For Emma, Forever Ago is the debut studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver. Initially self-released in July 2007, it gained wider recognition when Jagjaguwar released it in February 2008. The album is primarily the work of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. During his time in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vernon fell ill with mononucleosis and a liver infection, leading to frustration with his songwriting and personal life. Seeking solitude, he left Raleigh and drove to his father's remote hunting cabin, located an hour northwest of his hometown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.