Extra Life was formed in 2007 as the main vehicle for New York-based guitarist/composer/vocalist, Charlie Looker. The band plays a fusion of aggressive math rock, dark dramatic pop, modern classical, and ancient liturgical music, bridging the worlds of abstract art music and DIY post-punk musical culture. Looker was a founding member of NY noise-chamber outfit Zs, frontman of industrial metal band Psalm Zero, and is a prolific collaborator across the experimental music scene, with credits including Xiu Xiu, Dirty Projectors, Lingua Ignota, Darius Jones, and John Zorn.

Between 2008 and 2012, Extra Life released four records, and toured the U.S. and Europe extensively, including appearances at Primavera Sound (Spain), Moers (DE). Villette Sonique (FR), and Bad Bonn (CH), and sharing bills with Sonic Youth, Ariel Pink, Deerhoof, Owen Pallett, Deerhunter, and Chelsea Wolfe. Looker put Extra Life on hiatus in 2013, to focus on his classical composition, improvisation, and his metal band Psalm Zero.

Looker reunited Extra Life in 2021, releasing Secular Works Vol. 2  (2022), to great acclaim, and The Sacred Vowel  (2024), both on his own imprint, Last Things Records. International touring followed, including a slot at A Colossal Weekend Festival (DK). The current band line-up includes Toby Driver (Kayo Dot), violinist Timba Harris (Ultraphauna, Secret Chiefs 3), and drummer Cameron Wisch (Sheer Mag, Dust Star).