Glass Towers
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Benjamin Hannam, Cameron Holdstock, Daniel Muszynski, Sam Speck |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
Glass Towers was an indie rock ensemble originating from Sydney, Australia, established in 2008 by lead singer and guitarist Benjamin Hannam, bassist Cameron Holdstock, drummer Daniel Muszynski, and guitarist Sam Speck. Their first full-length record, Halcyon Days, launched in Australia and New Zealand on 5 July 2013 and later in the United States on 17 June 2014, garnered widespread critical praise. The album earned a 4 out of 5 rating alongside the "Album of the Week" accolade from Drum Media, secured a Triple J Feature Album designation, and received nominations for Single of the Year and Best New Talent at the 2014 Rolling Stone Australia Awards. It entered the ARIA Album Chart at position number 42.
The group was affiliated with Hub The Label/Inertia within Australia, Dine Alone Records across North America, and Thistime Records in Japan.
History
Originating from Benjamin Hannam’s bedroom recordings in 2008, Glass Towers rapidly attracted notice after opening for Splendour in the Grass in 2009. By 2010, their tracks were featured on Triple J Unearthed, and they reached finalist status in the Unearthed High Competition. Their initial EP, What We Were, When We Were, produced by Wayne Connolly and Paul Mckercher, was released on 26 August 2011.
In February 2012, the single "Jumanji" from their upcoming EP Collarbone Jungle achieved heavy rotation on Triple J, ranking as the fourth most-played song that month. The EP itself was launched on 28 September 2012 to favorable reviews, with the subsequent single "Tonight" also receiving considerable airplay. Their third single "Halcyon," released in June, sustained this success with substantial Triple J exposure.
During 2013, Glass Towers supported Australian tours for The Kooks and Maximo Park before appearing at The Great Escape Festival in the UK and conducting tours throughout both the UK and Japan. Their debut album Halcyon Days, produced by Jean-Paul Fung (known for Last Dinosaurs), was unveiled on 5 July 2013 to positive critical reception including a Rolling Stone feature naming them a "Band To Watch." Following a sold-out headline tour across Australia, they joined Metric as support during their November Australian tour.
Their international presence expanded with a North American release of Halcyon Days through Dine Alone Records in June 2014, accompanied by a North American tour that included performances at SXSW.
After minimal activity following 2015, brief updates on social media surfaced in June 2020 hinting at new material planned for release in August.
Glass Towers extensively toured in Australia, the UK, United States, Canada, and Japan, participating in prominent festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, The Great Escape, and South by Southwest. They performed alongside well-known artists including The Kooks, Hall & Oates, Metronomy, Metric, Tame Impala, Pajama Club, The Cribs, Atlas Genius, Birds of Tokyo, Maxïmo Park, Bluejuice, and Cloud Control.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Halcyon Days | Hub The Label/Inertia, Thistime Records |
| 2014 | Halcyon Days | Dine Alone Records |
EPs
| Year | Title | Record Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | What We Were, When We Were | Sony Music Entertainment Australia |
| 2012 | Collarbone Jungle | Hub The Label/Inertia, Thistime Records |
| 2014 | Collarbone Jungle | Dine Alone Records |
Singles
| Year | Single | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Jumanji" | Collarbone Jungle, Halcyon Days |
| 2012 | "Tonight" | Collarbone Jungle, Halcyon Days |
| 2013 | "Halcyon" | Halcyon Days |
| 2014 | "Griffin" | Halcyon Days |