Grammy Award-winning indie band Bon Iver released a music video today for their newest song, PDLIF (Please Don’t Live in Fear) on Direct Relief’s website.
The release marks the first time a music video has premiered on Direct Relief’s website and reflects the myriad of new ways artists — and individuals in general — are helping support Covid-19 relief efforts. Along with the novel distribution method, the song was created in a new way as well, because of safety precautions necessitated by the pandemic. Each contributor worked on their part of the song in isolation before sending their work on to their bandmates and audio engineers.
The band said in a press release that the song “serves as a subtle reminder that, though apart, we’re never alone; the importance of collaboration and community remains as strong as ever.”
Eau Claire, Wisconsin-native Justin Vernon, who started the band in 2006, was moved to make the song a few weeks ago after being introduced to Alabaster dePlume’s “Visit Croatia,” by a childhood friend and musician Drew Christopherson.
In an effort to help support the distribution of protective gear and other essential medical items to frontline health care providers, Bon Iver is donating 100% of all proceeds from PDLIF to Direct Relief’s Covid-19 response.
The organization’s response to Covid-19 has focused on providing protective gear for frontline health workers and filling other requested medical needs, the creation of a $27 million fund for primary care safety net facilities (the largest-ever philanthropic commitment to U.S. safety net clinics), and producing data products to inform policies and decision making, including information tools being used by California and other state governments to guide stay-at-home orders and reopening plans.
Since late January, Direct Relief has delivered more than 10,000 shipments to more than 1,800 health care facilities across all 50 U.S. states and 62 countries, totaling more than 4.3 million masks, 2.8 million gloves, 105,000 gowns and coveralls, 640 oxygen concentrators and ventilators, and 3,100 face shields, as well as 40.1 million doses of medications to treat a range of chronic and acute health conditions.
The video for PDLIF was created, produced, and directed by Aaron Anderson and Eric Timothy Carlson.
Featured on the track with Vernon are Jim-E Stack (drum programming), Kacy Hill (vocals), Joseph K Rainey, Sr. (vocals), Eli Teplin (piano), Devin Hoffman (bass), and Rob Moose (string arrangements, piano). “PDLIF” was produced by Justin Vernon, Jim-E Stack, and BJ Burton. The lyrics were written by Vernon, Hill, dePlume, and Michael Lewis, with mixing by BJ Burton and mastering by Huntley Miller.
Bon Iver’s philanthropic initiatives also extend locally. First announced with the Blood Bank 10th Anniversary Edition reissue, the band recently donated proceeds from April merch sales to Wisconsin nonprofits Feed My People and the Chippewa Valley Artist Relief Fund.
PDLIF is Bon Iver’s first new, studio release since last year’s “i,i” which earned two Grammy nominations.
