Brooklyn-based Bryce Dessner is a member of indie-rock group The National, in which he plays guitar alongside his twin brother Aaron and other band mates. In addition to this, he plays and composes for the new improvisational quartet Clogs, and annually organises the MusicNOW Festival, which he founded. Dessner definitely keeps himself busy: he is also working on a commission by Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, for a composition in honour of Abraham Lincoln’s bi-centennial, a commission from BAM’s Next Wave Festival, and a new work for the Kronos Quartet. Currently touring North America with The National through to September, the man seemingly doesn’t stop, so we were delighted when he took time out talk to us about, among other things, Bruce Springsteen and Glory Days.
Text by Lucia Davies
Poppy de Villeneuve is a photographer and film director. She shoots regularly for the New York Times, The Telegraph, and Vogue. Her most recent film project involved five short films set in Central Park for the New York Times. In 2010, several of her works were exhibited at Colette in Paris.
