Bon Iver - ClashMusic.com Q&A

“Extremely big.”

So Justin Vernon, a.k.a. Bon Iver, describes his 2008 in a nutshell. Clash certainly can’t disagree: from nothing to somewhere, Vernon’s gone from a backwater refugee to a venue-filling headliner with a debut album so acclaimed it’s almost certainly filling a few stockings this Christmas.

That album, ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’, was written in solitude, but now it’s been heard the world over. It’s the natural place to start our Q&A-ing.

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What has surprised you the most this year?
The sheer amount of people who have been resounding about the record.

Have things changed for you?
Yes (laughs), mainly I don’t live with my parents any more.

What lessons have you learnt?
I’ve learnt not to rest, stop moving and evolving as a person.

Do you get noticed a lot more in your home town?
No, not at all. Never.

What’s the funniest thing that happened on any tour this year?
Getting in a really bad accident and getting sick on the first day of the first tour as a band.

What accident did you get into?
We were diving to our first show in the snow and we spun out, did a 360 and saw our life flash between our eyes. Then the very next morning I got food poisoning for our next show.

Do you remember what food you ate?
We could never figure it out, but I could only play four songs that night and I had a bucket on stage with me.

Do you feel any pressures to perform on the road?
No, we’re a relaxed bunch and always excited to be playing.

Have you started writing next album?
No, but I do have plans for early next year.

How will this new album differ from the debut?
I’m in the process of making a studio out here in Wisconsin, so I’ll bunker down here and record it.

What was the most shocking thing you discovered this year?
That the music business is actually a business.

What was the most valuable thing you learnt this year?
How to be myself.

What was the most shameful thing that happened to you?
Getting a little to drunk and waking up in Brooklyn with one of my shoes on.

Did you find the other shoe?
Yeah, I walked around Brooklyn a bit and I found it actually.

If you could change one thing about 2008 what would it be?
Make it longer.

If you could have anything in 2009 what would it be?
A tractor.

If your music could do anything in 2009 what would it be?
Slow down time enough, for people to listen it.

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Bon Iver’s ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ is out now via 4AD/Jagjaguwar. See Justin live as follows…

December
3 Dublin
7 London Hammersmith Apollo

May 2009
15-17 Minehead All Tomorrow’s Parties