Cut Glass Kings Talk New Album, 2025 UK Tour And More
Cut Glass Kings return for a New Year and a new album with their latest single, ‘Big Dreams’. One of a succession of singles and leaks from their upcoming second album, ‘From A Distant Place’, released on Run On Records on Friday 21st February 2025. We chatted to the duo about the album, their 2025 UK Tour and more:
Who is in Cut Glass Kings, how did you meet and what do they play?
We’re a duo- Paul Cross (Guitar/Vocals) and Greg McMurray (Drums) We met at preschool when we were about 5 years old.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Probably stuff our parents played in the car. My dad was always playing Elvis Costello and The Jam. Paul’s dad was always listening to The Beatles.
You have the lead track ‘Big Dreams’. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?
Paul: It was kind of a happy accident. My acoustic was leaning up a wall one day and when I picked it up the high E-String had tuned itself down a bit and the first chord I played sounded amazing. That inspired the song and I wrote it in about five minutes.
Greg: I vividly remember Paul showing me the initial idea for this song. I think you always remember that moment with the good songs. We finished the lyrics together. Lyrically it’s about that paradox of confidence and vulnerability when you have any kind of aspirations.
The track is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?
The video was partially inspired by an old photo I saw of a kid dressed as an astronaut sitting on a bus. That gave us the idea to just have a bored kid just wondering around a small town, doing mundane stuff in space suit. We just borrowed a good mates son, Manny, for a couple of ours and filmed it all ourselves in our hometown of Stourbridge.
Did you collaborate with anyone on your new music in terms of the writing?
No not really, it’s just the two of us who do all the writing. We sent a few ideas to James Skelly. It’s good to bounce ideas of other people and get an outside opinion from time to time.
In addition, you have your second album ‘From A Distant Place’ being released on 21st February 2025. How did you want to approach the making of the album?
We were keen to try and record it on tape. Pretty much all of our favourite albums were recorded to tape, so we wanted to give it a go. We bought a Tascam 388 off the internet and soon as we listened back to the first thing we recorded, we were hooked. The sound of the Tascam influenced the sound and the direction of the record more than anything else really.
Where did you record the album and who produced it?
Once we’d got the Tascam, we built a studio around it in Paul’s cellar. We recorded pretty much everything there. It was all self-produced.
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the EP recording sessions?
After the very first day of using the Tascam in the studio, there was a mad rainstorm overnight. When we came in the next day everything was bone dry except for the Tascam, which was drenched. It was like a sign from god to not bother recording with tape or something. We spent the next three weeks drying it out with hairdryers and thankfully it survived.
Do you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the album?
The Tascam 388 is the main one, we also got some Neumann d19 microphones because that’s what the Beatles were using on everything in the Let It Be film.
Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
A) Thick As Thieves
b) At the Borderline
c) Big Dreams
Who created/designed the album artwork?
It’s a photo Greg took while walking of Clee Hill one day. Something about it seemed to relate to distant communication or something. Which tied in with the album title.
Was it a difficult album to write?
I’d say the writing was quite easy, there was probably 25 songs or so that were written during that time. It was definitely a difficult album to record though. We were self-producing and using tape for the first time really. We got lost in the weeds with it a few times..
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
To not make an absolute fool of ourselves and to hopefully do the songs the justice they deserve
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
We’re not particularly nerdy about live gear really. Just a good vintage guitar and drum kit.
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
Stourbridge, in the West Midlands. ‘The only place that’s home’
How do you look after your voices?
Try not to drink too much on your and try to remember to warm up a bit before we go on stage
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
‘Hard Rain Falling’ by Don Carpenter. Just because it’s probably my favourite book. I’ve no idea what it should sound like. But it would be fun to try…
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
Aside from the obvious (Beatles, Dylan etc) we were listening to a lot of T Rex, John Grant, Eels, Ty Sygall and Timber Timbre.
Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2025?
Yeah we’re going on tour in February and March all over the UK
What makes Glass Cut Kings happy and what makes you unhappy?
Recording songs in our home studio makes us happy. And not doing that makes us unhappy.
Feature Image Credit: Supplied By Perspective PR
Cut Glass Kings new album, ‘From A Distant Place’ is released on Friday 21st February 2025 via Run On Records. They will also embark on a UK Tour visit the following venues:
Fri 14 Feb – London, The Black Heart
Sat 15 Feb – Huddersfield, Dive Bar
Fri 21 Feb – Birmingham, Actress and Bishop
Sat 22 Feb – Halifax, Grayston
Thu 27 Feb – Liverpool, Kazimier Stockroom
Fri 28 Feb – Blackpool, Bootleg Social
Sat 8 Mar – Cardiff, The Moon
Fri 21 Mar – Glasgow, McHuill’s
Sat 22 Mar – Barrow, Underground
Pre-order the new album and purchase tour tickets here: https://cutglasskings.os.fan/
