Los Angeles-based punk rock band Glass Generation is gearing up for the release of their latest single “Coming Clean”, marking a pivotal moment for the band as they continue to develop their distinct blend of emo, post-hardcore, and pop-punk. Drawing inspiration from bands like Joyce Manor, Basement, and Modern Baseball, “Coming Clean” picks up where their 2023 EP Never Better left off, bringing fresh energy and raw honesty to their evolving sound.
Fronted by guitarist and songwriter Stefan Kennedy, Glass Generation formed in 2019 and has since been making waves across the Los Angeles scene. Reflecting on the journey, Stefan recalls the early days of the band, which started out with casual jam sessions with his high school friend Liam. Soon after, they brought drummer Kiwi on board, and Glass Generation was born. “Funny enough, this is the first actual, active band I’ve been in,” Stefan says.
With the release of “Coming Clean,” the band sees this single as a natural progression from their previous work. “Our songwriting has become more honest since the EP. We’re experimenting with new sounds but staying true to what makes Glass Generation unique,” Stefan explains. Recorded with producer Alex Estrada, the band describes the studio experience as laid-back yet productive, creating an atmosphere that allows them to push their boundaries while maintaining their core sound.
Glass Generation has been active in the LA scene, playing with bands like Sad Park, Yungatita, and Grave Secrets.
The local energy has been infectious, and the band feels right at home. “LA is always a fun time! The scene is going crazy right now, and there’s gonna be a ton of cool bands coming out of it,” says Stefan. The band’s upcoming show at The Glass House with Sad Park is set to be one of their biggest yet. “We’ve been fans of these guys for a long time, so playing with them is a huge honor,” Stefan adds.
The single’s release is independent, as the band continues to navigate the challenges of self-promotion. “It’s tough balancing it all with our personal lives, but there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that everything depends on our efforts,” says Stefan.
Glass Generation’s “Coming Clean” is up today, just in time for their much-anticipated show at The Glass House.
Check out full interview with the band, where they dive deeper into their creative process, the LA scene, and what lies ahead for them.
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Give us a quick overview of your backgrounds in bands and the history of this project.
Funny enough Glass Generation is the first actual, active band I’ve been in. For as long as I can remember I’ve been trying to start bands with just about anyone, but we either broke up before our first practice or no one really wanted to take it seriously.
In 2019 I was meeting up with and jamming my friend Liam from high school, just playing covers in my garage. Then we decided to add a drummer to the mix, we found Kiwi and the rest is history.
Coming Clean feels like a solid follow-up to Never Better. How do you see your sound evolving since that EP, and what’s the vibe like in the studio when you’re laying down new tracks?
I feel our songwrirting has become more honest since the EP. We set out to make music that is Glass Generation at its core, but we are experimenting with new sounds that we like and seeing what we can come up with. The studio vibe is always a good time, when we’re working with Alex Estrada it never really feels like it’s work; of course it’s a productive time but it isn’t this big intimidating thing. We’re able to go in, lay down and enhance what we need to, and walk away with something we’re stoked over.
You’ve been on some killer lineups recently with bands like Sad Park and Yungatita. How’s the local scene treating you guys, and what’s the energy like at shows around LA these days?
LA is always a fun time! We recently played this venue called The Shed and it’s probably one of the best and funnest shows we’ve played in a while. Watching the homies tear up places that are, pretty much, in our backyard is amazing. The LA scene is going crazy right now and there’s gonna be a ton of cool bands coming out of it.
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‘Coming Clean’ drops right before your show at The Glass House. Tell us more about this gig and other shows planned for this year.
We’re so stoked for this gig, it’s all we’ve been talking about since we first got added to the lineup. We’ve been fans of these guys for a long time now and being asked to play with them is a huge honor. As far as the rest of the year goes we got a ton of gigs on the horizon; in LA, San Diego and in between. We’re also talking about touring next year.
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You’re self-releasing ‘Coming Clean.’ What’s been the biggest challenge with that, and do you think going the independent route gives you more freedom to do your own thing?
I think the biggest challenge is finding new ways to promote yourself and stay consistent with it. We all have jobs and personal lives so balancing it all out can be tough, but I feel like we manage it all pretty well. I can’t really say it definitely gives us more freedom to do our own thing since we haven’t worked with a label and their marketing teams before, but it does help us appreciate the work we do more since it really relies on us and our efforts.
Give us your top releases this year.
In no particular order:
Empty Eddy by Ultra Q
All You Embrace by One Step Closer
THC by The High Curbs
;
Saviors by Green Day
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