Meet Aaron Dessner, Taylor Swift’s lesser-known writing partner, who Swifties prefer to Jack Antonoff, and who worked on albums like Folklore and The Tortured Poets Department

Feb 17 , 2025

Meet Aaron Dessner, Taylor Swift’s lesser-known writing partner, who Swifties prefer to Jack Antonoff. Photo: @aarondessner/Instagram

Dessner – who many fans prefer to Swift’s other writing partner Jack Antonoff – worked with Swift on Evermore and Midnights, as well as several of her re-recorded ‘Taylor’s Version’ albums

Taylor Swift has worked with musician and producer Jack Antonoff since 2013, when they co-wrote “Sweeter than Fiction” for the soundtrack of the film One Chance. The two appear close, but many Swifties are not so fond of him. In recent years, some have blamed him for making her music all sound the same on albums from 1989 to her most recent record, The Tortured Poets Department. Many fans seem to have tired of Antonoff’s signature synth-pop sound – enter Aaron Dessner.

(From left) Sound engineer Laura Sisk, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, producer Jonathan Low and Aaron Dessner receiving their Grammy for the album Folklore in March 2021. Photo: @aarondessnera/Instagram

The musician has been collaborating with Swift since 2019, when she was working on her 2020 album Folklore. Since then, Dessner has been frequently credited as a collaborator on Swift’s albums.

In an Instagram post Swift made to promote the 2021 song “Renegade”, which she co-wrote with Dessner and which was recorded by one of Dessner’s bands, Big Red Machine, she wrote: “When Aaron came into my life, I was ushered into his world of free-flowing creativity where you don’t overthink, you just make music. His generosity of spirit and humility bleeds into every part of his life.”

Aaron Dessner is a musician, songwriter and producer. Photo: @aarondessnera/Instagram

The “Lover” singer’s fans have also taken a liking to Dessner, preferring his gentler, indie influence on Swift’s songs to Antonoff’s pop vibes.

Many of the songs he’s worked on, such as “You’re Losing Me”, “The 1” and “Champagne Problems”, are fan favourites.

Here’s what to know about Aaron Dessner.

He was a founding member of rock band The National

Aaron Dessner is one half of the indie folk-duo Big Red Machine, together with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Photo: @aarondessner/Instagram

Dessner, 48, and his twin brother Bryce were born in April 1976 and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were raised Jewish.