You've heard those shimmering disco strings in Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," the cinematic arrangements on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher, and the orchestral flourishes across Taylor Swift's catalog, but you probably didn't know they're all the work of one person: Rob Moose. The violinist and multi-instrumentalist has contributed to nearly 1,000 albums, quietly becoming pop music's most prolific string architect. In this conversation, Moose reveals how he translates classical training into contemporary pop language, working with everyone from Sufjan Stevens to Bon Iver to create arrangements that feel both intimate and epic. We dive into his process, explore how he's reshaped what strings can do in popular music, and uncover the craft behind those arrangements you can't get out of your head.

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Songs Discussed

Miley Cyrus “Flowers”
Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher”
Phoebe Bridgers Copycat Killer (EP, includes re-arranged versions of “Punisher,” “Kyoto,” “Savior Complex,” “Chinese Satellite”)
Sufjan Stevens “Chicago”
Bon Iver “Everything Is Peaceful Love”
RINI “Miracle”
Bon Iver “Short Story”
Bon Iver “Speyside”
Phoebe Bridgers “Chinese Satellite”
Phoebe Bridgers “Savior Complex”
Phoebe Bridgers “Kyoto”
Lizzy McAlpine “Ceilings”
Gracie Abrams “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
Rob Moose “I Bend But Never Break” ft Brittany Howard
Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color”
Taylor Swift “Hoax”

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The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music

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