Aaron Dessner is setting the record straight about Gracie Abrams’ song “Death Wish.” In an interview with Billboard, the producer said the track is “definitely not” about Taylor Swift, despite online speculation from some listeners.
Dessner explained that the studio version of “Death Wish” came first, written around the same time as several other songs that later appeared in Abrams’ Secret of Us deluxe material. He said the song was created months before the live piano version that Abrams performed and released during her tour.
According to Dessner, the lyrics were written during a period when Abrams was working on material about a friend’s ex and a bad relationship. He added that he would not even know exactly who the subject was.
The producer also spoke about his long creative relationship with Abrams, saying they have worked together for more than six years and have grown close over that time. He noted that he and Abrams generally do not discuss the real-life people behind songs, describing that as something that is usually left unsaid.
