Glenn Astro - Homespun

Five years after his critically acclaimed debut album Throwback , Glenn Astro returns with his deeply personal solo album Homespun, releasing on Tartelet Records this October.

Marking a change in course from his first release on Tartelet Records, Glenn Astro is set to showcase his sophomore album Homespun, a testament to a visionary artist who has come into his own.

Made up of ten tracks spanning 45 minutes, the record twists and turns between electronic meditations, soulful vocals by Ajnascnet, and futuristic electro, carving out a world of spacy eclecticism that is as nostalgic as it is experimental.

“This album is in all facets different from the first one, which was a deliberate decision. No vintage sounds and references, no sampling, combined with futuristic sound design and song structures. Less obvious jazz references, more everything else. I tried to keep it as current and intuitive as possible,” he says.

Known for his chunky beats and fuzzy textures, Glenn Astro was a key figure in the wave of hip-hop and jazz-influenced house music that spread like wildfire between 2013 and 2015. Since then, he has released on labels such as Ninja Tune and Apollo, weaving his loose, organic style into everything he touches. On Homespun, he takes a step towards a carefully-crafted new sound, resulting in an album that was produced in less than three months.

“I set myself an ultimatum to finish the album within three months. If I didn’t make it, I’d have to rethink my career path and keep music as a hobby. If it wasn’t for this album I’d be selling home-assembled ballpoint pens now,” he says.

On the introspective first single and album title track “Homespun,” vocals by Ajnascent lend a sincerity to the melancholic production. “It’s about the regret of not taking chances and giving in too much, but also about taking responsibility and being honest with yourself. Homespun is a nod to nostalgia and a desire for simplicity and prudence, being equally the culprit and the cure,”elaboratesAjnascent.

On “The Yancey,” Glenn Astro paints his vision of contemporary electro with shimmering melodies, deep ambient soundscapes, and advanced drum programming. “Moreira” and “Look at You” feel like spaced-out electronic jazz hybrids, while “Taking Care of Business” goes back to the future with Glenn’s take on 90s jungle. Other tracks such as “Mezzanine,” “Slow Poke Flange,” and “Viktors Meditation” provide the finest dubby electronica.

Out on September 16^th, the first single “Homespun” comes accompanied by a video featuring the notorious Copenhagen-based graffiti artist and activist Spyo. The video provides a glimpse into a parallel, nonconformist society and sub culture in the Danish capital, where urban exploring and daring quests for artistic fame is a way of life.