Justin Vernon of Bon Iver revealed that some songs on Taylor Swift's album *Folklore* originated as demos from Big Red Machine, his project with Aaron Dessner. In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music in April 2025, Vernon discussed how Swift recognized the kind of music she wanted to create from these demos.
In early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted touring plans, Vernon had invited Dessner to join Bon Iver's European tour as a guitarist. The initial plan was to incorporate some Big Red Machine tracks into the setlist. However, the tour was canceled, leading to a change in direction.
During the quarantine period, Dessner shared works in progress on Instagram Live. Swift heard these tracks and began a collaboration with Dessner. Vernon noted that Dessner used some Big Red Machine pieces as a foundation for songs written with Swift on *Folklore*, which was released in July 2020. Vernon also contributed to *Folklore*, co-writing and featuring on the song "Exile."
Vernon expressed admiration for Swift's seamless integration into their musical community and acknowledged her global prominence. He highlighted how Swift embraced the collaborative spirit fostered by Big Red Machine, leading to what he considers some of her strongest lyrics and songwriting.