Bon Iver just launched a new website called Counterpart, linked to his EP SABLE, where people can share their covers of his songs.
This platform features both old and new Bon Iver tunes, like Sam Amidon’s version of “Things Behind Things Behind Things.” There’s also an option for anyone to send in videos, audio, or pictures that might get uploaded randomly. The artists behind these covers mostly stay unnamed.
The project is guided by intriguing questions: “Who else could step into Bon Iver’s shoes? Can a song’s soul exist beyond the original singer? If songs are containers, who else could fill them? Do you know someone who looks like Justin Vernon?” Plus, there’s a thought from Justin Vernon featured in the New Yorker: “Why do we like a song?” he pondered. “Is it because of who’s singing it to us? Or is it the song itself? For me, it’s about the song and what the music does.”
Fans sometimes wonder if they love music for its melody or its messenger.
Since dropping SABLE, Vernon has shared visuals for tracks like “Things Behind Things Behind Things” and “Awards Season.”
