i,i (pronounced ‘I comma I’) was originally intended to be released on Friday August 30 (the same day as Tool’s highly anticipated return Fear Inoculum). However, to the surprise of fans, the record was essentially drip-fed to radio stations across the world in its entirety, starting off with Double J here in Australia before finishing in LA with Beats Radio. Lyric videos of all the album’s tracks were then uploaded to Bon Iver’s YouTube channel before the album itself arrived on streaming services.
i,i features contributions from a range of heavyweights from all genres, including James Blake, Moses Sumney, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Else Jensen and Young Thug producer Wheezy. Vernon elaborated on the release of the record, which they consider to be the ‘Autumn’ in the band’s catalogue, stating that “This project began with a single person, but throughout the last 11 years, the identity of Bon Iver has bloomed and can only be defined by the faces in the ever growing family we are.”
Once again, Justin Vernon has affirmed himself as being the “baddest white boy alive.” What a blessed Friday!
