Step into the world of ANTi and his latest single, "Glass House." This dazzling display of 80s-inspired drums and electro-indie vibes transports you to a world of nostalgic pop and new-wave sounds. ANTi, known for his prowess as a sought-after producer in Nashville's underground pop scene, takes center stage as an artist and frontman in this electrifying track.
The song kicks off with a crisp, atmospheric beat dripping in nostalgia and setting the stage for ANTi's profound and angelic vocals to take the spotlight. "Glass House" is a glimpse into ANTi's forthcoming debut solo album, marking his return to the forefront of the music scene. Co-written with Rich Harris and Graham Mallany and co-produced by Harris, the track is a masterclass in pop songcraft and airtight production.
The melodies weave through the soundscape, creating a mesmerizing tapestry that captures the era's essence while offering a fresh, contemporary twist. ANTi's lyrical motifs shimmer and light up the mind, adding depth to the eclectic soundscape that unfolds exhilaratingly.
The song shares some sonic DNA with ANTi's previous works but refines and distills the elements—shimmering synths, sledgehammer beats, and precise guitar work—to their most potent form.
As ANTi explores deeper and more contemplative subject matter, his matured vocal skills and emotional delivery add layers to the composition. "Glass House" is a retro-futuristic pop spectacle that invites you to dance through the decades and lose yourself in its infectious energy.
Welcome to Buzz, ANTi! We love your latest track, "Glass House," and the performance you deliver. Can you please walk us through your collaborative process with co-writers and producers Rich Harris and Graham Mallany and how you collectively shaped the sonic landscape of this track?
Thanks so much. Rich and I met early last year via my wife, a songwriter, and the three of us started collaborating on a couple of songs. For me also being a producer who works by myself much of the time, it was a completely refreshing experience having his perspective. It added touch, and especially his technical expertise. So, for the song that would become "Glass House,"
I basically brought to the session an instrumental track I had started, and Rich took that and just built this amazing beat on top of it, accenting it with other cool textures and synths. Graham, another world-class artist/producer/writer, and friend, worked with me on shaping the lyrics and melody while Rich sculpted the track, and the three of us bounced ideas back and forth the whole time.
Graham has such an insane instinct for melody, and he brought the hook to life. The entire song and track came together in a single afternoon at Rich's studio, and the storyline was sort of an accident because I had called the original instrumental idea "Glass Houses" just to give it a name. Both Graham and Rich killed it and helped me get out of my way as the artist.
Do you find your experience as a producer influences your approach to creating music as a solo artist? How so?
Absolutely. I tend to think like a producer because that is the nature of the work I do with other artists, and it's just my primary strength in a creative situation. I can usually hear a record in my head before it exists, what it sounds like, and what mood it evokes, and I tend to know how to create the sounds that I imagine more than, say, seeing a lyric or a storyline in my head before it exists. A lot of times, I'll create short instrumental tracks, like vibe teasers, that serve as a launchpad for writing, and the feeling of those tracks often inform the personality and shape of a lyric. I guess, in a way, it's kind of like working backward.
The lyrics delve into more profound subject matter. Can you please share a glimpse into the inspiration behind the lyrical themes and the emotional journey you wanted to convey to your audience?
The lyrics were written mainly by Graham Mallany and me, just starting from the title, which became the hook. I didn't have any preconceptions going into the writing session, but the track's emotion was sort of misty and melancholy, so I think we knew the song would have a more sincere tone.
I tend to write relationship songs no matter the context because it's how we all relate to life and each other. Relationship songs are universal, no matter how specific the lyrics are. So, when we thought about the idea of a glass house, Graham started to talk about what that might mean.
We landed on this concept of two people in a relationship where things are falling apart but where the outside world is more aware of it than they are because the walls are see-through, and the light keeps getting in.
How has your sound matured and developed, and what elements from your earlier works do you intentionally carry forward into your current artistic expression?
First and foremost, as an artist I make music that I want to listen to, I incorporate sounds and elements that I am a fan of in other artists' music. For me, that means that a lot of what I do is based on synthpop, where I use a lot of retro-sounding keyboards and synthesizers and big, thick drum sounds. Honestly, it's just what my ears like to hear. I'm a huge fan of Prince, Phil Collins, The Weeknd, Chromeo, and plenty of others who sort of live in the same synth-forward universe.
My music has always had an '80s-inspired aesthetic in some way, but I think the more I've developed as an artist, the more those ingredients have morphed and matured into something current and more unique. Collaborating with other producers and writers has also helped distill those elements into something modern. I tend to be more minimalist now, too, with fewer sounds and parts overall, but making everyone count.
If you could transport "Glass House" to a specific moment or setting in time, where would it be, and why? What emotions or experiences do you hope listeners take away from this musical journey?
"Glass House" feels like a portrait of the first serious heartbreak you have as an adult, where there's something at stake. We've all had that experience where you storm off and go for a drive by yourself after a fight with your lover or partner, with no direction in mind other than being behind the wheel and letting your emotions dissipate.
To me, this song is like the conversation you have in your head on that drive, the things you might not say out loud but feel deeply and need to express in some way. It's a breaking point, one that could be the end of the road or one that tests and eventually strengthens the relationship.
I hope anyone going through a difficult time with their partner or significant other can see themselves in this song and know that we all experience the same push and pull in love and relationships. That's what music is about - the human experience.