Glass Peaks – By My Side

London based duo Glass Peaks have just released their first release as a two-piece and their first track of 2021 – and it could prove to be a pivotal moment for the band. ‘By My Side’ sees the twosome with a darker sound than their fans will have heard from them before.

A ponderous synthwave track featuring atmospheric bass and siren-like guitars, the more electronic sound brilliantly compliments the voice of vocalist Alfie Jefferies. The song feels like it was created purely for those nights where you’re just sitting in bed thinking about things, and when it can be performed live it would fit into any setlist as an emotional number for the crowd to sing along to. Glass Peaks have just announced their biggest headline show to date – at Peckham Audio on June 5th 2021 – so hopefully that will go ahead and they can showcase this song.

“I suppose in its simplest form, the song is about longing or yearning for a feeling of normality,” Alfie says. “It’s about wishing things could go back to the way they once were. It can be interpreted or wrapped up in many different ways, but when I wrote the lyrics, I was just thinking about how much 2020 has changed things that I once took for granted. Playing live shows, meeting up with friends and family, attending social events etc… It just made me realise how much I desperately want to feel the thrill of those things again. The track also touches upon the frustrations in how the whole pandemic was dealt with by our ‘leaders’. I’m so sick of the mixed messaging and the fear mongering surrounding it.”

‘By My Side’ could well herald a brand new era for Glass Peaks. They’re one to look out for as their exciting new sound takes them places they’ve never been before, and hopefully to brand new heights.

Ryan Powell