Houston In The Blind emerged onto the Atlanta music scene in 2015 with their debut album, “Limbs.” The album’s immediate success catapulted the band into the spotlight, promising a bright future. However, behind the scenes, the group faced internal challenges as frontman Charlie Garrett’s desire for a change of scenery clashed with the band’s collective vision.
“Hide the Glow” is a reflection of this period and the aftermath, an examination of what happens when expectations and reality don’t align. Despite these hurdles, Houston In The Blind has persevered, releasing this highly anticipated album, after nine years. This new record marks a significant chapter for the band, showcasing their resilience and growth as a collective.
“Hide the Glow” is a testament to the band’s enduring bond and their ability to overcome obstacles together. The album delves into the challenges they have faced, highlighting their journey towards creative rebirth. Through their music, Houston In The Blind offers a candid portrayal of their experiences, and we’re thrilled to have them here at LADYGUNN sharing all about their recent journey in an all-exclusive interview.
The band name “Houston in the Blind” is quite evocative. Is there a story behind the name and how it resonates with the band’s overall message?
Originally, this all started as a solo project. That changed during the recording process for our first record, Limbs. I remember thinking the music had such a band sound and feel to it, that I didn’t really want to put it out under my name. Like, maybe that wouldn’t do it justice, you know? Plus, it felt like a fresh start, which I needed at the time. When we were tossing around ideas, Houston In The Blind came up. I immediately thought it sounded interesting. When I found out that it’s a term used when astronauts are sending a transmission, but have no idea if it’s being received……..perfect! There’s no conscious connection between the name and the songs. That being said, I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t doubt myself or feel lost at times in the music world. It’s strange out there.
We’re intrigued by the man behind the music. Could you tell us a bit more about your background, and what drives your creativity? How does your personal journey influence the music you create as Houston In The Blind?
It’s weird, I sort of fell into music. I grew up just outside Athens, Ga. My family was pretty religious, so all of my early memories of music were from church, which I didn’t connect with. When I turned 12 I got a guitar, mostly because an older kid convinced me it was easy to learn. The reality was that he needed someone to play chords while he worked on his solos! I’m self-taught, so it was hard in the beginning, but I stayed with it. My older cousin really encouraged me to keep playing, and he started introducing me to all sorts of music that I had never heard. It was kind of crazy, being a guitar player and hearing The Stones for the first time at 14. I remember becoming totally obsessed really quickly. I started singing and writing a few years later. My cousin deserves a lot of credit or blame, however, you want to look at it!
What drives me creatively… that’s a good question. I guess I rarely slow down to think about things like that. My first love was guitar, but my true passion is for songs and melody. Guitar can be a bit self-indulgent for my taste. Writing a song that I’m proud of can fill a pretty deep void for me. The ability to articulate an emotion in a way that it can be received universally, wrapped in a great melody with depth… that’s beauty. I’m constantly searching for those songs.
Your recently released album “Hide The Glow” is generating a lot of buzz. It explores some powerful themes. Can you delve deeper into the main ideas and emotions you wanted to touch on with “Hide The Glow”?
The record sort of centers around basic human struggles. It’s not a concept album or anything like that, but the songs do connect. Thematically, it was hard to write some of these songs, because they pull so much from my own personal experiences. It’s hard for me to put myself out there like that, but at least it’s authentic. I’m really always searching for that when I write.
“Hide the Glow” seems to be a reflection on a challenging period. Can you elaborate on the specific struggles you faced that led to this album’s creation?
Yeah, so after our first record came out, I relocated to Los Angeles. It was a well-intended move for a variety of reasons, but it had seriously detrimental effects on me personally and creatively. I fought it, but eventually, I had a complete mental collapse. I was in a pretty rough place for a while. Working my way out of that headspace was really difficult and took time, but it’s something I’m very proud of. This record was born out of that period. When I wrote several of the songs, the idea of sharing them wasn’t really top of mind. I was coming more from a place of trying to express what was going on inside of me, in hopes that it would give me a sense of relief or peace. I really just wanted to feel something other than sadness. Not all of the songs are like that though. Some were written on the other side of that darkness when light started to shine through.
The recording journey seems to have been a full circle, starting and ending in Georgia with different collaborators. How did each producer contribute to the final sound of the album?
Both producers were a pleasure to work with, but they each approached the project very differently. The sessions for Hide The Glow began not long after I moved to LA. with Gus Seyfferet, whom I met through Azniv Korkejian (Bedouine). His approach was very laid back but focused at the same time. We recorded I Don’t Believe, On A Wire, & You Could Be King at his place. Everything was cut to tape, and the basic tracks were all captured live. He didn’t allow any overthinking or second-guessing. He really just wanted to get great performances of each song and then build from there. When we started working together, the plan was to track 3 songs that I could pitch to labels. So, we did that, and then life happened. I had a great time during those sessions, and I’d love to work with him again.
Kris Sampson took over as producer/engineer when I moved back to Georgia. Those sessions started out a bit bumpy. Kris can be intense and demanding, but his intentions always come from a good place. He doesn’t mind challenging people, which I needed. He pushed me to go deeper than ever with my songwriting, and I’ll forever appreciate that. Songs like Dreams and Let Me Go greatly benefitted from this. He also did a killer job mixing the record. In the end, I loved working with Kris. I consider him a close friend and collaborator.
While every song on the album is compelling, “Dreams” stands out as a fan favorite. Do you have a personal favorite track from “Hide The Glow”, and if so, what makes that song special to you?
Totally. I’m really proud of, I Don’t Believe. It’s the last song on the record, but the first song I wrote for what became Hide The Glow. To me, it set the bar for the writing on the album. Dreams went through the most revisions and was almost abandoned at one point. I’m really proud that we saw that one through. However, my favorite song has to be Thoughts Of You. I think we captured something sonically that pairs perfectly with the lyrics. There’s an intense melancholy, with anxiety, that builds on that one. It’s incredibly personal. The song has taken on a whole new meaning since I wrote it, which has been odd, but it’s still my favorite.
Now that “Hide The Glow” is out in the world, are you already turning your attention to your next creative project? Can you give us any hints about what fans might expect from your future work?
I’m always trying to keep myself in some sort of creative headspace. I hope to be back in the studio in late 2024/early 2025 to start working on a new record. I’ve been demoing a ton of new stuff that I’m really excited about. But first I’ll be hitting the road for a solo tour out west in August, then more East Coast dates to follow.
Is there anything else you’d like to add or any message you’d like to convey to the people who are connecting with your music?
A massive Thank You. The music doesn’t exist outside of my room without people wanting to hear it. I’m truly grateful.
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