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About

Genius Annotation

“Flume” has an eerily interiorized sound, which matches his unsettling similes. “Lump Sum” begins with a choir of Vernons echoing cavernously, which, along with that rhythmically rushing guitar, initiates the listener into the song’s strange space.

The stage name of electronic music producer Flume comes from the title of this song.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Bon Iver say about "Flume"?
Genius Answer

From an interview with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon with Pitchfork:

After growing up in a Neil Young/ Bob Dylan/ Indigo Girls/ John Prine/ subjective-songwriter kind of world, I finally realized I didn’t have what they had, or I couldn’t do it as well, or I wasn’t exploring deep enough.
The subconscious thing I figured out in “Flume” started giving me more meaning. When we play live, “Flume” is still the song I can get lost in the most. The images in that song are more mysterious, yet more visual to me… I attempted to build odd landscapes that you could exist in that had weird feelings but also cool-sounding words… I really wanted to go deep.

How did "Flume" help solidify the artistic direction of Bon Iver?
Genius Answer

From an interview with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon with Pitchfork:

When I made “Flume” one afternoon at Christy [Smith, Justin’s girlfriend at the time and a player on For Emma]’s house, it immediately felt insane. I’d never done anything like that. It was this new falsetto thing that I’d been working on but never landed. It felt really scrappy. I’d been working on so many songs that spring, but nothing really gathered itself until “Flume” came along.

What has the artist said about the song?
Genius Answer

In a tweet, Justin Vernon revealed it was his favorite song he ever wrote.


Does the track have any certifications?
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