You might recall the music of American folk band Bon Iver on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
If you listened close to “Lost In The World,” you would hear the smooth vocals of front man Justin Vernon crooning on the intro.
“I’m lost in the woods, I’m down on my mind, I’m building a sill to slow down the time,” were the words of an artist who escaped to his father’s cabin in rural Wisconsin after he and his first band DeYarmond split ways.
In his three months of complete solitude, Vernon produced and recorded the 2008 critically acclaimed album For Emma, Forever Ago – the debut album of his new music ensemble Bon Iver.
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The group name, which was created in 2007, derives from the French expression “bon hiver,” meaning “good winter.” Additional members include Michael Noyce, Sean Carey and Matthew McCaughan.
Though many misinterpret Bon Iver as synonymous with only Justin Vernon, the front man was quick to set the record straight: “Bon Iver is often equated with just me,” said Vernon, “but you are who surrounds you.”
The “Woods” sample, which crept its way onto hip-hop playlists everywhere thanks to West, was set to be released on the band’s premiere album. However, the track didn’t make the final cut and instead landed on Bon Iver’s follow-up EP BloodBank.
But that’s not what got Bon Iver to the Grammys.
The band’s debut album For Emma, Forever Ago received widespread praise, and increased in popularity as the group performed on several revered music stages such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Music Festival, SXSW, Glastonbury and CMJ Music Festival.
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Simultaneously, Bon Iver’s acclaim grew after media outlets like The Village Voice, The AV Club and Pitchfork media began to laud the debut project. For Emma, Forever Ago soon began to chart within the top 10 sections of several ‘best’ lists.
The band’s second album, Bon Iver, debuted at number 2 on the Billboard charts. Though it was an “ambitious musical departure” from their first album, Bon Iver moved over 100,000 units in its first week.
In 2009, the group won the Brit award for Best International Breakthrough Act, and is currently nominated for four Grammy awards including Best New Artist.
Aside from Skrillex, Bon Iver could definitely dominate the Best New Artist category as one of the biggest outsider artists to grab the Grammy. But Skrillex isn’t the only other artist crossing their fingers for the win. Nicki Minaj, J.Cole and The Band Perry are all hoping to grab the title.
Will Bon Iver walk away winners? Tune in Sunday night to find out!
