Feb 24, 2023

Smooth Retsina Glow Pushes Forward And Doesn’t Look Back In “Overcoming”

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based artists face their deepest fears to become their best selves. In the year 2019, one band exploded onto the music scene of Lehigh Valley: Smooth Retsina Glow.

Initially starting as a trio, Smooth Retsina Glow is now more giant and better with the re-addition of former vocalist and guitarist Sarah Stroll and Jacob Wolfe coming aboard as full members after a previous stint as a fill-in bassist for the group.

Smooth Retsina Glow has been making waves with a unique sound that blends indie rock, shoegaze, and dream pop. With the release of their third record Metaphysical in June 2022, they have continued to push their limits and reach new heights.

One thing that sets Smooth Retsina Glow apart from its peers is an unabashed love of performance and the big stage. Logging a staggering amount of 147 shows over the span of last year, their dedication to perfecting their performances cannot be dismissed. Having enjoyed monthly residencies at venues like the F and A Grog house and Renegade Winery, they shared the stage with notable Philly act Snack Time at the Pine Ridge Fall Festival. With new music constantly in the works, we can’t wait to see what Smooth Retsina Glow will do next.

“Overcoming” is the latest product of the band’s significant musical talent. Over a gently strummed guitar and drum, Sarah Stoll’s dreamy vocals lull the listener into a sense of peace. There’s a certain easiness about Smooth Retsina Glow’s sound that simply makes them pleasant on your ears.

As Stoll sings, dropping lines like the chorus (I'm overcoming my deepest fear / I'm finally whole and intact, Im overcoming what wasn't clear /And I know I'm never slipping back) with an easy assuredness that makes you feel like everything is going to be all right, you get the sense that it’s true; it’s all going to be okay.

Smooth Retsina Glow is a band that any indie or dream pop fan will fall in love with at first listen. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream “Overcoming,” available now on all major streaming platforms.

Welcome to BuzzMusic, Smooth Retsina Glow. We loved “Overcoming.” It was so well put together! It felt so relaxing to listen to; we have to ask what inspired “Overcoming?" Were you drawing from any personal experiences?

Overcoming has an exciting backstory, considering it was written at the height of lockdowns in 2020- it would have been slated for inclusion on our 2nd record, 'Out of the Ether,' but I had a song called Memories Made ( the first song of ours you ever reviewed!) that we didn't put on the album- because it seemed like it was a good idea to conserve it. For our third record, metaphysical- it was still on the shelf- our co-vocalist Sarah Stoll had taken a leave for college- and although we tried it in rehearsal, I decided to leave it off for a future album- when Sarah returned full-time in June last year- and since she had already heard it- we decided to record it finally- and it was well worth the period it was reserved because it has already resulted in a number one song of the week for Banks City Radio in Australia, as well as alot of exposure- from Relix magazine to a heavy radio play not just in America and Australia, but in a few more foreign parts. Stylistically, Theo Katzman, Lake Street Dive, Curtis Mayfield, and Billie Eilish inspired me. It may have been inspired by my own experiences- or not- I believe I can write about something somebody else is going through.

If you had to describe your sound to new listeners, how would you do it?

Indie Rock- and certainly since the last record, 'Metaphysical' we have been able to certify ourselves as that sort of band- and the label fits well because we are still able to draw from a wide array of influences and fit them under the label- which is sort of an umbrella term. Some of our originals are faster, some are slower, and we use different time signatures for some songs, as well as an array of sound processing- but it's unified, as opposed to our first two albums, where we tended to change our style a little too drastically.

What is your favorite part about making music?

It's enjoyable seeing people react to them the way they do- alot of bar owners are a little hesitant about the fact initially, we feature originals in our set ( but we always reassure them we will also include covers by artists they probably will know), but lately, it seems people prefer OUR music as opposed to the covers, especially Overcoming- so it reaffirms that it's not just self-indulgence on our behalf- but its something the public genuinely enjoy.

If you wanted your fans to take one thing away from your music, what would it be?

No matter what- we do it for you, we work hard at it, and we're simply trying to create something that you want to listen to repeatedly, and we always vary something in our songs every time!

What’s next for you all? Do you have any big plans for the rest of 2023, and can we expect to hear new music soon?

Currently, we are promoting Overcoming and playing a heavy concert schedule- our third record Metaphysical did a superb job at raising our profile- and now we are performing an average of 3 times a week- sometimes more in the Lehigh Valley and beyond! Our 4th record, 'Gemini Reign,' is almost completed and coincides with the 4th anniversary of the band in April ( but not this lineup). We will be releasing a single in early April- the album will be released in June/ July of this year, and there will also be a third single to go out with it that week. Possibly a tour in early November- as well as performances at Pine Ridge Spring Fest, Musikfest in Bethlehem, and a wide variety of venues in Eastern PA and belong! This is only just starting!