INTERVIEW w/ GLASS LUNGS' ANDY AMATO

Brooklyn NY has had some fantastic bands over the years of all styles of music. It's awesome to see now that more of the Atmospheric, Indie, & Post Rock styles are getting represented in this amazing new band called Glass Lungs. On the verge of their debut album, Impermanence, coming out June 29th, I had the please of asking Glass Lungs' Andy  Amato (Drums) a few questions about everything you need to know about this band. ENJOY!



Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview! For those that may not be familiar, describe Glass Lungs.
Glass Lungs is a band with passion bursting from the seams. Each note is written and played with purpose, each cymbal and drum hit with deliberate dynamic and rhythm, and each word sung with conviction, sincerity and meaning. There is no lack of beauty and ambience with each song yet there is grit and aggression that will move you and leave you wanting more. Taking influences from our surrounding areas in Brooklyn and NYC, there is a toughness yet elegance that blends the two in a way the listener wouldn’t predict nor think it could make sense but does. It’s an experience that will grab you. Come along for the ride.


June 29th brings forth the debut album from Glass Lungs, Impermanence. How does it feel having your debut album finally coming out?
It has been a long road with still so much to accomplish but having the release date right around the corner is a relief. It will be 10 months since we got into VuDu Studios with Frank Mitaritonna to record this album and I couldn’t be more proud of how it came out.

With that, how was Impermanence chosen as the album title?
It’s tragic how so many school shootings, mass killings and senseless terror happens in our world now but still nothing shakes you to the core like the loss of a loved one. Death around you is jarring and can really affect you but when you can no longer lean on your best friend, hear “I love you” from a parent, hug your sibling or spend time with anyone that means something special to you, it leaves you sincerely with a piece inside missing forever. If you allow that moment to sink in, you can see just how precious each breath you take is, each moment we can enjoy time with someone meaningful to you is and puts a real, beautiful perspective on our lives. Our existence is so short in the grand scheme of things. Life is fragile and unpredictable. This album touches on these subjects of loss and a longing for more. Chad, our vocalist, had someone very near and dear to him pass away and he was able to use this album as a platform to work out his feelings on the matter. It means a lot to me as I have lost someone that meant so much to me recently and I believe it’s something we can all relate to. It is how we deal with it that makes the difference.

Spin after spin, I am constantly picking up new layers in your sound. A great sense of atmosphere mixed in with brilliant songwriting and musicianship. Was this the original intent for the band’s sound, or did it come about this way naturally?
We all, with the exception of Chad, come from the hardcore/metal scene so this band was something very new and exciting for us to dive into. There are still heavy elements to this album, (i.e. I snuck in a blast beat in “Firewalker (Chapter 2)”, but we got lost in experimenting with different sounds that felt almost celestial at times and made you really feel something to the core of you. I think this line-up is very special in that we all are striving for something deeper and more unique. We are on the same page and aren’t afraid to try new things. Sometimes it’s just in letting things ring out and letting the pieces fall where they may that produce the most memorable and soaring parts in our songs. Overall it’s been a very natural process and we are exciting to continue to progress and mature as a band.

When did you realize the band was going in the right direction musically?
The band was going in the right direction the moment the demo of the song “Acquiesce” was born, which is one of the first songs written prior to me joining the band and is what made me want to be a part of Glass Lungs in the first place.

From The Wayside is a great example of what you guys can do as a band. Capturing what the album is about, but leaving you wanting more. Is that why it was chosen as a single?
“From The Wayside” was the choice for the first single because we felt it had the right elements of catchiness lyrically and moved well musically. A lot of the songs are a bit more progressive on the album and this one felt more straight-forward and the right song for listeners to get a first taste of the album.

What is next for Glass Lungs?
What is next for Glass Lungs is touring. We have been tackling Brooklyn and NYC for some time and will continue to do so but now we are looking to branch out and hit more than the New York metropolitan market. It’s something we are anxious for and look forward to bringing this new album to as many places as we can!

What should people expect from a Glass Lungs live show?
People should expect to feel something at our live show. Expect to feel energy and the moments that leave you deep in thought. Our live set is very intense. It’s dark, driving and leaves space at the right time so things don’t get monotonous and boring. Come ready to sing along and enjoy a real experience with us.

What are you currently listening to?
I am a die-hard Misery Signals fan so I’m always rocking that band but I cannot get enough of movie scores. Sometimes vocals/lyrics block the moments I can do my own thinking instead of someone telling me how they feel or what to feel. Having moments of introspection while listening to Alexandre Desplat or letting John Williams take my mind to the lands of Hook, Jurassic Park and Star Wars, Danny Elfman to Gotham (Tim Burton’s Batman) and Edward Scissorhands to name a few, are some of my favorite moments of my day.

What do you like to do when you’re not focused on Glass Lungs?
When I’m not focused on practicing the drums and trying to progress the band I write poetry, I’m writing a screen play and I am currently developing another podcast endeavor after being a host of a successful show a couple years ago.

Once again, thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. As a new fan of the band it was great being able to ask you a few questions and learn more about what Glass Lungs is all about. Before we wrap things up, is there anything else you would like to mention that I hadn’t brought up yet?
I think it’s important to note that the best part of being in a band is friendship. The memories you make on tour, writing, recording and all things band related, brings you close together and makes you family. Some of the closet people in my life are old band mates and current ones. Fans come and go but it’s the band, the family that matters most.

Lastly, we aren’t a religious band by any means, on the contrary actually at times but we feel there is more to life than your phone, Instagram or the newest Netflix show out. Ok Netflix gets a pass but people matter. Art matters. Go out and touch somebody. I don’t care if you feel you are the toughest dude in the room, you have the desire in you to be loved, and to feel important and special to someone. Express yourself and let go of the notion of being “Too cool”. Write some shit on paper and see how it goes. Find yourself, and your voice. Music, and art in general saves lives. It has saved mine.


Glass Lungs- Impermanence is out June 29th!
facebook.com/glasslungs