Imagine diving into the raw, unfiltered process behind crafting a hit track on a groundbreaking album—where collaboration sparks genius, but patience and a dash of instinct reign supreme. That's the magic of music production, and today, we're peeling back the layers on how Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Jim-E Stack brought 'Day One' to life with Dijon and Flock of Dimes. But here's where it gets controversial: Is relying on raw samples and instinct true artistry, or just smart borrowing? Stick around as we explore their insights from the Billboard interview, decoding the creative chaos that birthed tracks on the new album SABLE, fABLE.
Justin Vernon kicks things off by emphasizing that this track wasn't built from scratch in the traditional sense—he didn't compose any musical scores or notations himself. Instead, it sprang directly from a sample—a snippet of audio, perhaps a drum loop or melody excerpt—provided by Sam (likely referring to a collaborator from Dijon's circle). For beginners wondering what a sample is, think of it as a musical shortcut: artists borrow existing sounds from records, recordings, or even live performances and weave them into new creations. This one remained remarkably unchanged, but it took a grueling two years to breathe life into it. Vernon explains they had to 'supply the oxygen'—a poetic way of saying they added structure, layers, and production touches to make it sing. And the melody? It hit him instantly upon receiving the demo. 'It was just there,' he says, crediting Dijon's wisdom in choosing the right foundation. This highlights a key point most people miss: Sometimes, the best ideas aren't invented; they're discovered and refined through collaboration.
Jim-E Stack chimes in, noting they brought in 'the homies'—slang for close friends or collaborators—to contribute. However, he admits they didn't overhaul the original much. Instead, they layered elements, perhaps adding harmonies or subtle effects to build depth. Vernon recalls transcribing the chords—essentially notating the musical building blocks by ear—and transferring them to MIDI keyboards. MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a technology that lets musicians program and trigger sounds digitally, giving the track more 'weight' or presence without recording live instruments every time. This step added heft, transforming a simple sample into something fuller and more impactful.
Stack praises the song as one of their most creatively successful, calling the drums 'classic Jimmy drums'—a nod to the signature style of drummer Jim Keltner, whose patterns break away from the usual two-and-four beat (that's the straightforward, predictable rhythm like boom-boom every measure in rock songs). It blew his mind, proving that unconventional rhythms can elevate a track. Vernon shares a funny anecdote from the recording session in LA: They poured over incredibly tasteful, polished drum takes, but none felt right. It was a lesson in trusting gut feelings over perfection—sometimes, the 'not it' moments lead to breakthroughs.
And this is the part that might spark debate: In an era of digital tools and samples, does this approach cheapen the creative process, or does it democratize music-making by letting artists build on existing gems? What if the real innovation lies in those two years of tweaking and layering? We'd love to hear your thoughts—do you agree that instinct trumps overproduction, or is there a line where borrowing becomes unoriginal? Drop your opinions in the comments and join the conversation!
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