In the Studio with Bright Eyes

Adventures in the Art of Symbiotic Collaboration

Started in Omaha in 1995, Bright Eyes began as a musical outlet for singer/songwriter Conor Oberst. Now, twenty-plus years later, the band has grown into a symbiotic three-way collaboration that includes multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer Mike Mogis, and arranger, composer, tarted in Omaha in 1995, Bright Eyes began as a musical outlet for singer/songwriter Conor Oberst. Now, twenty-plus years later, the band has grown into a symbiotic three-way collaboration that includes multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer Mike Mogis, and arranger, composer, pianist, keyboardist and trumpet player Nate Walcott. The band’s discography includes ten albums. Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is their newest creation, tracked after an almost ten year hiatus.

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is dripping with layers of artful ear candy created by an amazing cast of collaborators. It was recorded at four locations: the band’s private studio, Another Recording Company (ARC) in Omaha, and Capitol Studios, Electro-Vox studios, and Nate’s production studio, all in Los Angeles. The record is musically and sonically adventurous—laced with aggressive overdrive, dense keyboard textures, and shades of orchestral grandeur, all in support of Conor’s prodigious poetic lyricism and folk music sensibilities. We sat down on a group call with Conor, Mike and Nate to find out how it was made.