Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

I'm Not Jim: A Literary Music Workshop

I'm Not Jim has no members named Jim, and on top of that, I'm Not Jim is not a band — at least not in the conventional sense. The root of this musical project lies in two artists' admiration for each other's work. Jonathan Lethem is the author of seven acclaimed novels, including Motherless Brooklyn and Fortress of Solitude. Walter Salas-Humara is the frontman of The Silos, a rock band with 21 years' worth of albums and tours under its belt. Lethem had been a longtime fan of the musician's work, and sent Salas-Humara some copies of his books as a grateful gesture. Blown away by Lethem's talent with words, Salas-Humara invited Lethem to Maine for a few days to write an album.

After two days, 11 songs and plans for more collaboration, Salas-Humara invited music production team Chris Maxwell and Phil Hernandez of The Elegant Too into the process. The result was the group's first release, You Are My People. With a base in electronics, a folk style akin to Neutral Milk Hotel and plenty of twisted pop, You Are All My People is free-style in its sound as well as production.

Copyright 2009 XPN