BON IVER’s EVOLUTION
Cottagecore Vibes, Taylor Swift + New Singles
The indie group Bon Iver has become synonymous with hipster jokes and the newfound cottagecore aesthetic. The band released its first album independently in 2007, and this year scored its first song in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. It is an ever-evolving group and its latest happenings are keeping us on our toes.
Bon Iver was founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Since then, the other band members have been an evolving cast of characters. But Vernon’s ingenious songwriting and production skills have made him a lasting and well-loved figure in the band and the indie music scene.
Throughout its four album-long existence, Bon Iver has journeyed from one side of the genre spectrum to the other. For Emma, Forever Ago, the band’s first album was a delicate collection of mostly acoustic tracks that tug at your emotions and provoke a sense of nostalgia you didn’t know was lurking inside. Fast forward to two albums later and 22, A Million broke all conventions of what we had come to expect of Bon Iver. The synth-heavy record was full of experimental sounds that feels overwhelming at times, but not unpleasant.
Last month, Bon Iver took an abrupt and unexpected turn back toward its folksy roots. The group was featured on a track on Taylor Swift’s surprise album folklore, a shockingly soft indie-esque record for the world’s biggest pop star. “Exile” is a standout track on a full album of brilliant songwriting. Vernon and Swift’s voices blend perfectly in the lovely, melancholy duet.
Bon Iver has also released two songs of its own this year and we anticipate more is on the way. The first, “PDLIF” (an acronym for “please don’t live in fear), has a heavy dose of vocal distortion and synthy melodies, making it more akin to the band’s most recent albums than it is to “exile.” All of the proceeds from the single were donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.
The second single is also an acronym, “AUATC” (for “ate up all the cake”). The single was released with a press release that offered a heavy criticism of capitalism. It features Bruce Springsteen and others, although it’s difficult to distinguish the Boss’s voice from the others.
Although there is no release date for Bon Iver’s next album, the artwork for both of its latest singles reads “Bon Iver: Season Five.” That may be an indication of an upcoming fifth studio album and we’re eagerly looking for news of what’s next.
