David Longstreth started making music under the name Dirty Projectors in 2002. Since then, he’s released seven albums and collaborated with Björk, Solange, and Kanye West, Paul McCartney, and Rihanna. Dirty Projectors went from a solo project to a full-band, performing on TV, and at Carnegie Hall. Dave and one of his bandmates were in a relationship for years, but then that relationship—and the band—broke up. In February 2017, with Dirty Projectors as solo project once again, Dave released a self-titled album, a breakup album by all accounts. In this episode, Dave breaks down the song “Up in Hudson” and the winding road he went down to create it.

Listen to “Up In Hudson” on Apple Music or Spotify.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Tyondai Braxton – Scout1
Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is the Move
Kanye West – Blood On the Leaves
Miles Davis & Gil Evans – Oh Bess, Oh Where’s My Bess?