Although known for his lush musical output on Warp Records, 24-year-old electronic savant and general creative maelstrom Jimmy Edgar is also an accomplished fashion photographer and brooding visual artist. Having recently moved from Detroit to New York, Edgar's first Big Apple-inspired release is a new electro-funk EP for Citinite records under the sexual synths of the Her Bad Habit guise.
Dazed Digital: Did music, art or photography come first?
Jimmy Edgar: Art is art for me. I don't as much claim to be an artist. I just like to keep busy expressing myself because I'm hardly articulate with words on the spot. I'm rather shy. Everything comes natural or else I say fuck it.
DD: You express sex, soul and funk with a sort of androgyny?
JE: Sure. I think most music is either girl or boy. Aphex Twin told me about that with "Girl/Boy Song". Sex is a vital inspiration for me because I am constantly sexually frustrated. I realize the potential of sexual energy. To finish my last album I stayed celibate so I could release all of my frustration onto my art. That means no sex and no masturbation.
DD: Does having so many alter-egos make you bi-polar?
JE: I think being bi-polar makes the alter egos. Isn't 'fucked up' the new normal anyways? I'm probably tri-polar or quadripolar.
DD: What's the story behind the Her Bad Habit project?
JE: I worked with a well known musician - we aren't on good terms so I won't mention the name. His girlfriend insisted on being part of the project, she became sort of a muse as there seemed to be quite a bit of tension between us all. It turns out she had alternate intentions. I found myself in some pretty awkward situations. We ended up parting our separate ways and I finished the tracks in raw format. Her Bad Habit was named after her and her style.
DD: I like this quote from a fan: "you make love with your words…"
JE: Here is an excerpt from a letter I received which was covered in blood and written in black ink.
Jimmy.
"You free me.
In my twenties, I did as many sexual experiments as possible. Bondage/S&M, fist fuck, blood sucking, hanging, escorting, buying boys and girls, anything. However none of them gave me full satisfaction. Even in relationships, I ended up feeling empty and guilty afterwards. I felt so ashamed of myself and dirty. I could have sexual experiences with anybody technically, but I never felt connected to anyone or came except on my own.
I was in despair with my sexuality.
Anyway.
I remember when I first listened to your music, I exploded!
I cried and cried and cried so hard.
Your music came directly straight into my soul. I felt so understood and forgiven. For the first time, I could feel my red inside of me and strongly connected to it, stimulated by your vibrations. So certain so secure. What a relief you gave me Jimmy!
Worth 10,000 psychotherapy sessions.
You heal me.
What you do is very appreciated and very needed. We need you. We feel you. We breathe with you."
Her Bad Habit is out now on Citinite.