Brendan Benson

Brendan Benson is an accomplished solo artist who also happens to co-lead a popular band, the Raconteurs. He'd released three albums of tuneful, smart rock when he played an unfinished song for his Detroit friend Jack White. The White Stripes frontman completed it, they recorded it with another band’s rhythm section, and a supergroup was born, along with its first hit, “Steady, As She Goes.” Now Benson lives in Nashville, where he recorded his excellent eighth solo album, Low Key, and he also collaborates with other musicians, some country, some not (including Robyn Hitchcock). How do those co-writing gigs work? Why can they be embarrassing? Has Nashville rubbed off on his songwriting? Does he consider his work to be autobiographical? Will he ever tour again on his own or with the Raconteurs? Benson is as insightful in conversation as he is in song. (Photo by Guillaume Lechat.)