Posted on May 6, 2020

In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet.       

This time we’re chatting with Glass Peaks, a London-based three-piece with an impressive ability to blend an electronic sound with a punky, indie sensibility. 

Their new EP, It’s Raining On The Wrong Side Of The Window, is an exciting exploration of what this band can create. Whether through experimental interludes, hard-hitting ballads or bouncy singles, Glass Peaks are always able to make an impact with their unique, diverse sound. This EP is the result the band’s brief step away from the recording world to home in on their sound and deliver a series of world-class live shows. The experience they gained during that time has combined to become something truly special. As the band claim, the EP is filled with their “most honest songwriting”. 

We were lucky enough to land a chat with Glass Peaks, and asked them about their influences, plans and style. 

TMR: Which track that we haven’t already heard from It’s Raining On The Wrong Side Of The Window are you most excited for your audience to hear?

Alf (vocals): São Paulo. It's a tune I've had written for quite some time and I'm so pleased with how it's turned out. It's one of those tracks that I used to play the instrumental demo of on loop to and from rehearsals and shows... It's intense, dark and moody. There's an anger to it that doesn't quite bubble over. I think it's a great introduction to the EP. 

TMR: ‘It’s raining on the wrong side of the window’ is an interesting phrase- where did it come from? 

Alf: I like the imagery behind it. It's emotive. It's a metaphor for crying, essentially. A lot of these songs are written about trying to suppress emotions or how obsessive thoughts trigger anxiety etc... After I'd written the title track, it just clicked into place. 

TMR: ‘São Paulo’ is a loud, bouncy track. What’s the story behind that one? 

Alf: The lyrics stem from a date I went on with a Brazilian girl a while back - she was from São Paulo and I liked the idea of having that as the song title. Essentially, I realised pretty quickly after the date that we were two people who would never be compatible long-term. It's pretty much just me talking about how terrible I think it would have been had we continued any kind of romantic connection. 

TMR: Is there a reason you went for such an electronic vocal style in ‘London Is Concrete’? 

Alf: You know what, it was actually an absolute fluke. I recorded the demo on my bed with a crappy microphone and used the auto tune because I was just grabbing a quick take. We ended up falling in love with how it sounded and keeping it in the final version of the track. 



TMR: How do you reach the cinematic grandeur heard at the end of the title track? 

Jake (Guitar): Layers layers layers, we wanted to keep this song as stripped back as possible yet still trying to push the ending of this track to feel cinematic. Alf’s takes his vocals some where you haven't yet heard with this one. I'm a fan. Alf, we want more of that. 

TMR: The EP includes an intro and two interludes. What made you decide to break up the full-length tracks with these more experimental moments?

Jake: I've always been a fan of interludes in albums and EPs. I think they ground you, they make you take a step back and refocus your ears. Otherwise it's just track after track and that personally can get a bit repetitive. 

Alf: Yeah, we wanted it to set a scene and follow a narrative so we saw it as an opportunity to break the EP up slightly.

Grant: Music is an art form, and we all love different forms of art. Cinema and film is a high passion of all of us. So to add a level storytelling to the EP intertwined with the lyrical content was natural for us to do.

TMR: The album is very wide ranging in terms of sound. Are there any other genres/styles you’ve been considering working into your next release? 

Jake: YES! I've been really into Talking Heads lately and I can already see there being some choppy sharp rhythm guitar coming into our writing from that. I've also been obsessing over that kind of 80s Americana sound too, so expect some acoustic chilled singer-songwriter stuff too. 

Grant: Did someone say double bass pedal?

TMR: Do you take influence from anything/anyone non-musical when writing?

Jake: For me it all comes from a feeling. If I'm sad I'll write a sad guitar part really well. If I'm feeling a bit anxious I usually write pretty good loud angry parts. I try to avoid watching the news too much as it makes me angry and I don't like writing loud aggressive guitar lines. I'm all about the chill. 

Alf: All the time. I take influence from feelings, books, films, experiences... everything. It can be something so minor or a significant event of some kind. It it gives me the creative urge to write, then I will. 

Grant: I'm like Jake. Hitting wooden cylinders is hard to get a ton of emotion from, but when playing music i'm driven by the emotion of the song or the atmosphere we're creating.

TMR: Having said that, who would be your dream collaborator?

Jake: I would love to work with Justin Vernon. I think he's an absolute genius.

Alf: Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich. If someone could sort us a session for Christmas that would be great.

Grant: Calvin Harris. Imagine the beats



TMR: Do you get more satisfaction from seeing the audience response to live shows or studio releases?

Jake: I get the most satisfaction musically in a studio. Hearing all the parts in clarity. Hearing the layers come together as if it's a painting. I can almost visualise songs as layers. 

Alf: It varies for me. I'd have to agree with Jake there, but there is also no other feeling like having an audience react positively to your music or respond with energy at live shows. It's absolutely electrifying. Those are the moments I live for. 

Grant: Live all the time. Playing on stage to hundreds of people or to one person is tantalising. Getting behind that kit and playing is borderline an outer body experience for me. It's Adrenalin pumping and liberating. So to have people react to that live is exhilarating.

By Dan Peeke

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