“A way of life”: Kurt Vile on the all-encompassing influence of cosmic poet Sun Ra
Over the past two decades, American singer-songwriter Kurt Vile has certainly established himself as one of the most prolific artists in the world of American indie folk and rock music. However, that title is at risk of being somewhat reductive of Vile’s career. From his early work with The War on Drugs to his celebrated solo career and collaborations with the likes of Courtney Barnett and Dinosaur Jr, the singer-songwriter has repeatedly reaffirmed his vast range of musical influence and extensive knowledge of the DIY music-making tradition. One such influence on Vile that is not often mentioned is his deep appreciation for jazz.
Jazz is a somewhat divisive genre within the world of rock and indie, so often viewed as a confusing menagerie of self-congratulatory musicians who are either unwilling or unable to create comprehensive and accessible pop-centric tracks. You tend to find, however, that most rock stars worth their salt hold an utter adoration for the world of jazz. After all, the jazz scene was the original home for DIY music-making, experimentation and political activism. Like it or not, there would be no punk and no rock and roll without the influence of jazz.
The genre has an incredibly long history, illustrated by a plethora of truly groundbreaking artists. However, there is one name in particular that is virtually unavoidable within the world of spiritual jazz and experimental music: Sun Ra. Even within the endlessly experimental world of jazz, nobody really compares to the composer, bandleader and cosmic poet Sun Ra. Having created well over one hundred albums over the course of his 60-year career, the thought of immersing yourself in the incredible music of Sun Ra can be somewhat daunting, but that never stopped Kurt Vile.
Vile is something of a disciple of Sun Ra, which likely explains the indie folk icon’s early roots in lo-fi and DIY music making – something which was pioneered by Sun Ra. Back in 2022, Vile compiled a list of essential albums for Spin, which, of course, included an extensive box set of Sun Ra material. Explaining his love for the jazz legend, Vile shared, “Sun Ra died in Philly. The house where he lived is right near where I live. Recently, I played The Sun Ra Arkestra, directed by Marshall Allen. Marshall Allen is now 98. It was unbelievable.”
Selecting the 14-CD box set The Eternal Myth Revealed, originally released in 2011, as one of his essential records – which is somewhat contradictory to the format – he explained, “Sun Ra has such a huge catalogue, and he’s so influential that this is called The Eternal Myth Revealed. It’s like this box set here — it’s his early influences, early rehearsed tapes. The reason it’s so essential is because with Sun Ra, you can’t just pick one single album. It’s the way of life.”
Heaping praise on to the late Sun Ra, Kurt Vile continued, “He’s like my God in a way. I want to know all his early influences,” adding, “He had his own label, El Saturn Records. He was the original DIY. He was a genius.” The box set itself compiles some early compositions by Sun Ra, along with the various influences that he was inspired by during those early years.
While Sun Ra’s influence might not be the most obvious, upon listening to Kurt Vile’s indie folk rock, one can certainly trace his dedication to experimentation, DIY, and embracing a variety of different genres back to the weird and wonderful world of Sun Ra.
