Bon Iver is the American indie folk project Justin Vernon founded in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 2006, debuting with For Emma, Forever Ago — recorded alone in a remote cabin over a winter. From there, the Grammy-winning Bon Iver, Bon Iver and the electronic left turn of 22, A Million chart one of modern indie's boldest evolutions. Shop Bon Iver vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Bon Iver was founded by Justin Vernon in 2006 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He recorded the debut album For Emma, Forever Ago (2007) alone in his father's remote Wisconsin cabin during the winter; the album was released through Jagjaguwar in 2008 to broad critical acclaim. The project has since expanded into a collective ensemble featuring contributors including Sean Carey, Mike Noyce, Matt McCaughan, Andy Fitzpatrick, and many guest collaborators. Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011) won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. The band's albums have continued to push experimentally, with 22, A Million (2016) marking a particularly significant electronic and processed turn.
Bon Iver's sound has evolved markedly from intimate indie folk to processed, electronics-influenced art pop. Vernon's distinctive falsetto vocal range, vocoder and Auto-Tune treatments, and collaborative ensemble approach are defining features. The project has also been associated with Vernon's PEOPLE Festival and the Eaux Claires festival in Wisconsin.
Jagjaguwar pressings of the Bon Iver catalog have appeared in multiple variants, including 10th anniversary For Emma reissues and limited deluxe editions of 22, A Million.
Listeners new to Bon Iver typically start with For Emma, Forever Ago (2007) or Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011).
