SABLE

Olivia Clarin

Justin Vernon, known musically as Bon Iver, released yet another masterpiece with his EP “SABLE.” Incorporating quiet guitar strumming and heartbreakingly delivered lyrics, this new record evokes feelings of an emotional breakdown. From collaborations with super stars like Taylor Swift to being a record-producing machine, Vernon takes listeners on a journey through his deepest turmoil—allowing his audience to examine their inner challenges as well.

Through the trio of songs, the Wisconsin native delves into reflections of unfinished business, guilt, and anguish. In the opening track, Bon Iver sings “I am afraid of changing,” a line that resonates with most human beings on this earth. Change is scary for anyone, and in Vernon’s case, he refers to transitioning from his habit of bottling feelings of darkness to going through the process of healing. 

 In “S P E Y S I D E,” my favorite track on the EP, Vernon sings, “Nothing’s really happened like I thought it would.” This line resonates with me as I find that my life path often takes many twists and turns, sometimes not even getting to the destination I thought it would. However, where I end up instead is not always so bad, and sometimes it’s even better than where I intended to go. The acceptance that accompanies change is an idea I’m still learning; this EP allows me to grapple with and sink into the concept. “I’m a sable / and honey, us the fable,” Bon Iver sings in the record’s closing track. “SABLE,” is named for its near-blackness, the record an outward projection of Vernon’s inner-turbulence. This EP is all-consuming, seeping through the outer shell into the void that I often forget exists.