We caught up with singer Siri Jantey from GLITTER WASTELAND on which Timo Loosli (We Love Machines, Faux Tales) and Marco Neeser (Swandive, Division Kent, me.man.machine) also take part ahead of the release of their new single “Cold War” and their performance at the Alternative Great Escape Festival and Electrowerkz this weekend.
Raised in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, Thailand and furthermore as a total polar opposite in a small town in the Swiss Alps as well as crossing great distances such as Australia to Los Angeles, Siri’s music can’t help but have a very unique yet diverse sound. Her new single, “Cold War” will be released on the 3rd June via 61 Seconds Records. Keep your eyes peeled!
Hi Siri, how are you and what are you up to today?
I’m very well! Right now, we’re rehearsing new material for our upcoming shows at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton and our first show in London, supporting Goose at the Electrowerkz.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
Tales of the night. Punchy drums, deep and driving bass lines, strong ambient soundscapes and hypnotic melodies.
Can you name the albums and artists that have influenced you the most?
There are too many… I do restrict myself to a specific genre. I once mentioned the following artists in an interview and dropped some lines about them:
1.Sia | Breathe Me
I feel so numb and breakable every time when I hear this song, and the end blows me away.
2. Marvin Gaye | Sexual Healing
The title says everything. It’s such a perfect song, everything is perfect, from the very first hit of the 808 drums until the last breathing sound.
3. James Blake | Limit To Your Love (Feist’s ‘The Limit To Your Love’ Cover)
I love how he performs this song which was originally written by Lesley Feist and Gonzales, so fragile and soulful. And the break where this drone sub bass hits in – that very second my heart stops beating just to hear this part.
4. Massive Attack | Teardrop (with Elizabeth Fraser)
It feels almost like an angel is singing this beautiful line.
5. The Verve | Bitter Sweet Symphony
Sometimes I feel like Richard Ashcroft walking the streets…
6. Aphex Twin | Windowlicker
Another song with an incredible video clip by Chris Cunningham. Ingenious, song and clip. So funny and far out.
7. Sade | By Your Side
This is one of my secret moment kinda song. It makes me feel very sad when I’m listening to it and it makes me think about my childhood.
8. Erik Satie | Gymnopédie No.1
The Gymnopédies piano pieces are so simple, almost Minimal, but every single note is just perfect. Listening to these pieces I instantly fall into another state of mind.
9. LL Cool J | Doin’ It
This is damn sexy. If you don’t like this song, then something’s wrong with you.
10. Aaliyah | Try Again (with Timbaland)
So wicked. One of the best vocal arrangements, style-wise. And the production of Timbaland was ahead of time.
Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
These days I often listen to Years & Years, and also to FKA Twigs. And to a guy/band from Denmark called Rangleklods I love their soundscapes, and the songs are very soulful. I also re-discovered the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And there’s a young german group called Drangsal, they play shameless synth pop/post punk that sounds as it comes directly from 1982.
What would we find under the category of “Guilty pleasures” in your music collection?
Haha, when I was very young I loved the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys.
The UK music scene is certainly always changing. Some might say that at the moment it’s more electronic oriented. Do you think this makes it more difficult for indie/alternative acts to get recognition that it would have done ten years ago?
Today electronic music is more popular, some years ago it was all about guitars. I don’t care. It is as it is. Glitter Wasteland is somewhere in between anyway. In the end, the only thing that matters is if a song can touch you or not, no matter what instruments have been used to play it.
If not the popularity of electronic music, what would you say some of the challenges indie bands face today in the music industry today?
As the record sales dropped drastically during the last couple of years in general, playing live is even more important than it used to be. So getting good gigs is a challenge. Promoters, festivals out there – book us, we’re good, haha!
Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
My inspiration comes from everywhere – emotions, people, media, nature, the noise of a city like New York, Berlin or Bangkok with all its treasures. I walk the streets with open eyes.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when put music together?
Often it starts just with fragments. It can be a melody, some words but also a beat or a specific sound of a guitar or a synthesizer which evolves to a soundscape that triggers emotions. The best things are happening when you stop thinking. Once I’m in this state of being, the songs just come to me.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
So far, the DNA festival at Magnet Club in Berlin was really nice. It was our first gig in Berlin, and the first event of this cool club series.
And the worst?
I won’t tell you!
If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
Fashion, art, design. But actually I’m also a passionate cook, so sooner or later I will be opening a little restaurant! And the funny thing: I’m also very good with figures. So once it’s not working with music I might also work in finance, haha.
Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
There are many great festivals all around the planet. Coachella would be nice, Fuji Rock in Japan, also the huge festivals in the UK, for example Glastonbury.
If you could perform alongside any other band or artist, who would it be?
That’s a tough question. There are so many. James Blake, among many others.
Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
Yes! July 1 my first EP will be released. On May 20 we’re playing in Brighton and on May 21 in London, supporting Goose at the Electrowerkz.
