How I got into this—and how I found Glass Mansions.

See video for newest release Violet

If you’ve read any of my posts before, you already know there’s going to be a story before I talk about the music. As a person, I have my own opinions—just like everyone—and my way of expressing things is part of me, so there you go.

This time, I’d like to give a little background on what it is that I’m doing here, writing about music—how it happens that I am, and what makes me think and do this the way I do. I like to call it communication.

I’ve only been in Austin for a few years. I’m from Houston and also lived in Los Angeles – for many years – and I did not know I’d be taking photos of live shows, let alone starting to write. It all came about very suddenly, and I’ve only just begun writing in the past few months. I’ve been very hesitant to do this, for a multitude of reasons, but I felt the need for it, so I’m going with it.

I haven’t been shooting live music for years and years. I’ve been shooting when I can—for two and a half years. I did start learning and shooting headshots and portraits a little over ten years ago, on and off. There are people out there who’ve been doing it (live music) for 20 or 30 years or more—or less—but that’s not my story. I work with what I have, and my own valuable experiences from the past 40 years (I’m in my late 50s). I have a full-time job, drive to and from work—which takes almost two hours a day—work nine hours, and I live almost an hour outside of Austin, in the middle of nowhere.

So, for me to have the desire to use the energy I have to take photos in Austin, drive back, edit, and write—is a big deal for me. I’m not bitching, I’m being real. And if you’re in your 20s to 40s, I can promise you—it’s very different. How do I know? I’ve been there.

Up until about two months ago, I never had a plan. I just went, started shooting, and building my portfolio. I didn’t know why I was doing it, except for the fact that it makes me happy and I was feeling that pull. I’ve been trying to navigate what can work for me and what can’t, with the limited time I have.

That being said, I don’t mess around with my time—either I’m serious about it or I’m out. I’m not in competition with anyone. I’m not desperate to be seen or heard. I do what I do when I’m feeling it.

I was in the film industry for 30 years—as an actor and also on the production side, in several different capacities. I was in the fashion industry for many years and have been around people in the music industry a lot. I didn’t go to Los Angeles to be in the film industry—I went to visit a friend and stayed for the party, which didn’t last long, because I got married. Then I got into it.

I’ve never cared to be famous or any of that. I just want to be the best I can be at whatever I do, and I don’t care how long it takes. What I don’t know, I learn—and I put in the time. I’m not a “fake it ’til you make it” person.

I’ve also been an assistant to working actors and managers in Hollywood, seen how that business works, seen how fashion works—and now, this. Not to mention I have a long lifetime of listening to music, so I’m not clueless. I’ve got tons of experience behind me.

And although the world is constantly moving, and the way things are done is always shifting, one thing remains: the heart and soul of why any one of us does what we do—and how to avoid the shallow void that’s out there trying to pull us in.

It may be different out there now, but really—it’s not.

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GLASS MANSIONS

Within the clusterfuck of social media, you sometimes come across people who know people… who know people that they really believe in, not just as people, but also as entertainers, or in this case, musical artists. That is exactly how I came across Glass Mansions, from someone on Instagram who supports the hell out of them. From the very first few seconds of the clip I came across of them, I knew they had something going on. Something that I hadn’t heard before, so I kept listening—and I haven’t felt wrong yet.

I’ve been through the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, and now halfway through this decade. Personally, with all the music and talent out there, there has to be something that grabs you and makes you go, “Okay, that’s something.” Every generation has had its music, and the reason I’ve felt inclined to talk about Glass Mansions is because they speak to the generation we’re in now, loudly, but they also have this undertone that feels familiar to me. It connects to the music that’s been a part of my life already, and I find it refreshing and innovative. Plus they kick serious ass…

After waiting for a few months, I just got to see them at Hotel Vegas in Austin. They’re raw, high-powered, and unafraid to get down to the nitty gritty, lyrically and musically. That’s something huge. Plus, their sound is super fucking cool. Jayna connects with the audience, draws you in, they slam you against the wall to make sure you get it, then make you want to jump around—it’s like a roller coaster. I’m not just talking about just the live show either—I’m talking about both live and the tunes I’ve heard online. Both Jayna and Blake have so much energy, power, and passion, you cannot turn away from it.

I have lived my life with my eyes, ears, and mind wide open except, I hate to admit it, when it comes to music. I find myself being very particular, though I love all genres. Sometimes you need to feel it, and sometimes you just want to hear some cool music and not think as much. Glass Mansions just happens to be one of those bands that I will continue to listen to and follow because they have powerful bold tunes that I could listen to every day, and I have been.

Just an extra note. After I started listening to their music, I wanted to know a little bit more about them—and when I say “a little bit,” I mean a little bit. I don’t like to know who people are or what they’ve done. As I mentioned, I have only been out here for three years, so I did not know them. I’ve always been that way. I mean, if I accidentally know, it’s one thing, but I like to make up my own mind without a bunch of interference.

When I checked out their Instagram, I came across a video of Jayna talking about an experience they had in Los Angeles, and I realized that what I was feeling about them was right on. After they played a showcase in LA, “The Edge” from U2 came up to them and complimented them on their music and lyrics. If you’re not familiar with U2, they’ve been a BIG deal for a long time. Actually, I remember the first time I saw and heard them on MTV in the ’80s. They brought about some kind of shift in my musical thinking and every day thinking, for that matter. Their music and message was just way different than what I was familiar with at the time, so to me it makes sense that he would be interested in them. They have a very potent thing going on.

You can find more info on GlassMansions.com and their music here (scroll to the bottom for streaming).

You can also follow them on Instagram here

About Glass Mansions, taken from their website:

Glass Mansions, led by the charismatic, sultry voice of Jayna Doyle, is an alt-pop duo from Austin, Texas, influenced by modern and ’90s pop, heavy synths and tight, dance-friendly rhythms. Their music is propulsive and elastic, with bubbly pop-melodies, lush electronic beds of sound and intelligent, intimate lyrics. Live, it’s pure rock n’ roll – raw, sweaty, passionate and covered in a cloud of fog and confetti – and chances are you’ve probably seen Glass Mansions at some point or another as they’ve crisscrossed the country, playing places like SXSW, Warped Tour, Daytrotter, Canadian Music Week, Indie Week Canada, South Sounds, and Florida Music Festival.  In the case that you haven’t, you are in for a treat.

Go See Live Music says “Glass Mansions are a pop lover’s dream,” and that the music “follows pop anthem sensibility, and does so magnificently. You feel like you know the song when it is over and are reaching for the repeat button.”

That knack for writing earworms recently landed the band featured spots on Bravo, Netflix, and MTV, among other sync placements. Their sophomore EP, RITUAL, was helmed by multi-platinum producers Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount and finds the duo of Doyle and multi-instrumentalist Blake Arambula exploring self-discovery, demons, nostalgia, and the satisfaction and laser focus that comes with leaving toxicity in the past. 

The record has already been met with early rave reviews. Pure Grain Audio calls the EP “damn good” and says the band has “layered in a ton of hooks, sing-along choruses, and even captured their live energy,” and South Carolina’s Free Times has called the record “a spectacular collection of edgy electronic music that finds Glass Mansions hitting a new peak.” 

To Doyle, that new peak brings relief,  especially in the live show. “They are 100% cathartic. They are just raw rock and roll vibes and a lot heavier and super fun. Every show is different and everyone has a good time”

That rawness and authentic connection translates from the songs themselves directly to the live experience, something you’ll have to witness yourself. Catch them across the country, and you’ll see why Glass Mansions is proving their worth, one sweaty fog and confetti-filled show at a time.