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INTERVIEW: Glass Towers 'Recognition Feels Surreal'

29 February 2012 | 9:00 am | Staff Writer

GLASS TOWERS are bringing their melodic mayhem to CANT SAY on March 9, with hooks that will make you dance, if not destroy something.

Playing indie tunes with a markedly punk attitude, Byron Bay four-piece GLASS TOWERS are bringing their melodic mayhem to CANT SAY on March 9, with hooks that will make you dance, if not destroy something.

Gabe Gleeson caught up with frontman Ben Hannam on breaking through after four years, the worldwide indie-punk scene, and their influences.

Purple Sneakers: You guys have been around for nearly four years. How did you all meet and form Glass Towers?

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Ben Hannam: We all went to the same high school together. Glass Towers was originally a solo bedroom recording project of mine, but I got sick of being a lonely bedroom musician, so I decided to turn it into a band.

PS: Your new single ‘Jumanji’ has been picked up by FBi and Triple J recently; how does it feel to be recognised for the music you’re making?

BH: It's so fucking exciting to be getting recognition! We got played three times on Triple J yesterday. After four years of hard work, that kind of thing feels surreal!

PS: You guys have peers like New Navy, Rufus, Last Dinosaurs, Nantes, Snakadaktal etc – we feel like you’re part of a unique Australian sound, do you agree?  What do you think characterises this?

BH: I don’t think it’s a “unique” sound as such. Australian bands naturally draw their influences from the UK and the US so, obviously, Australian bands are going to sound like their overseas contemporaries to some degree, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing -- it’s just how it is. I mean the whole lo-fi surf thing that’s going on at the moment can obviously be attributed to bands such as Wavves. But I guess there is a certain unique Australian twist that happens in the translation process. I didn’t really answer the question properly, did I?

PS: What kind of music influences your style? Can you attribute any local Sydney influences to your sound?

BH: We have a lot of influences. In terms of Sydney, I’ve always loved Ghostwood, I don’t think they’ve ever really had an influence on our music but that EP they put out on Modular back in the day is a classic. I was also a massive fan of Mercy Arms when they were around.

PS: What can we expect from your upcoming show at CANT SAY on March 9?

BH: We have a new touring member, our friend Tim who plays keys and sampler, so he’ll be coming along. It’s my 20th birthday a few days before so we’ll probably be celebrating a lot before and after the show -- Dutch courage. People say our shows have a lot of energy, so expect a lot of energy!

Glass Towers will be headlining at CAN'T SAY on March 9.

Interview by Gabe Gleeson.