Mark Kozelek

The Profile

Ohio-born American singer-songwriter, founder of Red House Painters and leader of Sun Kil Moon, known for intimate, melancholic songwriting and intricate fingerstyle guitar across solo and band releases.

Founded the Caldo Verde Records label; gained recognition in the 1990s with Red House Painters; later released acclaimed albums with Sun Kil Moon (e.g., Ghosts of the Great Highway, Benji) and solo; frequently performs solo with a classical/nylon-string guitar, reinterpreting and retuning songs; has released numerous live records; often writes and records in San Francisco hotel rooms.

Reviews praise Kozelek’s intimate, guitar-and-voice sets and his evolution from Red House Painters to Sun Kil Moon and solo work. Emphasis falls on melancholic songwriting, improvised lyrics, and constant reinterpretation live. Caldo Verde-era releases and the San Francisco writing routine surface often. Overall tone: admiring and engaged.