Jandek is an enigmatic figure in the music world, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, with a plethora of conspiracy theories and myths surrounding his persona. His reclusive nature has only added to the mystique, with a mere two interviews in his entire career, the first being a phone conversation with a Spin magazine journalist in 1985, and the second a face-to-face encounter in 1999, which concluded with a polite request from the artist to be left alone.
Despite his elusive nature, Jandek has managed to build a remarkable discography, with over 40 albums released since 1978, all under the banner of his own label, Corwood Industries. This label is peculiar in that it only releases music by Jandek himself, with no other artists' work featured. The albums are characterized by their simplicity, with minimal information provided, consisting only of track listings and oblique front covers, often featuring grainy or out-of-focus images of houses or the artist himself, taken from various stages of his life.
The music itself is a unique blend of acoustic and electric folk and blues, with Jandek's playing style being distinctly untutored and free-spirited. He plays with an open and fret-less approach, often focusing on single notes that span the entire range of the instrument, from low to high. Occasionally, other musicians make appearances, including the more conventional guitar work of "Eddie," female vocals, and drums, all of which are seemingly untrained and add to the raw, unpolished quality of Jandek's music.
The first live performance of Jandek was a notable event, taking place at the Glasgow Instal festival in 2004. He made a surprise appearance, unannounced on the lineup, and did not share a hotel room with any other artists. Instead, he introduced himself as a representative of Corwood Industries, further adding to the mystique surrounding his persona.
