Winter Soundtrack: For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)

By Alvin Hua

For Emma, Forever Ago is an intimate, raw and deceptively simple debut - perfect for your winter walks. 

Whether you’re listening to Taylor Swift, Kanye West, or Travis Scott, you’ll know who Justin Vernon is. His influence in indie folk is significant, but his reach extends far beyond the genre, shaping the experimental sounds of modern music, collaborating on notable projects such as Travis Scott’s recent single, ‘MY EYES’. However, nearly two decades later, his debut album remains his most vulnerable and is a pure expression of his talent and creativity. 

The story behind For Emma, Forever Ago is essential to understanding Vernon’s unique style. In late 2006, Justin Vernon isolated himself in his father’s hunting cabin in the remote woods of Wisconsin, following a series of personal and professional turmoil. The end of a relationship, the end of his band, and a battle with mononucleosis left him physically and emotionally drained. Vernon spent the winter immersing himself in his music with a cheap guitar and rudimentary recording equipment. 

Consequently, a mixture of dull guitar sounds and his signature falsetto, fuelled by depression and cold weather, created a 9-track masterpiece. His isolation and fragility created an atmosphere that feels both haunting and comforting. During a class with music students at NYU, Pharell Williams once said, “You don’t want people to think when they are listening to your music, you want them to be taken away to some other place”. Vernon achieves precisely that with this album. Its minimalist production and poetic lyrics transport listeners to winter in his cabin, where you can feel the emotion and creativity that he showcases. The rawness of his singing - the aching falsetto - feels like a heartfelt cry and the poetic yet ambiguous lyrics allow listeners to project their own experiences onto the music. Furthermore, the crackle of the recording, the imperfect moments, and the natural echo of the cabin’s wooden walls all contribute to the intimate and authentic experience Vernon crafts. The album captures one man’s journey through depression and solitude to create something beautiful – a testament to the power of art born from adversity. 

Whether you’re walking through the cold winter streets this year, lost in thought, or wrapped up at home in the warmth, For Emma, Forever Ago is a nostalgic and intimate 40-minute journey that feels nothing short of essential this time of year.