Bon Iver elaborates on the emotional impact of his duet with Danielle Haim, revealing that he was touched so deeply during the recording at BBC's Maida Vale Studios that he couldn't help but break down in tears.
Dive into Bon Iver's Songmaking Process with Justin Vernon and Pals
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of three tracks from Bon Iver's new album, SABLE, fABLE, as Justin Vernon teams up with Jim-E Stack and Danielle Haim for an insightful hour-long chat on BBC Radio 6 Music, filmed at the iconic Maida Vale Studios.
Reminiscing on the inception of "If Only I Could Wait," a duet with Danielle Haim, Vernon recalls a snowed-in session at his Wisconsin studio April Base in 2022. "You and Danielle showed up on the 21st, and there was a huge snowstorm," he recalls. "We all just got stuck together for four days."
Rather than recording in the main studio, the team instead set up shop in a smaller space Vernon set up during the pandemic: "We have April Base studios, a bigger thing that's been a work in progress over the years, but then during Covid I set up a room about half the size of this that didn't sound very good, but had a lot of vibe in it."
The heartbeat of the song came from a rhythmic pattern programmed by Stack, a syncopated loop made up of crunchy hi-hats and snares. "Jim-E Stack, you deserve some major credit here," Vernon acknowledges. "Your programming sounds so classic, the best breakbeats and beats. That little hi-hat pattern sounds like a whole melody - it had the song in it."
With Stack's synth stab added, courtesy of the producer's signature sound run through a delay, the song took shape. Stack dramatically recalls the moment: "I was flipping through samples and stuff, and I accidentally hit this, just a little stab... and you were like: 'that!'"
At first, Haim was slated to lay down background vocals, but her improvised scratch vocal lines stole the show, inspiring Vernon to transform the track into a duet. "Danielle, your improvised vocal lines were electrifying," he admits. "It was at that moment that I knew we were creating something extraordinary."
Stack, Haim, and Vernon each took turns adding layers to the song from 30 potential ideas they developed over those four snowbound days. As the fundamentals coalesced into a beautiful collage, Vernon knew that longtime collaborator Rob Moose's strings would be the perfect finishing touch. His eloquent instrumental parts elevated the track to new heights of beauty.
Crafting "If Only I Could Wait" is an exemplary demonstration of the collaborative spirit at the heart of Bon Iver's projects. With SABLE, fABLE, the beloved indie band returns with a fresh offering and a host of creative collaborators, including Dijon, Flock of Dimes, Mk.gee, and Jacob Collier.
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Enjoy the unique collaboration between Bon Iver, Jim-E Stack, and Danielle Haim as they bring life to the tune "If Only I Could Wait", blending music elements from syncopated loops to atmospheric strings. This process highlights the innovative spirit of Bon Iver's creative partnerships, a testament to their forthcoming album SABLE, fABLE.
