Get To Know... GLOWS • Neu • DIY Magazine

Hello and welcome to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… getting you a little bit closer to the buzziest new acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.

Recently we’ve met woozy-pop troubadour Brad Stank, PC Music’s shiniest new talents Planet 1999, Nice Swan record newbie Phil Madeley, LA-based collective Peach Tree Rascals, and now we’re catching up with experimental artists GLOWS.

Hailing from South East London, GLOWS - aka GG Skips - co-founded London based collective Slow Dance, a record label/promoter/everything in-between, and also plays in Sorry, who recently released their stirring debut album ‘925’.

When he’s not busying himself with that, he creates experimental glitchy sizzlers, with his most recent track ‘Easy’ landing last week. “’Easy’ is about sobriety. The weight of the city. Slipping under the curb. Waking up and starting again,” he explains. “Written a while ago, it seems right that it is coming out now, there’s a drive to the track. Like a night drive back from a night out, after the club, a regret and reassurance in the quiet moments after the music has died.”

We sent him over some quick fire qs to get to know him a lil’ better.

Describe your music to us in the form of a Tinder bio.

Music to dance and cry to at the same time.

What’s your earliest musical memory?

Listening to Dido in the car, which I guess was my first introduction to trip-hop.

Who were some artists that inspired you when you were just starting out (and why)?

I was a big fan of psychedelic electronica like Animal Collective, Hype Williams, early Caribou. I love mood based music, stuff that’s layered in ambience, swimming in weird samples and noise so musicians like Grouper, Colleen, Deerhunter, Fuck Buttons or musicians that fuck with genre like Dean Blunt, Four Tet have had a big inspiration on me.

You’re from South East London! What do you think of the music scene there at the moment?

I started up doing events round there from around 2015 through my label Slow Dance, putting on gigs at the Windmill, Bunker, running a radio station from AAJA in a railway arch by Deptford Station. It’s just a big old community, we put on the likes of black midi, Goat Girl, Squid, Sorry (which I am now a member of,) 404, Shame etc, we were just all pals then, now everyones touring the world with their significant bands which is really amazing to see. I like how the current scene rejects genre, everyone open to everything.

Are there any other artists breaking through at the same time that you take inspiration from?

PVA who my label manages are great great pals, Ella and Louis often play in glows. I’m always inspired by my childhood friends in Sorry, it’s a lot of fun touring and sharing demos and ideas. Everyone on Slow Dance tends to share members and works with each other, Saint Jude, Hambling, Lynks Afrikka is incredible, Bunny Hoova from Manchester the list could go on forever, everyone is pals and everyone shares advice and praise.

Who would be your dream collaborator?

Apart from Felix Bayley Higgins, who does all the visual stuff already, i’d love to have met Trish Keenan of Broadcast before her passing.

Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?

Doing a co-headline Japan Tour with PVA in Autumn which is mental.

If people could take away one thing from your music, what would it be?

Music for the solitary moments after the night is over.

Tags: Features, Get to Know, Interviews, Neu, Glows