Jason Molina, the alt.country singer-songwriter, who recorded both under his own name and as Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co., has died aged 39.
He passed away on Saturday from organ failure fue to alcohol consumption, report Chunklet (via Pitchfork).
Molina started out recording as Songs: Ohia in 1996, who released ten albums, including 2000’s The Lioness, recorded with Alasdair Roberts and Arab Strap members, culminating in 2003’s Steve Albini-produced Magnolia Electric Co. which brought about the band’s name change to the album title. From hereon in, Molina recorded either with a group of musicians as Magnolia Electric Co. or as his own name, under which his final album, last year’s Autumn Bird Songs, was released.
His problems with alcohol worsened in 2011, causing him to take a break from music, with his family and record label Secretly Canadian setting up a fund to help pay for his medical costs.
In the post on their website, Chunklet founder Henry Owings wrote: "Jason leaves behind him an enviable body of work that will be continually rediscovered because what Jason wrote wasn’t fashion. It was his heart. It was his love. It was his demons. And ultimately, it brought his life to an end.
"God’s speed, Jason. God’s speed."
