Bon Iver has shared a new single titled ‘AUATC’ – short for ‘Ate Up All Their Cake’ – which features Bruce goddamn Springsteen, Jenny Lewis and more.
Co-written with Phil Cook of Megafaun, the track includes vocal contributions from The Boss and Lewis along with Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and Elsa Jensen of rivulare.
The track arrives with a music video directed by Aaron Anderson and Eric Timothy Carlson which follows a masked-up dancer moving around the city streets.
Alongside ‘AUATC’, Bon Iver shared links to a number of social justice organisations, encouraging fans to take action. Those initiatives included 350.org, Equal Justice Initiative, Minneapolis Movement Sanctuary, NIVA and Red Letter Grant.
“Each and every person on earth deserves to live fully with dignity, equity, justice and joy. Instead, our capitalistic societies have created a world that is most supportive of the wealthy and the elite, and the predatory corporations and policies that drive their disproportionate success,” they wrote.
“The average person is cast aside and unheard; marginalized communities are further oppressed due to race, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, creed, criminal record, housing stability, education, ability, documentation status and more. The pandemic further magnifies these grave inequities and this unchecked greed.”
“We must continue the fight to topple capitalism as we know it, and recognize our collective participation in its dominant institutions. Bon Iver acknowledges our own position within and use of capitalistic practices. It is with recognition of our privilege that we are fully committed to using our unique platform to challenge and change capitalism within our industry and far beyond.”
It’s the second track to be released as part of Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver: Series Five project. Back in April, Vernon released charity single ‘PDLIF’. That month, he also premiered a new song titled ‘Things Behind Things Behind Things’ while performing as part of a virtual Bernie Sanders rally.
Last month, Bon Iver were announced as headliners in the first lineup drop for next year’s Bluesfest, alongside Jimmy Barnes and Patti Smith.
Watch the video for ‘AUATC’ below.
