Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine Return with “Latter Days” feat. Anaïs Mitchell

It’s the lead single from their new album “How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?,” out August 27.
Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s Big Red Machine Return with “Latter Days” feat. Anaïs Mitchell

It’s the lead single from their new album “How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?,” out August 27.

Words: Margaret Farrell

photo and collage by Graham Tolbert

June 29, 2021

Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner have both transcended the indie rock scene in recent years. Even though their work has drawn them to work alongside big pop acts like Chance the Rapper and Taylor Swift, their music maintains an undeniable intimacy. They hone in on these sentiments together with their project Big Red Machine, which has returned today with news of an upcoming album How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? that’s scheduled for an August 27 release via their own label, 37d03d. The record boasts a pretty notable guest list, which includes Taylor Swift, Fleet Foxes, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Howard, My Brightest Diamond, and 37d03d signee Naeem.

The first track they’ve shared from it is “Latter Days” featuring singer Anaïs Mitchell. “It was clear to Anaïs that the early sketch Justin and I made of ‘Latter Days’ was about childhood, or loss of innocence and nostalgia for a time before you’ve grown into adulthood—before you’ve hurt people or lost people and made mistakes. She defined the whole record when she sang that, as these same themes kept appearing again and again,” Dessner said of the song.

You can listen to “Latter Days” and see the full track list below.