We caught up with the artist, just in time for his latest heartfelt single.
We’ve got a lovely piece of music for you to kick off today in full swing. Look no further than Glacier, a versatile artist who’s made waves recently with his approach to blending Electronic and acoustic elements, weaving them together seamlessly. The last time we had him here was for the release of his single ‘not rly‘, which we now are pleased to reveal is going to be part of his partly-homonymously named album, here (not rly) there, to release later in the year.
Glacier is no stranger to music. Having a lifelong commitment to his passion, releases can be found as early as 2015, and a substantial amount of them found a home in Monstercat, so you’d better believe he knows a thing or two about the craft. Highlights for his career include having his single ‘Still‘ featured in Rocket League’s seasonal Lucky Lantern update, launching the song ‘Neos‘ with a simultaneous release in Osu!, and winning a remix contest held by Monstercat, Jauz, and Pegboard Nerds.
‘enfold’
Glacier’s latest single is called ‘enfold‘, and it’s been released today via Seeking Blue. In it, he focuses on navigating through life’s difficulties and using them as a driving force, printing a crucial idea in his listeners’ hearts. The song builds this idea over a careful Electro Pop bed, with elements borrowed from all over, such as Drum and Bass and Future Bass.
Subtle elements such as piano droplets — and full chords — transposed upwards at times to add more flair, meet fast-paced drums, a plethora of elements gracing the stereo field, and, to top it all, a beautiful vocal line, which encourages to take control, in a positive way, with its thoughtful lyrics, “counting days away I feel so light embracing all the things that seem just right”.
“enfold is about seeing through life’s challenges and allowing them to propel you forward. It captures that exhilarating sensation when everything falls into place perfectly.”
-Glacier
Listen to ‘enfold‘ below. Also, click this link right here to support the release on your platform of choice.
Q&A Round With Glacier
To celebrate the release of ‘enfold’, but also to anticipate what’s going to be Glacier’s monumental debut LP, here (not rly) there, we caught up with the artist, for a quick round of questions regarding the project. Check it out below!
What was the main inspiration behind your upcoming album here (not rly) there?
It primarily explores my tendency to idolize different versions of myself, either by looking back nostalgically and longing for what once was, as if everything used to be better. Or by fixating on future goals and aspirations, imagining that everything will make sense once I reach them. I believe everyone understands the importance of being present, both for themselves and for others, yet it’s easy to lose sight of this.
The title reflects the struggle of wavering between where I am, where I’ve been, and where I want to go, all while failing to be fully present in any of them. I’ve often found myself wishing to be in a different time or place, thinking about what I could have done better or what I need to change to improve things. While there’s no harm in occasionally focusing on these thoughts, it’s crucial not to let them overshadow the reality of where I am right now.
How long has the journey been from the initial concept to the final production of here (not rly) there?
‘not rly’ was the first song I started working on back in September of 2022. The songs were completely finalized at the start of 2024.
Oddly enough, I initially started with what I thought was an interlude, knowing it would be part of a larger project. As I worked on it, the phrase “not really” just stuck in my head. I recorded a few versions of saying it, and eventually, I built the song — and the entire project — around that feeling of uncertainty.
I wanted to create an LP so badly. I love diving into big projects as a listener and knew it was finally my time to make something that tells a bigger story than I could with just an EP or a single. I’ve been longing for a project like this as an artist, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with how it turned out — the music, the art direction, the lyrics. I’m extremely proud of the whole thing.
What was your strategy or approach to producing?
Drums are my first instrument, so I often start with something rhythm-based. I need a solid groove to build around; which makes it easier to imagine everything else. Plus, I really enjoy looping a drum section while I experiment with different instruments — it keeps the process feeling a bit impromptu. I think that’s why my songs tend to be very percussion-focused.
That said, I’m mindful of not falling into the habit of writing songs the same way every time. If something feels powerful enough to spark an idea, I’ll go with it — whether it’s a vocal melody, a guitar chord progression, or a beautiful atmosphere I’ve created. For example, ‘not rly’ came about from experimenting with flute recordings. I layered them with a vocoder to create some neat ‘flute chords’ and from there, the path forward was clear.
My workflow often has me jumping around a lot — recording small rhythmic ideas, creating ambient pads, playing synth solos, adding vocal ideas, testing new plugins, browsing for obscure sound effects, playing keys, writing down core ideas, grabbing a guitar, resampling things I’ve made into something new, and more. I tend to add too much and end up trimming things back if it gets too bloated. But hey, it’s all part of the fun!
Can you share some insights into your creative process?
Nowadays, I try to stick to a theme when creating music. It could be as simple as key words like “mushy, soil, rocks” or something deeper like “I miss being able to see the people I love as consistently as I used to, and I just can’t seem to express that enough”. I don’t necessarily need a theme to start working, but I usually find one as I go, which then helps everything develop in a more cohesive and meaningful way.
For example, here are the keywords I wrote down for the LP’s overall sound: wood, trees, stick, stone, moss, mud, rain, dew, fog, mist, stream, spirits, talisman, squish, squash, hollow, wind, fern, green, yellow, auburn, cedar, nostalgia, evergreen, beetle, knots, pedals. I like having something to focus on when deciding which instruments to record, what lyrics to write, what drum samples to use, what synths, etc. It helps everything fit together.
The music I listen to also has a huge influence on me. I absolutely love music as much as I possibly could, so I let my taste guide my decisions. If I’ve been on an emotional, ambient kick versus a bright, glitchy, jazzy kick, my work will reflect that. I think of my music as a culmination of everything I love, all put together.
Your music often features natural elements. How important is nature to you, both personally and as an artist?
Nature, in my mind, is everything. We’re all part of it, even if we sometimes feel disconnected in modern times. I’m constantly in awe of how vast and diverse the world is — especially when considering all the things we don’t yet know. There’s always this sense of adventure in the back of my mind, urging me to go out and explore. There’s still so much I haven’t seen for myself.
I think I’d be a completely different person without my desire to be outside. Without it, I’d probably get too comfortable just staying in my own world, writing music. And while I love that, there’s so much more out there that I just have to see.
On a smaller scale, I’m constantly impressed by how full of life everything is. Stopping on a hike to look at something on the ground, only to find it teeming with little creatures and plants, all doing their own thing — it’s incredibly inspiring. It reminds me of how small I am, but in a positive way. I love being a part of this grand dance of life.
This has always been a central focus of Glacier for me. From the name itself to the character on its own journey and the lyrics that question my idea of life itself, the natural world is always at the heart of everything.
Are there any artists you dream of collaborating with in the future?
Definitely! A lot of these artists are also huge inspirations to me. Tennyson, Swardy, Anomalie, On Planets, Medasin, Mont Duamel, Haywyre, Floex, Disaterpiece, Koan Sound, Vorso, Mr. Bill, Jacob Collier, Hudson Lee, quickly, quickly, imagiro, Tutara Peak, James Ivy. I’ve had quite the itch to work the others more frequently as of late. I’ve had some recent in-person meet-ups with artists that have really started my spark to work together more.