Jim James, Tom Waits, Justin Vernon & Others Contribute To ‘Stories For Ways & Means’

Waxploitation founder Jeff Antebi has detailed a new collaborative book entitled Stories For Ways & Means. The record label executive enlisted the help of musicians, visual artists and actors to create the 350+ page book.

Musicians such as Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, Tom Waits, Ernest Ranglin, Nick Cave, Laura Marling, Frank Black, Alison Mosshart and many more contributed never-before-seen stories to the “literary mixtape.” The musicians were paired with contemporary painters who illustrated the 30 separate tales collected in the book, including works by Anthony Lister, Dan Baldwin, Swoon, Will Barras, James Jean, Ronzo, Kai & Sunny and others.

In addition to the print book, a suite of video animations featuring narrations by actors and musicians will also be released. Narrators include Danny DeVito, Zach Galifianakis, Nick Offerman, Lauren Lapkus, Joey Bada$$, Andre Royo, Sera Cahoone and Lizzo, among several other contributors.

Pitchfork premiered the animated “Oslo And Plum,” written by Jim James, read by Phil Lamar and illustrated by Jacob Escobedo. View it followed by a trailer for the project here:

Proceeds from the sales of Stories For Ways & Means will be donated to NGOs such as Room to Read, Pencils Of Promise and 826. Head here to pre-order.

Stories for Ways & Means Credits

Writers

Frank Black, Laura Marling, Amadou Bagayoko, Del the Funky Homosapien, Spencer Krug, John Vanderslice, Gibby Haynes, Alec Empire, Kathleen Hanna, Devendra Banhart, Eugene Hutz, Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal, Justin Vernon, Elliphant, Micachu, Nick Cave, Jim James, Song Yuzhe, Alison Mosshart, Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof), Jason Lytle, Örvar Smarason, Will Oldham, Sera Cahoone, Gary Numan, Ernest Ranglin, Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, Matthew Dear, Jennifer Dear, Anna von Hausswolff, Maria von Hausswolff

Illustrators

Kai & Sunny, Maria Rivans, Will Barras, Ronzo, Sepe, James Jean, Daniel Anum Jasper, Lidia de Pedro, Clare Rojas, Daniel Mun-Oz “San,” Candice Tripp, Herakut, Sage Vaughn, Carlin Diaz, Kirsty Whiten, Anthony Lister, Jacob Escobedo, Asha Zero, Dan Baldwin, Kyotaro, Heisuke Kitazawa (“PCP”), Loa Hjalmtysdottir, Swoon, David Bray, Cinta Vidal, Dave Kinsey, Joe Coleman, Josie Morway, Alessia Iannetti

Narrators

Danny DeVito, Lauren Lapkus, Phil LaMarr, Spencer Krug, Zach Galifianakis, Alec Empire, Lizzo, Nick Offerman, Elliphant, King Krule, Andre Royo, Alison Mosshart, Satomi Matsuzaki, Jason Lytle, Örvar Smarason, Vivian Bang, Sera Cahoone, Gary Numan, Joey Bada$$, Matthew Dear, Anna von Hausswolff

Stories for Ways & Means Table of Contents

• “Doug the Bug” – written by Frank Black, illustrated by Kai & Sunny, narrated by Danny DeVito
• “The Old Oak Tree” – written by Laura Marling, illustrated by Maria Rivans, narrated by Lauren Lapkus
• “Fishing with Music” – written by Amadou Bagayoko, illustrated by Will Barras
• “Watch How You Talk to People” – written by Del the Funky Homosapien, illustrated by Ronzo, narrated by Phil LaMarr
• “Right on Rosie” – written by Spencer Krug, illustrated by Sepe, narrated by Spencer Krug
• “Penelope and the Succulent” – written by John Vanderslice, illustrated by James Jean
• “The Next Big Thing” – written by Gibby Haynes, illustrated by Daniel Anum Jasper, narrated by Zach Galifianakis
• “The Cliff” – written by Alec Empire, illustrated by Lidia de Pedro, narrated by Alec Empire
• “The Girls Running Club” – written by Kathleen Hanna, illustrated by Clare Rojas
• “La BaNerita” – written by Devendra Banhart, illustrated by Daniel Mun-Oz “San”, narrated by Lizzo
• “Trickster and Warrior” – written by Eugene Hutz, illustrated by Candice Tripp
• “The Tiny Trumpet Player from Melody” – written by Manuel “Guajiro” Mirabal, illustrated by Herakut
• “Me and Matt’s Golden Husks” – written by Justin Vernon, illustrated by Sage Vaughn, narrated by Nick Offerman
• “A Boy Named Tim” – written by Elliphant, illustrated by Carlin Diaz, narrated by Elliphant
• “How to Escape from a Wasp” – written by Micachu, illustrated by Kirsty Whiten, narrated by King Krule
• “The Lonely Giant” – written by Nick Cave, illustrated by Anthony Lister, narrated by Andre Royo
• “Oslo and Plum” – written by Jim James, illustrated by Jacob Escobedo, narrated by Phil LaMarr
• “Snow Cap Mountain” – written by Song Yuzhe, illustrated by Asha Zero
• “Wishing Well Fountain” – written by Alison Mosshart, illustrated by Dan Baldwin, narrated by Alison Mosshart
• “Little Hollywood” – written by Satomi Matsuzaki (Deerhoof), illustrated by Kyotaro, narrated by Satomi Matsuzaki
• “The Chickadees of Highway 3” – written by Jason Lytle, illustrated by Heisuke Kitazawa (“PCP”), narrated by Jason Lytle
• “Marglytta (Jellyfish)” – written by Örvar Smarason, illustrated by Loa Hjalmtysdottir, narrated by Örvar Smarason
• “Death to Boys” – written by Will Oldham, illustrated by Swoon, narrated by Vivian Bang
• “Merle is a Fat Orange Cat” – written by Sera Cahoone, illustrated by David Bray, narrated by Sera Cahoone
• “The Very Tall Tree” – written by Gary Numan, illustrated by Cinta Vidal, narrated by Gary Numan
• “Never Give Up” – written by Ernest Ranglin, illustrated by Dave Kinsey
• “Circus” – written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, illustrated by Joe Coleman, narrated by Joey Bada$$
• “Two Bears” – written by Matthew and Jennifer Dear, illustrated by Josie Morway, narrated by Matthew Dear
• “The Little Boy and the Glowing Globe” – written by Anna and Maria von Hausswolff, illustrated by Alessia Iannetti, narrated by Anna von Hausswolff