Glitterer

Offering fuzzy grunge-pop with doses of shimmering synths and emo angst, Glitterer is the project of Title Fight bassist Ned Russin. After relying more on synths for the entirely solo, home-recorded Glitterer LP in 2017, he involved collaborators on the crunchier Looking Through the Shades in 2019. This trend toward driving indie rock grit with ’90s influences continued on 2021’s Life Is Not a Lesson and 2024′s Rationale. A native of Pennsylvania, Ned Russin founded the emo/post-hardcore group Title Fight with his twin brother Ben Russin (drums) and Jamie Rhoden (singer/guitarist) in Kingston in 2003. After adding guitarist Shane Moran to the lineup in 2005, they issued a compilation of early material in 2009 before presenting their official debut album, Shed, in 2011. The band landed in the top half of the Billboard 200 with their next two long-players, 2012′s Floral Green (SideOneDummy) and 2015′s Hyperview (Anti-). Ned Russin relocated to New York in 2015 and began recording his own songs with synthesizer, bass, and drum machine. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, he prepared the debut of his solo project, Glitterer, releasing it in 2017. Alex Giannascoli, aka (Sandy) Alex G, produced the follow-up EP Not Glitterer and returned to co-produce Russin’s second full-length with Arthur Rizk. A more collaborative, guitar-driven album that included live drums by Ben and a guitar solo by his other brother, Alex Russin, Looking Through the Shades was released by Anti- in July 2019. By the time of its arrival, Ned had taken up residence in Washington, D.C. Continuing in a similar harder-edged direction that evoked indie rock forebears like Guided by Voices and the Pixies, Glitterer’s third LP, Life Is Not a Lesson, arrived in early 2021 and was produced by Russin himself, primarily during the COVID-19 lockdown. Following the album’s release, Russin set aside his laptop and assembled a lineup of Glitterer that could perform live. Joined by Connor Morin on guitar, Nicole Dao on keyboards, and Jonas Farah on drums, Glitterer set out on tour in 2023, first playing a run of shows with Tigers Jaw and later that year heading out as headliners. Russin began collaborating with his new bandmates as songwriters; he wrote the lyrics and all four members contributed to the music. Arthur Rizk returned to co-produce the third Glitterer full-length in Philadelphia, and Rationale was issued by Anti- in February 2024. ~ Marcy Donelson & Mark Deming