Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immersed in a creative environment. Whether it was attending the Professional Performing Arts School in NYC with Alicia Keys (before that was her stage name) or studying at Bard College in upstate New York where some of the Beastie Boys are alumni, Glover’s ascent to buzzworthy status was anything but conventional. He spoke with me about his eclectic musical background and how it eventually lead to what we now know as Penguin Prison.
Apparently you were first discovered by Q-Tip, how did that come about?
I saw an ad in Backstage Magazine for a new label he was starting so I sent in a demo. His assistant called me about a year later and I first met with Q-Tip at a restaurant. He flew me to L.A. and wanted to sign me to his new label but it never really happened. I got signed to Interscope a little later on.
So was your deal with Interscope an extension of your meeting with Q-Tip?
It wasn’t really connected, that whole thing with Q-Tip kind of started me into the industry and then I got a manager. It made me think that I should start to try to do music professionally.
You recorded an album for Interscope but it was never released, why was that?
The album I made for Interscope was a mixture of many different genres of music. I was rapping and singing, some songs were acoustic and some songs were hard rap. I was trying to do an album where every song was totally different. That was my idea, that was my concept.
And the record execs weren’t really vibin’ on it?
They liked it but they didn’t really know what to do with it. My idea was that so many people out there listen to all different kinds of music, as do I, and I have the capability of making all different kinds of music. After that I started working on some material that slowly evolved into Penguin Prison.
Tell me about this band you were in “The Smartest People at Bard,” it blew up on its own?
I went to Bard College in upstate New York, some of the Beastie Boys went there, Steely Dan went there, I was in a fake boy band/rap group.
Wait, you mean straight up boy band music?
If you literally put Backstreet Boys and Beastie Boys together that’s what we sounded like. We made boy band music with dancing but also we rapped, it was funny cause I was the only one who could sing and the other guys didnt have good voices. Everyone was going crazy at our shows, it started out as a joke and then hundreds and hundreds of people came to our shows on campus.
Did you guys ever play outside of Bard?
No it was only on campus, just a Bard College thing. But before that I never really made “pop” music, so I kind of started making pop music as a joke and then I started making it for real after that on my own. Then the whole Q-Tip thing happened.
For all the bands out there looking to get signed and after everything you’ve been through as an artist, what would you attribute to how you got to where you are now?
I think the internet changed everything, 5 or 10 years ago bands were hoping to get signed, nowadays I don’t think they’re hoping to get signed as much as they’re just wanting to put their music out on the internet and start to develop a fan base. Then labels end up wanting to sign them at some point. For me Penguin Prison came after I made the album for Interscope, I’m good friends with that band Holy Ghost! and Girl Talk, who were doing more dance music at the time, so I started collaborating more. My friend Alex from Holy Ghost! and I, we ended up working on a song “Golden Train” and I liked how it came out so I decided to make a whole album that would fit with that song. He ended up collaborating on another song on my album and I actually worked on a song that made it onto the new Holy Ghost! album.
Would you ever collaborate again with other artists? Or did that just get you started and now you’re trying to do your own thing?
I’m down to collaborate with anyone really, I would really like to collaborate with Kanye West if I could.
I saw you about a year ago when you came through town with Girl Talk, was that your only time in Austin?
That was my first time in Austin, but then I played a bunch during SXSW.
What do you think of Austin?
It’s a cool city, I didn’t really see much of it the first time I came through but then I got to during SXSW since I was there for about a week. I’m not sure if that’s a good indication because I’m sure that week is totally different than the rest of the year but it was fun.
Any spots you visited while you were in Austin that stuck out? Or that you would want to visit next time you’re in town?
I heard about this outdoor pool, I don’t know what it’s called…
Barton Springs?
Yeah that’s it. That place is badass.
How was touring with Girl Talk?
It was very cool, we would sometimes go on the stage when he was playing, just like everyone else. I’ve known [Greg] for a long time, he actually came to Bard College before he was big. I remember he played a mashup of Lisa Loeb’s “Stay,” he hadn’t started making his dance mashup stuff yet, he was just messing around with pop songs and making them all noisey. But the tour was really great, he’s a really nice person.
That show we played in Austin, my guitar actually broke during the first song and it didn’t work the rest of the show. I actually lost my voice right before the show and literally during the first few seconds of the first song my guitar broke, so I wasn’t playing my guitar and my voice was gone for the entire set. It was the weirdest show I’ve ever played. But it was alright because the SXSW shows were really cool.
Are there any local bands you’ve played with while on tour that caught your attention? Or any up-and-coming bands that you’re into?
Well I’ve really been into Twin Shadow, that album is my favorite album of this year. But as for up-and-coming, we played at Mercury Lounge in NYC recently and this band Vacationer opened up for us. They were cool.
So what’s next for you in 2012? A new album in the works?
We’re gonna tour a lot this coming year and yeah I’m gonna start on a new album.
Any idea what it’s going to sound like?
I think the best way to create things is not to think about. I’ve tried to think about it but that doesn’t really help, but I think you just have to start making things and see where it goes.
Thanks for speaking with me, I’m looking forward to the show. Oh and one last thing – how about a New Year’s resolution, you got one?
I’d say quit smoking but I never started smoking, so I’m gonna say that everyone I know should quit smoking. That’s my resolution.
Penguin Prison headlines Crumple Blunder this New Year’s Eve, come celebrate Knuckle Rumbler’s third birthday the only way we know how: in style. Check out the song Chris collaborated on with Alex from Holy Ghost! below and get pumped, it’s gonna be a long night.
Penguin Prison – Golden Train (Radio Edit) by Penguin Prison
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/jGzExxzu
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/UfYB1Ulz
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/pgyxSk8n
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/NiIX6HbT
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/gMJToDcg
via @Knuckle_Rumbler Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison ha… http://t.co/07RYZYnO
Interview: Penguin Prison:
Born and raised in Manhattan, Chris Glover of Penguin Prison has always been immerse… http://t.co/lvFTHjiZ
@PenguinPrison talks getting discovered by Q-Tip, collabing with Holy Ghost! ahead of #CrumpleBlunder @Knuckle_Rumbler http://t.co/jqUK4BS2
Prepping for NYE with Golden Train on loop and this…Interview: Penguin Prison http://t.co/aQQ9h8pX via @Knuckle_Rumbler
new year's eve – austin texas – penguin prison! here is an interview i did with the people throwing the party: http://t.co/PY0B0pLy
"@penguinprison new year's eve -austin texas-penguin prison!here is an interview i did w/ the ppl throwing the party: http://t.co/fgsP4pIR "
new year's eve – austin texas – penguin prison! here is an interview i did with the people throwing the party: http://t.co/PY0B0pLy
new year's eve – austin texas – penguin prison! here is an interview i did with the people throwing the party: http://t.co/PY0B0pLy
new year's eve – austin texas – penguin prison! here is an interview i did with the people throwing the party: http://t.co/PY0B0pLy
new year's eve – austin texas – penguin prison! here is an interview i did with the people throwing the party: http://t.co/PY0B0pLy
http://t.co/yZtXNvR5 Interview: Penguin Prison | Knuckle Rumbler