Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Josh; Ever since I was a kid I’ve been into music. It all started in primary school taking guitar lessons and our whole friendship group grew our hair out and listened to the big rock bands (Nirvana, Guns N Roses, Metallica etc). When I moved into secondary school I started playing the drums and was gigging from 11 years old, mainly covers at first and then original music by the age of 15. I joined a well-known local band by the end of secondary school and we played some really big gigs, headlining the O2 Academy and Leadmill. We never quite made it out of our local scene but that gave me a glimpse at the big picture and I’ve been chasing it ever since. I started listening to more electronic stuff as I got older and got really into The Prodigy, Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada and that was the catalyst for what Stained Glass would become. I’ve been recording, mixing and producing for the last 6 years and I absolutely love it and I’m obsessed with all aspects of it. I run a small studio in our hometown and do all our own music as well as solo music, which is more IDM and liquid drum & bass kind of stuff.
Henry; I started my music journey as a fairly normal Yorkshire kid, listening to indie bands like Oasis, Stone Roses, Arctic Monkeys etc. My parents were always into 80’s stuff like Depeche Mode so I think that rubbed off too. I knew I wanted to be in a band from the age of 15 and loved the adrenaline of being on the stage straight away. In my teens I got into all sorts of hip-hop and dance music and went to as many gigs, festivals and raves as possible. I’ve always felt goosebumps when I’ve heard certain songs played live and think it’s the most universal feeling that anyone from anywhere in the world can connect and relate to. When Josh and I started playing together back in 2017 he quickly got me into the heavier bands and since then we’ve slowly morphed our sound into a mixture of all of our influences. We’ve pushed each other to try new things for the band and have developed so much over the last 3/4 years. So much that I think our younger selves would be seriously shocked.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Stained Glass”?
A: We’ve got a single planned for release every month for the rest of the year and are posting daily on TikTok and all of our other socials. We try and gig as much as possible and have developed a live show that makes use of strobe lighting, smoke machines and a full visual playing on a CRT TV to run alongside the set. We want seeing us to be a full visceral experience.
Our message is to get ready.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: We’re inspired by so many artists but the big one has always been Nine Inch Nails. They have such a rich history and have done so many different things musically and artistically. They’re always reinventing themselves and trying new things, even after nearly 40 years in the business. (P.S Trent if you’re reading this give us a call)
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “The Abbey.”?
A: The song is about domestic abuse and the way it can trap people in a cycle of denial. When the person hurting you is also the person you love, it’s often difficult to recognise what’s happening, and even harder to accept help from the people around you.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Exciting
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “The Abbey”?
A: Writing it was the easy part but when you’re mixing the music yourself it’s hard to have a subjective opinion. It took a few months to get right but we feel like we nailed it in the end.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: Our message is to let yourself go and truly experience the moment. Really let your hair down and don’t care who’s watching or what anyone else thinks.
Our goal is to reach as many people as possible and build something that lasts. We’re here for the long haul, and we’re not stopping for anyone.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Pablo Picasso, preferably alive.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Be yourself and make art for you, not anyone else.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Learn as much as possible about music history, theory and any instruments you can get your hands. Network as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to be different.
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