Brassland is an artist-operated independent record label started in 2001 by Alec Hanley Bemis, Aaron Dessner, and Bryce Dessner. On their 10th anniversary, The Guardian said it was "the centre of New York's other music scene."
In Brassland's early years, Bemis's primary career was as a freelance journalist for publications such as LA Weekly, the New York Times, and the New York Times. The Dessners are twin brothers and musicians with differing artistic focuses—Aaron is a producer and songwriter, while Bryce is a guitarist, composer and curator. Both are primary songwriters behind The National, while Bryce is equally known for his collaborations with artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Bang on a Can All-Stars and other creative musicians. Brassland is based in Brooklyn, New York, though it claims to operate "a satellite office in California." The label also has close ties to Ohio, where the Dessner brothers were raised. (All five members of the label's original flagship band, The National, hail from Cincinnati, Ohio.)