Van Vernon is taking the creative process into his own hands on his newest EP, Rubicon.
The 6-track project was recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced by Vernon at his farmhouse in the Swiss Alps, along with contributions from Lukas Stalder on electric guitar and pedal steel. Rubicon hit streaming services on November 15, 2024.
After buying a dusty old guitar from a classmate for fifty dollars, Vernon started making music at the age of 15. After a short stint with his band The Horses, making music faded into the background of his life as it often does. It wasn't until 2015 while hiking the Sertig Pass in Switzerland that he realized his passion for music had reinvigorated at 45-years-old.
Along with Rubicon, Vernon has produced two albums in his alpine cottage during his sessions earlier this year.
The opening track on the album, "The summer's daughter," is mysterious and atmospheric, filled with natural imagery and appreciation, while also grieving the visual effects of climate change. "The creek is growing / We should change its name," he sings. With a slow build to a booming chorus, Vernon believes that the natural world is healing for us and needs to be preserved.
In "Potholes," Vernon sings about the uncertain future, illogical fears, and the times that life makes us stumble. The track has a country sound and a chilling organ accompaniment. He sings, "Sharpen a knife gambling with life / With a pinch of scorn / The road is long and full of potholes / All around my broken dreams."
"When I Fall" is a standout indie rock track, with welcoming pedal steel and a bright, upbeat energy. It is an endearing love song in which Vernon shows his appreciation for his sweetheart, singing "She's like the sun / Dancing across the floor… I've never met anyone like her before."
Closing out the EP is the title track, featuring sweet guitar and simple harmonies. On "Rubicon," Vernon laments the modern era and changing times, singing, "We're ignoring all the signs / Don't know how and I don't know why / Rubicon has been crossed / But we keep moving the line." The track is mellow and reflective with emotional depth.
On Rubicon, Vernon delivers a diverse blend of country, folk, and indie rock, along with a wide thematic range. Both personal and broader human experience inform his self-described "poetic folk" sound. A true "indie" artist by the definition of the word, Van Vernon is planning to release two albums recorded in his at-home studio in 2025.
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