Jim-E Stack

American producer Jim-E Stack (James Horton Stack) first became known for making driving yet melancholy experimental club music, then gradually developed a more song-driven style and collaborated with several prominent indie and left-field pop artists. On early releases such as 2014′s Tell Me I Belong, he constructed busy, bass-heavy dance tracks featuring chopped-up R&B vocal samples and wistful, teary-eyed melodies juxtaposed with slightly aggressive beats. Since then, his music has become more refined and sophisticated, and he’s worked with artists such as Bon Iver, Empress Of, HAIM, and Charli XCX. The former two later returned the favor, joining him on his 2020 sophomore effort, EPHEMERA. His sound dipped further into dancehall and R&B with tracks like 2022′s “Next to Me” (with Lucky Daye).
A drummer since his youth, Stack was raised in San Francisco and started producing hip-hop beats in 2008; eventually the sounds of U.K. grime and Baltimore club crept their way into his productions. He moved to New Orleans to study music production and technology at Loyola University, and his remix of Nguzunguzu’s “Mirage” made an impact, leading to his first release, 2011′s Come Between EP, which received extensive airplay on BBC Radio 1. Following the “Bubble Boy” single on Jerome LOL and Samo Sound Boy’s Body High label, Stack moved to Brooklyn in the summer of 2012 and began working on his first album. In 2013, he remixed Deptford Goth’s song “Union,” and played gigs with acid house legend DJ Pierre as part of Body High’s fall tour. Following a tour with Shlohmo, Jim-E Stack’s debut album, Tell Me I Belong, arrived on Innovative Leisure in July 2014. Stack then supported Bonobo on his North American tour, in addition to playing gigs with Jacques Greene and Chrome Sparks.
In early 2016, Stack released a single titled “Deadstream” (a version by Rostam, featuring Charli XCX, also appeared) as well as a cover of Björk’s “Hyperballad” featuring Lower Dens singer Jana Hunter. He also contributed to the opening track on How to Dress Well’s full-length Care. The following year, he co-wrote or performed on recordings by HAIM, Cold Specks, and Lydia Ainsworth. He later collaborated with the Range on the track “With You,” released by Domino as the B-side of a 12”; the track was remixed by Yaeji. Stack’s EP It’s Jim-ee appeared around the same time. Two non-album tracks, “Somebody” and “Forgotten,” surfaced in 2018. Additionally, Stack released a cover of Perfume Genius’ “When I’m with Him,” featuring Empress Of, in 2019. To close out the decade, he worked with Ant Clemons on the song “Good Enough” and contributed to albums by Freya Ridings, Lower Dens, and Caroline Polachek.
He continued collaborating with the likes of Empress Of, HAIM, and Charli XCX in 2020, also remixing Active Child’s song “Cruel World” and co-producing Bon Iver’s single “PDLIF.” Bon Iver returned the favor on Stack’s own “Jeanie,” from his sophomore full-length, EPHEMERA, which arrived that October. That short set included appearances by Bon Iver, Empress Of, Ant Clemons, Octavian, and more. In 2021, Stack released “Sweet & Spice” (with Deb Never) and the EP Promotional Only. “Next to Me,” a track with Lucky Daye, appeared in 2022. ~ Paul Simpson