66. Jim O’Rourke

Illustration by Lani Morrison

Jim O’Rourke is a composer and producer living in Japan after spending most of his life in Chicago. His solo and collaborative works range from pop songwriting to electronic and avant-garde, being one of the first musicians to use a computer for live improvisations. His albums have been released on Table of the Elements, Drag City, Mego, and his own label Moikai. As a producer he has worked with Joanna Newsom, Wilco, US Maple, Stereolab and countless others. He has been a member of Sonic Youth, Loose Fur, Illusion of Safety, Boxhead Ensemble and Gastr Del Sol. O’Rourke’s collaborators include Christian Fennesz, John Fahey, Tony Conrad, Loren Connors, Keiji Haino and the Red Krayola. As a film composer he has made contributions to School of Rock, Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man and a smattering of Japanese films. Jim chats from his home studio The Steam Room with Markly and guest host Dylan Shearer about his formative years, musicians he admires, his current works and aspirations, his take on the world of streaming music, responds to listener questions, and discusses why he no longer writes songs with lyrics or tours. Includes an introduction from Sean O’Hagan of Stereolab, High Llamas and Microdisney.