Industry Veteran Glenn Musto Releases Debut Solo Album 'Unravel'

Unravel can be best summarised by its striking cover image. Red sun filtered through gumtrees, the sky shifting through an assorted gradient of dusk hour hues.

The Australian bush is not only the feature of the photo, but also a major theme and influence in the album as a whole, the debut solo release of WA-born artist Glenn Musto.

Now located in Victoria’s Central Highlands, Musto says the cover depicts the place he “unravelled”.

“The album is built around my journey of spiritual and emotional unravelling, when I moved from living an inner-city traditional ‘muso’ lifestyle, into a wood cabin on an animal sanctuary inside a national park.”

The impact this transition of location had on Musto’s work cannot be understated, with Musto describing the energy of nature as being “resonant and ever present when writing and recording songs for the album”.

But Musto has always had a keen interest in recording his own music.

“My early journey, including my time writing and fronting Showbag, featured a series of homemade four-track demos that embraced the lo-fi indie pop sounds of bands like Guided By Voices, and Pavement,” Musto muses.

“As my musical knowledge expanded with my time in The Nordeens, and College Fall, I learned from some amazing musicians and recording engineers. I loved what I produced at that time, but I often felt that the sounds weren’t totally ‘me’.

“Over the last ten years, I have focussed a lot of attention on producing my own music again, from conception to final product. Unravel is the first time I have released an album that feels completely ‘me’ since those early lo-fi tapes - only this time you can actually hear the guitar and vocals!”

Musto’s years of experience have not only allowed him to hone his sound, style, and skill, but were also essential in giving him the necessary time to be “emotionally ready” to create this album.

“I have been writing and releasing music under many different band names over the years, and I often felt that I have used a band name to hide, or create some sort of distance between music and other aspects of my life.

“Releasing an album under my own name leaves me nowhere to hide any elements of my passion and emotional depth. It has been part of a personal process of living authentically.”

Musto certainly isn’t hiding, with Unravel a vulnerable and powerful offering, not only in sound but in content. Musto’s robust vocals and soulful guitar lilts offer a steady, driving force to the album, traversing themes such as “eternal optimism and childlike hope” (Twin Flames), to the “decision to change” (I Really Fucking Love You).

“Second Of March was probably the hardest song to make, because of the intensity of its content. I really wanted the song to straddle the line between two themes - firstly, how dangerous and difficult it can be when you hit rock bottom, and secondly how necessary it is to let go and find yourself amidst the pain.”

This journey of finding yourself is not only happening for Musto between WA and Victoria, city and outback, but also between countries and across oceans, with Musto recently returning from a six-week tour of Europe.

Taking his music from Germany, to France, to the UK, to Sweden, to Finland, Musto had quite the itinerary.

“I love playing in Europe. There is the excitement and self growth that comes with embracing different cultures when you travel, coupled with connecting to like minded musicians and fans.

“I try to cultivate unique concerts in different places with audiences who are likely to match my energy. As an example, I did a six-date singer-songwriter festival run in some beautiful towns in the northwest of Sweden. Places off the beaten tourism routes. I met the most amazing people and incredible musicians, I’m now motivated to bring them to Australia for a similar festival run next year.”

But before any festival funs, Musto must first return to his hometown of WA for the album’s official launch.

“WA will always be my home,” Musto says of returning to the West Coast. “Little things like the sight of a pelican sleeping atop a freeway street lamp, or the sand dune soil making the park grass so green, or little trips into my spiritual birthplace Walyalup. I become a ten-year-old again and it fills me with joy.

“Not living in WA now makes me appreciate these things so immediately, alongside the excitement of seeing family and old friends. All these things will come together to make my album launch feel really special I’m sure. And, also, I will hopefully meet some new friends and fans who connect with my music.”

Of his album launch, Musto says fans can expect “a singer-songwriter in his element.” The night’s proceedings will include songs of “pain and hope” off Unravel, “silly stories,” a “loop pedal building soundscapes”, support from fellow WA artists Elk Bell, Chris Hann, and New Phono, and even crowd collaboration in helping Musto write a song.

Glenn Musto’s Unravel album launch is being held on Friday 27 September. Tickets are available here.