Formed in February 2023 by cousins Jeff and Jaye Moore, Glimmer is a Brooklyn / Hudson Valley-based grungegaze band that pairs layers of heavy guitars with dreamy, swirling reverb. The band came together at warp speed: after taking a nearly two-year hiatus from music and then releasing the self-recorded home demo ‘Breathe’ under the name Glimmer, Jeff realized that writing and playing music was crucial to his mental health and was ready to put a new band together. In only eight weeks’ time, Glimmer was a fully functioning four-piece, with Jaye on drums, additional guitarist Johnny Nicholls, and bassist Kevin Dobbins. They played their first show after only six short practices together, but their instant chemistry and explosive on-stage energy was palpable. Their debut single “Self Destroyed” was recorded the following week.
How did the band form and what does the band name mean?
The idea for the band was something I came up with after over a year of self-imposed exile from music. I wrote a song called ‘Breathe’ and recorded a home demo of it that I wanted to release. I put it out under the name Glimmer, though I don’t recall thinking too hard about the name. Flash forward about a year later, which was this February, I had finally decided to play music again seriously and form an actual band. I got my cousin Jaye to play drums and recruited my friends Kevin and Johnny to play bass and guitar. As far as a meaning to the name, I can only attribute that after the fact but suppose it has something to do with endless possibilities.
Previous musical projects? How'd you first get into music?
I’ve played in many bands over the years and all of them with my cousin Jaye on drums. Like a lot of people, I heard the Beatles or something as a kid and got a hold of a guitar. From there my fate was sealed.
First concert that you ever went to?
First local show was maybe this band called Rein Sanction, a lesser known Sub Pop band. National act was probably Iron Maiden. I don’t really remember, but those were definitely early on.
What's your writing process like?
I’ll usually pick up my acoustic guitar but for this band I wrote a lot on my Jaguar. I’ll mess around with some chords or a riff and sing some nonsense over it until something interesting happens. It doesn’t most of the time, but when it does I’ll pursue it and try and form a song. Then I’ll demo it on this Tascam 24 track recorder I have. Drum machine, guitars, bass etc., then I’ll bring it to the band and we flesh it out. That’s pretty unique to this band though as I didn’t always make demos, but I’m really into it now.
5. What other artists or songs inspire your music?
As I mentioned I totally cut myself off from music during the pandemic. But after awhile I’d find myself checking out different clips on YouTube. Studio sessions of the band Nothing, Nirvana Live at the Paramount etc. and it really got me amped to start making music again. Even though it took awhile for me to get things going I was really starting to revisit a lot of 90’s stuff I’m into (Pumpkins, Hum) as well as some new bands I hadn’t really heard much of (Superheaven, Drab Majesty). So all that stuff really sparked my desire to create again.
What's the live experience like and your philosophy on playing live? Do you think the music live should be identical to the recorded version or should it be its own thing?
I don’t really have a philosophy on playing live except that I enjoy it and I try to go out and put on the best show I can. I don’t think it has to sound identical but it also depends on the kind of band you’re in. People expect certain things from a song and I think it’s important to deliver that.
Has the band toured? What has the touring experience been, best shows? worst shows?
We haven’t toured yet as we are super new. In fact we’ve only played a handful of shows, but we plan on changing all of that very soon.
What's up next for the band?
Another single later this year, more shows, touring, SXSW next year and a full length when it makes sense. All the things.