Why DIY is Better: Jim O’Rourke

[@samuel_andreyev]

Do you agree with Jim? Let me know in the comments!

[@Davidjpower]

I certainly agree with his view that there is a large group of people with eclectic musical tastes who would appreciate what some contemporary classical composers do but who don't attend contemporary classical concerts. Consequently, it is a good idea for such composers to also do other things to bring their music to the attention of such listeners.

[@modularaccordion]

Many non-classically educated artists with a lot of following in the experimental/ambient/noise scene take a lot of inspiration from artists like Stockhausen or spectralism, microtonal music, etc. Building studios with 50s oscillators and filters, playing with clusters and overtones. Artists and their fanbase you wouldn’t per se expect in a concert hall. Rather at underground parties or alternative exhibition spaces. And it’s growing. You might argue how much of a difference, to a random listener, there is between something like Xenakis’s Bohor and William Basinskis latest clock tower album. They might adore both. I tried to convince friends in the modular synth/guitar/experimental pedal world friends to listen to ensembles like Riot or Proton and they often love the pieces they perform. Whereas they probably wouldn’t get very excited by a Schubert symphony. New music definitely triggers new audiences. It’s just a matter of reaching them! There’s so much possibilities for the future :)

[@seeinahead]

Jim O’Rourke’s solo rock albums are so fun. They contain some of the most charismatic, heartfelt and musically engaging alt rock songs out there. Absolute legend!

[@samuel_andreyev]

I agree!

[@hawaii_hardware]

I tend to agree and loved O'Rourke's albums as a 19 year old but as an adult you have to admit the lyrics to songs like "Halfway to a Threeway" did not age so well. It wasn't until about 2013 or so that increasingly behavior of the non-threatening cardigan poet artist people were recognized as sus (by women) and they fled en masse to Japan. No offense Jim, just an observation. This is why I prefer classical music now - no lyrics...

[@ggo2000]

@@hawaii_hardware what an absolutely inane and ignorant comment. I don’t know if you know this but people can write lyrics from the perspective of characters they disdain and share no fundamental understandings with, and his reason for moving to Japan is none of your business (and certainly not because he’s some creep who had to flee the American woman)

[@hawaii_hardware]

@@ggo2000 i obviously disagree

[@ggo2000]

@@hawaii_hardware ok weirdo

[@yidochae284]

Jim O'Rourke is my hero!

[@samuel_andreyev]

Mine too

[@yidochae284]

@@samuel_andreyev this is an amazing episode Samuel. I'm greatly enjoying it.

[@Chatetris]

Man, I absolutely love Jim O'Rourke. I had to purchase "Halfway to a Threeway" and "Bad Timing" on vinyl after listening to your full podcast! Cannot wait to see Jim on the program again!

[@slobberkissintl3548]

Check out Gastr del Sol The album Crookt Crakt or Fly I think you'll love it Camofleur also And Eureka So many masterpieces!

[@MrDaigoRiki]

I saw him in Tokyo, I was so shocked to see him just next to me standing saying goodbyes to his friends after dinner or sth.I love his work, Gastr del sol and his solo stuff and collaboration stuff, very high quality of crazy focus ability and one sound leads the next sound that comes up his mind, a very extraordinary artist.

[@artpinsof5836]

Fantastic interview Samuel! & this clip was, indeed, a great one to share in that format. I relate to Jim’s reticence to involve other people in his process of creating. And with the modern leveraging of social media, KZbin, etc., new means of finding an audience are an excellent option to avoid dealing with the gatekeeping social aspect, as well..

[@nobody_gtk]

I've always heard of Jim but never engaged with his music. from this clip though I can tell he's a smart fella. very much agree with his pragmatic approach. I've always felt that same way about making stuff. like why should I make such a big fuss about The New Thing that I've created? just let it live in its little place and let me get started on making the next one. artists are generally terrible marketers and I'm happy that the internet has afforded us the tools to just do our thing.

[@girlinagale]

Documenting your process and approaches is part of conventional art practice. Many artists have to fulfil that role in order to take part in the art industry. I really like that Jim says to describe your process and working is just another piece of work, not the piece in question.

[@RobertMunro-wb6jb]

Love Jim’s music ! 1 of my favourites is the album electric dress he did with merzbow& Carlos giffioni !!!

[@ferritoviera]

@1:38 Georg Friedrich Haas! took me a while to understand

[@carlcruysberghs2298]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@cliffordramsey2500]

I love this conversation, but I have to disagree on the last point on public process documentation/auto-reflection. It is still definitely practiced by creatives of all disciplines, possibly now more than ever, but the medium for doing so has changed. Most musicians/creatives have to leverage social media to build an audience or get work, which means becoming content creators of some stripe. One of the most popular and demanded forms of content from creatives are process tutorials.

[@drummersagainstitk]

Hey Sam, I'd like you to please contact Dan Vasc on his channel and write a new opera for him. I can't think of anyone else who could do it. Please go listen to his incredible abilities. Thanks. Cont success.

[@Gabe-qd4gz]

r.i.p. phil ❤️

[@abanana2561]

Is there any place we can keep track of your recent musical discoveries? I would like to hear these new artists you speak of. Those in and outside of the musical world. Do you keep any playlists anywhere or some sort of journel or blog?

[@samuel_andreyev]

Good idea. I will try to be more active with posting links here. I do often post links on Twitter in case you’d like to follow me there.

[@vladrileynavilys]

What do you guys call new music? I thought at first it was the contemporary classical scene, but then it sounded like it involves electronic sounds too.

[@samuel_andreyev]

Music that is new

[@vladrileynavilys]

@@samuel_andreyev So literally any new release, ok i didn't have the impression it was what was meant in the disussion

[@Gabe-qd4gz]

@@vladrileynavilysno

[@vladrileynavilys]

@@Gabe-qd4gzFantastic, now it's clear.

[@Theprogressivemusician]

I'm struggling with this idea of either being in a band and operate under creative limitations but being able to have more opportunities and resources for doing stuff or being a solo artist and doing everything on my own, which is difficult both financially and organisationally. What would you suggest?

[@samuel_andreyev]

Do both

[@Theprogressivemusician]

@@samuel_andreyev Thanks! For me, I'd prefer to be solo just because of the creative freedom but I'm feeling like I should compromise that and get others on board since I'm just starting to release music and don't have resources to afford all the recording and hiring guns I would need for shows etc. I really don't know if it's the right approach/mindset.

[@samuel_andreyev]

It’s way, way harder to do it alone in music. You will need a network.

[@Theprogressivemusician]

@@samuel_andreyev So band it is for now right?

[@samuel_andreyev]

That would probably be easier, as you get your career off the ground

[@ciggymarley]

"gamebreaker"

[@underflo43tky]

i think he meant dealbreaker? but thats nice.

[@robertlevy9412]

Interesting interview. Thanks for providing it. I have a number of disagreements with Jim. When I met him 35-40 years ago, he was living in his parents home, he was barely making a living getting work in bands and commissions. He seemed annoyed by all of it, by depending on anyone ( I heard him yell at his parents ) , he was not only disdainful of other musicians except a select few but the education process and annoyed at earning a living it seemed. He called his own work after he produced it like reflections on your own vomit. This attitude of diy is a huge misnomer. Everyone depends on everything to survive; be it money to eat, make art or do anything ! Therfore, regardless of liking your final product or in Jim’s case just the process I suspect everything is physically and mentally intertwined. The camera to do this interview, the room he’s siting in , the system of Bandcamp itself which he didn’t create - he depends on that to some degree. If one doesn’t like one’s work / why share it with the world ? Put it in a closet then . As to new music or any music being produced in any form or heard in any venue it should be about joy and pleasure - it’s not torture. The point about having to use a theoretical framework to discuss one work is an academic idea but a practical consideration to some degree, for a listener or an audience. An artist doesn’t have to explain something fully but an attitude of disdain for an audience is just plain mean and thoughtless. Again if one intends their work to be used by the world - then they should engage with it and enjoy the experience. Otherwise while add to the mass of information that’s clogging up the world ?

[@mrgood8378]

Frankie Knuckles loved his music