Justin Vernon

Justin Vernon, the frontman of Bon Iver, shares his journey from heartbreak to healing through music. He reflects on navigating fame and the pressures of the industry while emphasizing self-care and reevaluating priorities. Vernon discusses his spiritual evolution and the mystique of the number 22, exploring how it shapes his understanding of life. He also delves into the duality of time and emotion, illustrating how past experiences influence creativity. With a new album, SABLE/fABLE, he captures the essence of personal growth and artistic expression.

Justin Vernon, the talented musician behind Bon Iver, chats about his latest album, SABLE, fABLE. He humorously dives into the quirks of Wisconsin life, from meat raffles to Culver's orders. The conversation meanders through topics like celebrity culture, Bob Dylan's songwriting magic, and the highs of creative collaboration. They even touch on astrology and the culinary joys of tinned fish, all while reflecting on the balance between artistic expression and personal happiness.

Today we are re-visiting one of our favorite episodes from 2019 featuring Rick Rubin in conversation with Justin Vernon and his engineer Chris Messina. In 2006 Justin Vernon started Bon Iver as a solo project after the end of a romantic relationship and the break up of his college band. Justin recorded Bon Iver's first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, alone over three months in his dad’s hunting cabin deep in the woods of Western Wisconsin. His setup consisted of a small recording rig and a couple guitars. In the years since, Justin Vernon’s music has evolved dramatically. For one, Bon Iver is no longer a solo project—it’s still centered around Justin, but it now includes a bunch of musicians and collaborators including his engineer, Chris Messina. On today's episode, Justin talks about how allowing himself to be bored without any guilt, led to him creating his now classic debut. He also talks about how the harshness of the Wisconsin winters along with the absence of any big city thrills first influenced his sound. And, Justin explains his unwavering love for his favorite song of all time “Fugitive,” by The Indigo Girls. Listen to a playlist of some of our favorite Bon Iver songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin Vernon, the creative force behind Bon Iver, delves into his return with the new EP 'SABLE,' his first in over five years. He shares the personal journey behind the album, addressing themes of heartache and emotional introspection. Vernon reflects on the complexities of fame, the significance of collaboration with artists like Taylor Swift and Charli XCX, and the profound impact of psychedelics on his creativity. His candid thoughts on performance and growth resonate, highlighting a transformative period for both him and his music.

Justin Vernon founded the band Bon Iver in 2006. Bon Iver’s released four albums, and won two Grammys, including Best New Artist. The most recent album, i,i, came out in August 2019, and in this episode, Justin breaks down a song from it called “Holyfields,.” He’s joined by producers Chris Messina and Brad Cook. We spoke to him in July, from his studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where the song started. They finished it at Sonic Ranch studio, in Tornillo, Texas, on the border of the US and Mexico. songexploder.net/bon-iver