Jim McFarlen

Reared in Texas, Jim started playing guitar at 10 years old because his father "always wanted a picker in the family". In the 70's, his tastes ranged from Yes and ELP to the Austin folk musicians of the progressive country music movement; namely Willis Alan Ramsey, Steve Fromholz, and Jerry Jeff Walker.

In the mid 80's, Jim played with Gnu Coup, a Texas heartland band influenced by REM, U2 and The Smithereens. He joined the blues band Beaker Street in '93, where he met Butch Karn and Steve Rose. The three of them formed the progressive rock band Speaking to Animals in '94, performing all original music. And, in 1998, Speaking To Animals evolved into the nucleus of what is now INTENSITY!

Jim is drawn toward the harmonious and melodic stylings of English artists such as Bill Nelson (formerly of BeBop Deluxe), Robert Fripp (King Crimson), Steve Howe (Yes), and Steve Hackett( (Genesis), known for incorporating melody and dissonance into their compositions.