The National's Aaron Dessner, who produced Gracie Abrams' new album 'Daughter From Hell', has denied that its track 'Death Wish' is about Taylor Swift, despite fan speculation. The theory arose because of pointed lyrics and Abrams' history as a support act on Swift's 'Eras' tour, but Dessner says the song was actually written about a friend's bad relationship, a claim Abrams herself made when introducing the track live in 2025.

'Death Wish', the second track on the album released on 17 July, features lines such as "You're everything I'll never be, you live to look for enemies", which fans read as a dig at Swift. Dessner, who has worked with Abrams for six years and produced Swift's 'folklore' and 'evermore', told Billboard the song was "definitely not" about Swift, explaining it was written while Abrams was processing a friend's experience with a "mega narcissist" ex-partner. Abrams and Swift have a well-documented friendship, including onstage collaborations during the 'Eras' tour and Abrams' attendance at Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce on 3 July.