The band will feature Vernon working with rapper Astronautalis.

Justin Vernon has started a hip-hop oriented group in conjunction with Minneapolis rapper Astronautalis. The collaboration came about after Astronautalis spent eight hours last weekend freestyling over music Vernon had written at the Bon Iver main-man’s April Base studio near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The project also involves Bon Iver drummer S. Carey, and features Ryan Olsen (Gayngs, Polica) behind the boards.

The band has been named, but the collaborators have not yet revealed that bit of information. Astronautalis, real name Andy Bothwell, says of the project, “A lot of my fans are like, ‘Oh this is going to be amazing: Astronautalis rapping and Justin singing choruses.’ It’s not going to be that.”