kid" 53:05 What's inspiring Aaron now ——— New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. 🟠 Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.alchemy.show/ 🟡 Stay connected with Anthony Mason: YouTube:    / @alchemywithanthonymason   Instagram:   / alchemywithanthony   &   / anthonymasoncbs   TikTok:   / alchemywithanthony   🟢 If you’re interested in sponsoring Alchemy: partnerships@collective.media 🔵 For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com 🟣 For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, The FLAG Art Foundation: Alchemy with Anthony Mason is presented by our founding sponsor, the FLAG Art Foundation. It is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. In this episode, I’m highlighting two exhibits: 🖼️ Spotlight: Hank Willis Thomas “Spotlight: Hank Willis Thomas” is currently on view at FLAG’s Chelsea gallery in New York. Featuring a new sculpture by the artist titled “LOVE OVER RULES,” the presentation is accompanied by a commissioned piece of writing by Ashley James. Thomas’ large-scale stainless steel sculpture ruminates on its titular phrase, which comes from a recording of the artist’s late cousin Songha Willis, and contemplates the place of love over all else. On view through through November 7, 2026 📍The FLAG Art Foundation More info → https://www.flagartfoundation.org/exh... 🎨Arlene Shechet: She Said She Said Arlene Shechet: She Said She Said includes large-scale metal works and ceramic sculptures. Demonstrating the artist’s ability to “[draw] through sculpture,” the exhibition at Pace’s West 25th Street location expands upon Shechet’s 2024 installation Girl Group at Storm King Art Center in upstate New York. Her keen sense of play and inventiveness across material, form, color, and space makes She Said She Said a must-see. On view through through October 24, 2026 📍 Pace Gallery Check it out → https://www.pacegallery.com/exhibitio... Learn more about the FLAG Art Foundation → https://www.flagartfoundation.org 📍 545 W 25th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10001 | Wed–Sat, 11AM–5PM 📸 Follow FLAG on Instagram →   / flagartfoundation   About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.