Illiterate Light was formed in 2015 by Jeff Gorman and Jake Cochran. Gorman’s first instrument is the drum kit, also played by his uncle
Steve Gorman of
The Black Crowes. In an interview with Premier Guitar Gorman noted, "The first song that I taught myself was
Down by the River by Neil Young." Gorman and Cochran met in 2010 while attending
James Madison University in
Harrisonburg, VA. They formed their first band
Money Cannot Be Eaten in 2011 and disbanded in 2013 after another band member quit. It was during this time that the two managed an
organic farm together in Singers Glen, VA. They also spent each summer touring by bicycle with a group of other local artists and activists. Bicycles have remained an important part of their career as they now run a bicycle powered stage at
Newport Folk Festival each summer. They spent 2015-2018 touring, and ultimately signed a record deal with
Atlantic Records in 2019. They have performed at such festivals as
Bonnaroo,
Lollapalooza,
Shaky Knees,
Newport Folk Festival, and more. Additionally they toured with acts such as
Rainbow Kitten Surprise,
Rayland Baxter,
Shakey Graves,
Mt. Joy, and
The Head and the Heart. Their debut album was recorded in
Richmond, VA at Montrose Recording and
Nashville, TN at Sputnik Sound with producer
Vance Powell. It was mixed by Vance Powell and released on October 11, 2019, with their single
Better Than I Used To remaining on the
AAA radio charts for several months.
NPR cited Illiterate Light as one of the 2020 Artists To Watch Out For, and additionally called
Better Than I Used To one of the best songs of 2019. The Covid-19 Pandemic cut all touring and marketing efforts short at which point Illiterate Light left Atlantic Records to pursue an independent path. Their second LP
Sunburned was recorded again at Montrose Recording in Richmond, VA with co-producer Adrian Olsen and engineer Danny Gibney. Sunburned marked a turn in their songwriting towards a heavier and darker introspection, with fuzzed out guitars and copious reverb.
SPIN Magazine cited
Sunburned as "one of the best albums of 2023."
Sunburned was released on Illiterate Light's own record label
Red Book Records with marketing and distribution by
Thirty Tigers. They followed the release of
Sunburned with a 4-song EP titled
Aloe, containing several songs that were written during the
Sunburned sessions.
Always, Always features Cochran on lead vocals. They released their third studio album
Arches on November 1, 2024. The album was co-produced by Gorman and Cochran alongside long-time collaborator Danny Gibney at Gorman's personal studio in
Virginia. Additionally they worked with producer
Joe Chiccarelli at
Sunset Sound in
Los Angeles, CA on featured tracks
Blood Lines and
All the Stars are Burning Out.
Consequence nominated
Arches as one of the best albums of November 2024, citing "traces of
Radiohead,
Tame Impala, and There Is Nothing Left to Lose-era
Foo Fighters." Illiterate Light was named among the top rock bands to come out of the South by
Garden and Gun Magazine. ==Discography==