Glasshouse on Bond Building, Creative Brilliance, and Their Upcoming Album
Serendipity (noun): the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. This is how Merriam-Webster defines the word serendipity, but Glasshouse’s definition is when admiration suddenly turned into a team. Consisting of members Liri, Eli, and Luna, Glasshouse have come together as one, making music and memories they know are timeless. Having all found music at a young age, living and breathing through calculated notes is nothing new, but every step they are taking now is projecting them into something untouched. Based in Lawrence, Massachusetts, the trio is defying all genre rules, combining the smooth qualities of R&B with the complex inner workings of hip-hop and alternative. Everything Glasshouse is creating is new to the ears, fresh to the world, and completely remarkable.
All Good Things Come in Threes
Writer and rapper Liri has always loved group dynamics, believing all good things come from them – whether they stay together or not. What he believes in is the act of bringing together talented people and knowing that art will take place.
That said, he had no actual plan of being in a group. There was only the thought in Liri’s head as he sat with his friend Michael, “If we did a project, what would the group be called?” That’s when the name Glasshouse came to him, no meaning or reason, just a really cool name. It wasn’t until he met Eli through an open mic and Luna at a beat-making competition that the group name became a mantra.
Glasshouse now define their mission statement as “to be a great artist, you need to live a transparent life.” Because of this, they believe viewers or listeners need the context of a piece and need to know exactly who the art is coming from to fully resonate with it.
“Glasshouse is a brotherly collective… Usually, working with the guys, it isn’t just working with that individual person. It has just become Glasshouse,” Eli softly explained. “It’s also like a way of practicing life and how you create art through that mission statement.”
Quickly, Liri tagged on that it’s also a curse. The group is one whole, but of course, they are also individuals. They all have solo projects and pieces that they want to work on, but upon hearing it, some outsiders assume it’s a Glasshouse work due to the production and sound.
But, in the same way, if one of the guys hears something from another that’s still in production, it’s often too good to give up. Immediately, they need to add to the track as well. Whether it’s a verse or the whole back half of a song, once they have made their addition, it’s now a Glasshouse song. It seems all roads, or tunes, lead to Glasshouse. That’s just the curse of being a fan of your group mates.
Embracing the Chaos With Intention
Now, having grown together, the three seem more like brothers than friends. There is no discomfort when speaking to or about each other. Every word and intention comes from wanting the other group members to grow as people and musicians. For producer Luna, his musical background is less a career and more intertwined with his everyday life. Having been producing music for 17 years now, he knows his process and aims to be a part of a creative team with Liri and Eli.
“You know, I feel like every time I listen to music, I’m sort of adding things to my lexicon and the way I produce. I always like to throw curveballs at these guys,” Luna says casually. “I feel like it’s always more fun for me to kind of see these guys just, like…” As Luna carefully searched for the right word, Liri suggested, “Struggle?” An infectious burst of laughter came from all three, as they knew Liri wasn’t joking.
Solving the mazes that are Luna’s beats is what makes Glasshouse’s music so dynamic and fun to listen to. The listener is also kept waiting to see what comes next in the song, and with every addition comes a sonic hook.
As heard in their track “PRTTYGURLSWAANATAST,” the chorus is only repeated twice in the song, filling the remainder with one-off favorite moments and differing verses. For Glasshouse, this comes from an intentional space of wanting listeners to have a distinct and unforgettable favorite part. And so far, they’re doing a great job at being exceptionally memorable.
Artistry for Art’s Sake
Something notable and very evident with every moment I spent talking to Glasshouse is that every detail of their art is for the art and not themselves. Every word said about their craft was spoken with an air of humility and intention, and this is just who Glasshouse are as individuals.
“I’ve learned to be completely outside of myself when it comes to ideas and what I would deem good, like in my own single-minded artistry,” Luna gently said while looking at his hands. “It’s a hive mind. [Glasshouse] is a collective, so every idea thrown out, we’re not married to, and we are servicing what we think would be best for the song in any given moment.”
Through this method, the group can come together without embarrassment or fear of what the other two will think about their ideas. They throw things out there and see how they can make them work or if they can evolve into something better. This way, they’ve overcome their internal critics and instead know that their bad ideas are just filtered thoughts to get to the good stuff — something they’ve seemed to master. Now, they have attached themselves to an artistic freedom they once dreamed of, one that used to be buried in their discomfort and now flourishes with every idea they have.
How do you reach this level of freedom yourself? Liri, possibly one of the most enthusiastic and joyous people I’ve ever spoken to, gave me a quick masterclass to include. With a big smile, he said, “It’s like a faucet that hasn’t been used in a while. When you turn it on, what are you gonna get? A bunch of dirty water, right?” Turning serious, he continued, “Then, after it runs, it’s running clean. So at first, you got to get all the bullshit out of the way until you get exactly what you want.”
The perseverance of getting through the mess to reach clarity isn’t something Glasshouse have always found easy, but it’s something they’ve worked on to get to their current process. In the same vein, the group likes to equally explore their art form. For Luna, his process starts with a bit of fun. “I just like the dumbest thing possible. Like, literally for the first five minutes I will say, ‘What is the weirdest, dumbest thing?’” By playing around and throwing any and all sounds into the track, Luna can kind of thought-vomit, and then sit back, organize, and decide if he likes any of it. In Eli and Liri’s opinions, this is where he finds the gold, even when Luna doesn’t realize it.
As the members are equally in awe of each other’s talents, the respect and admiration for each other shine when creating. What one member sees as ordinary, another finds to be exactly what he was looking for. Through this humility and mutual love, they can create alone and then come together seamlessly to build and finalize.
The Roots Before the Branches
This team works because of their desire to grow and succeed. Without that mindset, Glasshouse wouldn’t be nearly as tight-knit or humble. Every member is able to acknowledge their similarities and differences within the group, with the understanding that this makes them stronger. It’s where they came from and who they have grown to be as individuals and as one that truly makes them separate from other groups.
“I hummed before I spoke. I didn’t speak ‘til I was five, and music, it was my first communicator to the world – my first language, I like to say,” Eli said, reminiscing. “Even though I don’t have like, synesthesia or any physical way to see music, I hear certain frequencies and my brain just kind of gets locked away.” It’s this feeling of belonging and suddenly finding his words and his path that he has been chasing his whole life. When he feels that flow overcomes him, it’s like everything clicks, and when he is working with Glasshouse, he can get closer to that sensation than ever before.
For Liri, his sense of belonging came a little later, but still during a crucial moment in his childhood. “For me, growing up, I wasn’t really loud. I was always more reserved. Even in a family sense, my brother, my sister, they’ve always been louder than me,” he explained. For him, being in the room was enough growing up, but he got used to not saying what was on his mind. So when he started writing music and having something to say, he tended to hide behind the beat. Now, he’s come to know that it’s a chance to be heard. “When I see someone say [my lyrics] back to me or analyze a line or think a little bit deeper about what was said, it makes me feel seen.”
Opposite of both members, Luna’s experience finding his musical path came from how expressive it allowed him to be. “I’m just sitting here like, I’m the complete opposite! I was a rowdy, loud kid, and I do have synesthesia,” he laughed out. “A big part of [having synesthesia] is just when you create, when you listen, when you consume, or even navigate the world, having something like that, you kind of do a lot of things unconsciously.” Luna’s way of expressing his subconscious is through the creation process and the expulsion of energy that comes through it. It’s here that he can create what he doesn’t see in the world, something colorful, vibrant, and melodic – what the world needs most.
A Bright Future Ahead
One thing they hope listeners take away from their future debut album isn’t how much they love Glasshouse (though, of course, they hope that too), but it’s that music is accessible to everyone. Music isn’t about how expensive your technology is or how much you have, but it’s about being willing to believe in your talent. Everyone has a place with music and can get even farther than they may think.
Likewise, Eli hopes that their music may be to other people what artists like Ne-Yo and the Fugees were to him: an origin point. Finding artists to hold onto and believe in puts the passion into the dreams of others, and Glasshouse, as a whole, agreed, they’re ready to be that artist.
In five to ten years, they see themselves being that and so much more. Only last year, they envisioned themselves on the same list as Tyler, the Creator, and when The Governors Ball came around, there they were on the poster together. For Glasshouse, it isn’t a question of why? It’s a question of why not?
With their debut album on the way and more projects floating around in their heads, Glasshouse is a name that isn’t disappearing any time soon. They are ready for the success that is about to come their way, and they’re welcoming it with open arms. After all, it’s well-deserved and a dream they’ve self-built to fruition.
As for a song that the group defines as their mission statement, it’s between “Huckleberry Hick” and “Unbuckle.” What do they sound like? Even EnVi doesn’t have the answer to that yet, but we can’t wait to find out upon the release of their debut album, Cullet.
To listen to Glasshouse’s current music and prepare for their album release, they can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. Follow them on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with their activities.
Want more EnVi exclusive interviews? Read our interview with JUNHEE, where he talks about his solo debut here!
