VANCOUVER ALT-ROCKERS OURGLASSZOO RELEASE NEW ALBUM HORIZONS + SHARE VIDEO FOR FEATURE SINGLE, “SPARK”
Vancouver alternative rock band OurGlassZoo shares their third full-length album, Horizons, out now on all digital streaming platforms via Volunteer Media/The Orchard (Sony Music). OurGlassZoo is also showcasing “Spark” as the fourth featured single from the album, along with a music video to accompany the release.
“Spark” marks a striking departure from their usual high-energy tracks and reveals a different side of the band, highlighting their ability to craft emotionally charged and introspective music.
“’Spark’ is about breaking out of the darkness and learning to respect and trust yourself again,” says lead vocalist and lyricist Josias Tschanz. “The dancer in the video, Chan Smook, expresses the lyrics visually while the band is trapped and exposed behind a TV screen with their eyes covered in darkness. During the interlude, the dancer bursts into an expressive sequence, bringing back hope and light while sheltering the singer and the other band members. We are strong advocates for mental health awareness and have teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) on several occasions, so the song is very meaningful to us. We really enjoyed working with a full string arrangement to bring the vision to life. The lyrics fittingly end with, ‘I will follow you, my friend.’”
OurGlassZoo recorded Horizons in late 2023 at Monarch Studios. The album is part of a journey that connects to their previous albums, Aftermath (2022) and Hindsight (2020), telling the story of a world that came to a halt, struggled to recover, and finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Josias explains:
“While Horizons is more hopeful, it remains critical of humanity’s current path, as reflected in tracks like ‘Burn,’ ‘Innocence,’ and ‘Shut Up.’ However, it also highlights the preciousness of life and the importance of enjoying it, emphasizing healing and finding purpose to guide us in rediscovering our paths.”
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
We are OurGlassZoo, an alternative pop-rock band from Vancouver, Canada
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
Our newest release, Horizons, marks our fourth album/EP and stands out as our most versatile project yet. The album explores a broad spectrum of styles, offering something for every listener. Highlights include:
- Home – A heartfelt pop ballad featuring singer Rachael Schroeder, written in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Burn – An electrifying electronic rock track created in collaboration with Indonesian-Canadian producer O.K.A.
- Hey Now! – A lively, summer-infused ska-reggae tune complete with a vibrant brass section.
- Spark – A dark, cinematic piece inspired by orchestral elements.
- Shut Up – The album’s lead single, blending emo, punk, and rock with a rebellious edge that’s perfect for singing along.
We’re incredibly proud of Horizons and thrilled with its reception so far. The album has already garnered nearly 100,000 streams on Spotify, while the official music videos for Shut Up and Spark have collectively earned over 50,000 views on YouTube.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
There’s no set routine when it comes to our songwriting process—each track follows its own unique path. For example:
- Home began as an acoustic piece, with Rachael Schroeder and the band’s lead vocalist, Josias Tschanz, collaborating on the lyrics.
- Burn came to life through a collaboration with O.K.A., who crafted much of the instrumentation.
- Spark and Hey Now! was elevated by the contributions of Thad Bailey-May, a long-time collaborator, who composed the string and brass arrangements for both tracks.
Generally, though, our songs take shape in the band room, where we polish ideas by jamming together. Sometimes, a band member will bring a rough song structure, or Josias might have a melody or lyrics in mind, and the rest of the band builds on that foundation organically.
Additional elements, such as choir vocals or key studio arrangements like integral keyboard parts, are typically finalized during the recording process in the studio.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
Our latest music video for Spark has been making waves, winning multiple awards at various festivals, including the prestigious European Music Video Awards.
In the coming months, we’ll be releasing several remixes of our songs, along with exclusive video content from our recent performance at the Biltmore.
Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for an exciting full UK tour next year, which will also include select dates across Europe. Stay tuned for more updates—we can’t wait to hit the road and share our music with you!
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one highlight in our musical journey, as there have been so many incredible moments. Playing live and hearing fans sing our lyrics, often showing up with posters in hand, is always a humbling and unforgettable experience for any band. We’ve been fortunate to receive significant recognition for our music videos, earning several awards and even a Leo nomination. A major milestone this year was having our song Reminisce featured in a film set to release on a major platform—a proud achievement for us.
Over the years, we’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with incredible artists. Sharing the stage and creating a music video for our song Free with Prevail and Moka Only of the Juno Award-winning hip-hop group Swollen Members was a major highlight. To top it off, the track was remixed by KutMasta Kurt, renowned for his work with Linkin Park and Beastie Boys.
We’re deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from Creative BC and the government of British Columbia, which has played a significant role in our growth as a band and as artists.
As we look ahead, we’re excited about the future and can’t wait to see where the journey takes us next!
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of sharing the stage with some truly amazing acts. Recently, we performed alongside Caleb Hart, Ria Jade, and Summer’s brother—each of whom is well worth a listen. They exemplify the incredible versatility of BC’s musicians and artists.
There’s no shortage of talent around here, and we’re constantly inspired by the creativity in our local music scene!
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