{{Short description|American musician}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Charlie Looker | image = Charlie Looker Ensemble 2017.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = The Charlie Looker Ensemble performing at Knockdown Center in Queens, 2017 | birth_name = Charles Andrew Looker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|5|23}} | birth_place = New York City | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | genre = | occupation = | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|keyboards}} | years_active = <!-- YYYY–YYYY (or –present) --> | label = {{hlist|Northern Spy|Profound Lore|Last Things|Astral Spirits}} |current_member_of = Extra Life |past_member_of = Zs, Psalm Zero, Dirty Projectors | associated_acts = Extra Life, Zs, Dirty Projectors | website = {{URL|charlielooker.com}} }}
'''Charles A. Looker'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=BIO / DISCOGRAPHY |url=https://www.charlielooker.com/bio-discography |access-date=September 27, 2023 |publisher=Charlie Looker}}</ref> (born May 23, 1980) is an American composer, improviser, vocalist, and guitarist known for his work in experimental metal,<ref name="Pitchfork Solo 2018">{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Andy |title=Charlie Looker: Simple Answers |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/charlie-looker-simple-answers/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=26 June 2018}}</ref> contemporary classical,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walls |first1=Seth Colter |title=Oh! Oh! Ojai: The Week in Classical Music |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/arts/music/oh-oh-ojai-the-week-in-classical-music.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=15 June 2018}}</ref> avant-jazz, and Renaissance and Medieval musical forms.<ref name="Village Voice Feature 2013">{{cite web |last1=Sharp |first1=Elliott |title=Exit Interview: Charlie Looker on the Life and Death of Extra Life |url=https://vvstaging.villagevoice.com/2013/01/18/exit-interview-charlie-looker-on-the-life-and-death-of-extra-life/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527214806/https://vvstaging.villagevoice.com/2013/01/18/exit-interview-charlie-looker-on-the-life-and-death-of-extra-life/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |website=The Village Voice |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=18 January 2013}}</ref>
== Education and career ==
Looker is a graduate of Wesleyan University, where he studied with Anthony Braxton and Alvin Lucier.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Margasak |first1=Peter |title=Tirra Lirra, Extra Life, Cool Memories |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/tirra-lirra-extra-life-cool-memories/Event?oid=1485029 |website=The Chicago Reader |date=23 September 2009 |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref>
Alongside his work as a solo artist,<ref name="Pitchfork Solo 2018" /> Looker also leads an Early/Renaissance-music inspired project, Seaven Teares;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gompers |first1=Sjimon |title=Stream: Seaven Teares, Power Ballads |url=https://imposemagazine.com/bytes/new-music/stream-seaven-teares-power-ballads |website=IMPOSE Magazine |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> performs improvised "death-jazz" with Period, whose rotating cast includes Darius Jones, Chuck Bettis, and Mike Pride;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohan |first1=Brad |title=Zevious |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2014/08/20/zevious/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031171422/https://www.villagevoice.com/2014/08/20/zevious/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |website=The Village Voice |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=20 August 2014}}</ref> played in Sculptress, a duo with Chuck Stern;<ref name="Village Voice 2011">{{cite web |last1=Weingarten |first1=Christopher |title=Download: Tracks By Charlie Looker's Extra Life And Sculptress |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/download-tracks-by-charlie-lookers-extra-life-and-sculptress/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219195355/https://www.villagevoice.com/download-tracks-by-charlie-lookers-extra-life-and-sculptress/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 19, 2023 |website=The Village Voice |access-date=19 December 2023 |date=21 June 2011}}</ref> and leads the industrial-metal duo Psalm Zero, formerly alongside Castevet's Andrew Hock.<ref name="SPIN PZ 2016">{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Andy |title=Review: Psalm Zero Put the Power in Corruption and Lies on 'Stranger to Violence' |url=https://www.spin.com/2016/07/review-psalm-zero-stranger-to-violence/ |website=SPIN |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=22 July 2016}}</ref> He is the songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for avant-rock band Extra Life<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohan |first1=Brad |title=Q&A: Extra Life's Charlie Looker On Dream Seeds, Being A Music Schoolteacher And Thinking Antony Is Awesome |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/05/04/qa-extra-lifes-charlie-looker-on-dream-seeds-being-a-music-schoolteacher-and-thinking-antony-is-awesome/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912074425/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/05/04/qa-extra-lifes-charlie-looker-on-dream-seeds-being-a-music-schoolteacher-and-thinking-antony-is-awesome/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2018 |website=The Village Voice |access-date=9 February 2021 |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> and a former member and co-founder of avant-garde band Zs.<ref name="Pitchfork Zs 2009">{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Mike |title=Zs: Music of the Modern White |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13128-music-of-the-modern-white/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=29 June 2009}}</ref> He worked with Dirty Projectors and appears on their record ''Rise Above''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Jen |title=Charlie Looker, Extra Life |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/charlie-looker-extra-life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201063837/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/charlie-looker-extra-life |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |website=Gothamist |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=22 October 2008 }}</ref> Other collaborators include M Lamar,<ref>{{cite web |title=Listen: M. Lamar, Charlie Looker & Mivos Quartet |url=https://www.newsounds.org/story/listen-m-lamar-charlie-looker-mivos-quartet/ |website=New Sounds |publisher=New York Public Radio |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Mariel Roberts, Ty Braxton,<ref>{{cite web |title=Charlie Looker (Seaven Teares, Psalm Zero, ZS) begins residency at NY's The Stone this month, premieres Twin Peaks cover song |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/charlie-looker-begins-residency-at-the-stone-premieres-twin-peaks-cover-song |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=6 January 2015}}</ref> Mary Halvorson, Mick Barr, Tim Berne, Nat Baldwin,<ref>{{cite web |title=Extra Life: "I'm really into a certain amount of artifice in music." |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/extra-life |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=5 May 2009}}</ref> Earle Brown, Sam Mickens, Kelly Moran, Dax Riggs, Lingua Ignota,<ref name="Chicago Reader 2020">{{cite web |last1=Collo-Julin |first1=Salem |title=Sparta marks a new beginning for NYC's Psalm Zero |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/sparta-marks-a-new-beginning-for-nycs-psalm-zero/Content?oid=77969054 |website=The Chicago Reader |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=21 February 2020}}</ref> Matthew Welch,<ref>{{cite web |title=Matthew Welch: Ceol Nua |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ceol-nua-mw0000221260/credits |website=AllMusic.com |access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> Stu Watson, William Parker,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Puccio |first1=Michael |title=Mike Pride: Scrambler / Bartlomiej Brat Oles: Free Drum Suite |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mike-pride-scrambler-bartlomiej-brat-oles-free-drum-suite-by-michael-puccio.php |website=All About Jazz |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=22 January 2006}}</ref> and Glenn Branca.
He founded Last Things Records, a label that has released recordings by Extra Life, Larkin Grimm, Parenthetical Girls, Psalm Zero, and Sculptress.
In 2011, Looker was named one of NPR Music's "Top 100 Composers Under 40".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mix: 100 Composers Under 40 |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/23/135473622/the-mix-100-composers-under-40 |website=NPR |access-date=10 February 2021 |date=17 April 2011}}</ref>
==Discography==
===As leader===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Artist !! Title !! Label |- |2002 |Lavender |''Get Your Eye''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kendrick |first1=Monica |title=Spot Check |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/spot-check/Content?oid=909353 |website=The Chicago Reader |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=8 August 2002}}</ref> |Newsonic |- |2006 |Extra Life |''Three-Song EP'' |FuckingA |- |2008 |Extra Life |''A Split'' (EP)<ref name="Village Voice Feature 2013" /> |Shatter Your Leaves |- |2008 |Extra Life |''Secular Works''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roesgen |first1=Jeff |title=Extra Life: Secular Works |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/extra-life-secular-works |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref> |Planaria / I & Ear / LOAF |- |2010 |Extra Life |''Made Flesh''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Galil |first1=Leor |title=Reviewed: Extra Life's Made Flesh |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/433975/reviewed-extra-lifes-made-flesh/ |website=Washington City Paper |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=25 March 2010}}</ref> |LOAF / Africantape |- |2011 |Extra Life |''Ripped Heart'' (EP)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Louche |first1=Liz |title=Former Zs member releases Ripped Heart EP with his new(ish) band Extra Life |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/former-zs-member-releases-ripped-heart-ep-his-newish-band-extra-life |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=22 February 2011}}</ref> |Last Things |- |2012 |Extra Life |''Dream Seeds''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohan |first1=Brad |title=Q&A: Extra Life's Charlie Looker On Dream Seeds, Being A Music Schoolteacher And Thinking Antony Is Awesome |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/05/04/qa-extra-lifes-charlie-looker-on-dream-seeds-being-a-music-schoolteacher-and-thinking-antony-is-awesome/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912074425/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/05/04/qa-extra-lifes-charlie-looker-on-dream-seeds-being-a-music-schoolteacher-and-thinking-antony-is-awesome/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2018 |website=The Village Voice |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=4 May 2012}}</ref> |Northern Spy |- |2013 |Seaven Teares |''Power Ballads''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roesgen |first1=Jeff |title=Seaven Teares Power Ballads |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/seaven-teares-power-ballads |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref> |Northern Spy |- |2014 |Psalm Zero |''The Drain''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Currin |first1=Grayson Haver |title=Psalm Zero: The Drain |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19070-psalm-zero-the-drain/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=18 March 2014}}</ref> |Profound Lore |- |2016 |Psalm Zero |''Stranger to Violence''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reyes-Kulkarni |first1=Saby |title=Psalm Zero: Stranger to Violence |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22133-stranger-to-violence/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=30 July 2016}}</ref> |Profound Lore |- |2018 |Charlie Looker |''Simple Answers''<ref name="Pitchfork Solo 2018" /> |Last Things |- |2019 |Nothing Human |''[Five Bandcamp singles]'' |- |- |2020 |Psalm Zero |''Sparta''<ref name="Chicago Reader 2020" /> |Last Things |- |2020 |Charlie Looker |''Pleasures Of A Normal Man'' |Last Things |- |2020 |Seaven Teares |''Older Than Love'' | |- |2022 |Extra Life |''Secular Works, Vol. 2''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudson |first1=Nick |title=Extra Life – Secular Works, Vol. 2 |url=https://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2022/09/05/extra-life-secular-works-vol-2/ |website=Toilet ov Hell |access-date=25 May 2023 |date=5 September 2022}}</ref> |Last Things |- |2024 |Extra Life |''The Sacred Vowel''<ref>{{cite web |title=Nine Songs I Liked This Week in List Form |url=https://machinemusic.net/2024/03/30/nine-songs-i-liked-this-week-in-list-form-mar-24-mar-30/ |website=Machine Music |access-date=31 March 2024 |date=30 March 2024}}</ref> |Last Things |}
=== As co-leader===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Artist !! Title !! Label |- |2000 |Daniel Carter / Charlie Looker / Greg Stare |''Light'' |Aristocracy Communication |- |2003 |Zs |''Zs'' |Troubleman Unlimited |- |2005 |Zs |''Buck''<ref name="TMT Zs 2013">{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Clifford |title=2002-2007: Zs Score: The Complete Sextet Works 2002-2007 |url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/delorean/zs-score-the-complete-sextet-works-2002-2007 |website=Tiny Mix Tapes |date=4 January 2013}}</ref> |Folding Cassettes |- |2005 |Zs |''Karate Bump'' (EP)<ref name="TMT Zs 2013" /> |Planaria |- |2006 |PERIOD |''PERIOD'' |FuckingA |- |2006 |Seductive Sprigs |''Seductive Sprigs''<ref>{{cite web |title=Seductive Sprigs |url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/61955-seductive-sprigs/ |website=WNYC |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=11 June 2006}}</ref> |FuckingA |- |2007 |Zs |''Arms''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mackey |first1=Robbie |title=Zs: Arms |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11063-arms/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=25 January 2008}}</ref> |Planaria |- |2008 |Zs |''The Hard'' (EP) |Three One G |- |2011 |Sculptress |''Cuckold'' |Last Things |- |2012 |Zs |''The Complete Sextet Works 2002-2007''<ref name="TMT Zs 2013" /> |Northern Spy |- |2014 |PERIOD |''PERIOD 2''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eidenberger |first1=Julian |title=Period – 2 (Public Eyesore, 2014) ***½ |url=https://www.freejazzblog.org/2014/09/period-2-public-eyesore-2014.html?m=1 |website=The Free Jazz Collective |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=17 September 2014}}</ref> |Public Eyesore |- |2021 |Jeremiah Cymerman / Charlie Looker |''A Horizon Made of Canvas''<ref>{{cite web |title=AMN Reviews: Jeremiah Cymerman / Charlie Looker – A Horizon Made Of Canvas (2021; Astral Spirits) |url=https://avantmusicnews.com/2020/12/12/amn-reviews-jeremiah-cymerman-charlie-looker-a-horizon-made-of-canvas-2021-astral-spirits/ |website=Avant Music News |access-date=10 May 2021 |date=12 December 2020}}</ref> |Astral Spirits |}
===As sideperson===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Artist !! Title !! Label |- |2002 |Alvin Lucier |''Vespers and Other Early Works'' |New World Records |- |2002 |Matthew Welch |''Ceol Nua'' |Leo Records |- |2005 |Mike Pride |''Scrambler''<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Pride: Scrambler |url=https://m-etropolis.com/blog/mike-pride-scrambler-nottwo-records/ |website=M.etropolis |date=7 January 2011 |access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref> |Not Two Records |- |2006 |Earle Brown |''Folio and Four Systems'' |Tzadik |- |2007 |Dirty Projectors |''Rise Above'' |Dead Oceans |- |2016 |Tredici Bacci |''Amore Per Tutti''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Meredith |title=Tredici Bacci Rolls Out Imaginary Cinematic Masterpiece in Amore Per Tutti |url=https://imposemagazine.com/features/tredici-bacci-rolls-out-imaginary-cinematic-masterpiece-in-amore-per-tutti |website=Impose Magazine |access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref> |NNA |- |2017 |M Lamar |''Surveillance Punishment and the Black Psyche''<ref>{{cite web |title=Listen: M. Lamar, Charlie Looker & Mivos Quartet |url=https://www.wqxr.org/story/listen-m-lamar-charlie-looker-mivos-quartet/ |website=WQXR |publisher=New Sounds Live |access-date=7 March 2021 |date=28 April 2016}}</ref> |Negrogothic |- |2021 |Xiu Xiu |''OH NO'' |Polyvinyl |- |2023 |Xiu Xiu |''Ignore Grief'' |Polyvinyl |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
==External links== * [https://charlielooker.bandcamp.com Charlie Looker Bandcamp] * [https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-looker-mn0000014223/credits AllMusic.com credits]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Looker, Charlie}} Category:Dirty Projectors members Category:Musicians from New York City Category:Wesleyan University alumni Category:Living people Category:1980 births