Sydney band GLASS TOWERS were born out of a solo recording project of front man Ben Hannam, and forged in the summer of 2008 with the addition of guitarist Sam Speck, bassist Cameron Holdstock and drummer Daniel Muszynski.
The past couple of years have seen the band walk a path of highs, from having ARIA Award winning producer Wayne Connolly, ask to take the helm of their 2011 debut EP “What We Were, When We Were”. To having the legendary Neil Finn personally select and invite the band on tour with him (in support of his latest musical project Pajama Club). Earning spots at festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, and keeping up a relentless touring schedule along the way; they’ve shared the stage with Cloud Control, Tame Impala, Metronomy, Bluejuice, The Holidays, Children Collide, Hungry Kids Of Hungary, The Vasco Era, Papa Vs Pretty, Last Dinosaurs, Guineafowl and many more.
The bands’ list of influences is pages long and varied coming from all over. From the literary genius of Jack Kerouac to the madcap mind of Syd Barrett and effortless cool of Lou Reed, from a childhood raised on a somewhat oddball mixture of Neil Diamond, Roxy Music and Simon & Garfunkel, to the paintings of J.M.W Turner and photographs of Robert Doisneau.
The band are currently working on their debut record.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
Playing trumpet in my primary school band is my earliest memory, but watching live Franz Ferdinand videos on the internet when I was 12 made me want to be in a rock n roll band.
Do you prefer the studio or the stage? Which and why?
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I think i like the stage a little bit more. I’m like a human sponge when I’m performing, so many emotions well up inside of me and I feed off the adrenaline and excitement that comes with performing on stage, it’s like a drug to me. Though I do love recording a lot as well, I love that accomplished feeling when you receive a finished master of a song or album and you realise that all of those long and arduous hours that you’ve spent in the recording process have been so worth it. You feel so content and happy.
You’ve supported some pretty notables bands, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen happen on stage?
We use to get some pretty crazy stage invasions via our friends/fans when we first started off playing in Byron Bay. I tend to fall over a lot as well. Umm I don’t think anything particularly crazy or noteworthy has ever happened, which makes us sound really boring doesn’t it!
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
My parents aren’t really into your conventional luminaries such as Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones etc.
So I grew up listening to Roxy Music and Neil Diamond, lots of embarrassing stuff really. Sam’s dad loves Lou Reed and The Beatles, you know normal/cool stuff, he was the lucky one…
How does it feel to hear your songs being played on radio?
Its ridiculously exciting for us. When you’re younger with wishes of being in a band it’s all you dream of.
You’ve played all around Melbourne a few times; do you hold any sentimental feeling toward a particular venue?
I love Northcote Social Club that place just has a really nice cosy feel, it’s the kind of place I’d drink at. We played our first ever Melbourne show their which possible has something to do with it as well. Also I like The Workers Club, those burgers they do there are to die for.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have (attractions/food/bars etc)?
Can I just but in here and say that these questions you’re asking are brilliant, I get so used to answering the same old interview after interview these are great!
Umm but in response to the question theres so many bands that I would put on! Would be really hard to only choose a couple… It would somehow be set in Surry Hills so I could just walk home and not have to worry about transport. Highlights would include Outkast, a resurrected Jackson C Frank, a reformed Smiths (with Andy Rourke on bass of course) and would feature a bar dedicated solely to spiced rum. I’d let in everyone! Everyone’s welcome!!
If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead who would it be?
Jack Kerouac
What band has excited you the most from the last 12 months?
The Medics, we toured with them a couple of months back and they are unbelievably good live.
Charlie Mayfair have a new song out which I love, can’t think of the title right now though.
Oh and I saw My Brightest Diamond at Vivid Festival at the Opera House a couple of nights ago, she absolutely blew me away and left me completely speechless for the rest of the night.
And Dappled Cities, their new stuff is out of this world.
Touring and recording can be stressful exercises and cause much tension, which member would win in band fisticuffs?
Haha me, easily!
Self-promotion is all-important in music, what’s happening next for the band?
We’re about to embark on our own headline dates, we’re launching our latest single Jumanji because we never really gave her the launch she so rightfully deserves.
We’re just about to finish touring with Dappled Cities and then continue the long but rewarding process of recording our debut album. We should have a new single out very soon as well.
Glass Towers – “Jumanji” Launches
w/ special guests Them Swoops (all dates)
Sat 2 June The Workers Club, MELBOURNE w/ Harts
Fri 8 June Yours & Owls, WOLLONGONG w/ Sex In Columbia
Sat 9 June FBI Social, SYDNEY w/ Upskirts
