REVIEW

The second EP from Arizona-based shoegaze band Glixen.

Based in Phoenix, Glixen has rapidly emerged as one of the most closely watched new acts in contemporary shoegaze. Produced by Sonny DiPerri—known for his work with My Bloody Valentine and DIIV—the EP arrives amid a period of significant momentum for the band. Since forming in 2020, Glixen has appeared at numerous festivals, including SXSW, and in April 2025 reached a major milestone with a performance at Coachella. The current lineup consists of Aislinn Ritchie (vocals/guitar), Esteban Santana (guitar), Sonia Garcia (bass), and Keire Johnson (drums). The band’s name is taken from a Lovesliescrushing song, a reference that feels especially apt given their sonic lineage.

Glixen’s sound is defined by sandstorm-like sheets of noise fused with dark, sensual melodies—dense and immersive, yet controlled. Despite their relative youth, the band projects a seriousness that resonates even with longtime My Bloody Valentine devotees. On this EP, the sweetness present in earlier material remains, but the overall tone feels darker and more solidified.

The opening track, #1 “shut me down,” is an instrumental that overwhelms through relentless drum strikes and towering walls of guitar noise. It has reportedly become a staple closer in their live sets, and its physical impact suggests why. Listeners drawn to the heavier end of Japanese shoegaze may find an immediate point of connection here.

A particular highlight is #4 “sick silent.” Its lush melody coils around Jesu-level heaviness, producing a crushing yet hypnotic effect. While many recent Nu-Gaze acts have evolved under the influence of Deftones or Whirr, Glixen appears to reintroduce a deliberate return to My Bloody Valentine’s foundational sensibility into that trajectory. The result suggests a productive feedback loop—one that not only pushes the genre forward but also leads newer listeners back to its origins.

As representatives of shoegaze’s next generation, Glixen stands alongside contemporaries such as Wisp as a project worth sustained attention.

Additional notes:

• Aislinn Ritchie (vocals/guitar): A dedicated film enthusiast, with a particular fondness for the work of Gregg Araki, including The Living End, Nowhere, and Splendor—the latter also serving as the inspiration for “Splendor” from the band’s first EP. Her anime interests include NANA, Serial Experiments Lain, Ergo Proxy, Chobits, Parasyte, and Chainsaw Man.
• Esteban Santana (guitar): Originally rooted in metal, with Godflesh cited among his favorites, while also expressing an appreciation for Dead Can Dance.
• Sonia Garcia (bass): Began playing bass in 2019, making Glixen her first band. A fan of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist.
• Keire Johnson (drums): Has mentioned Afro Samurai as a favorite anime and has spoken in interviews about an interest in visiting Japan.

Glixen – Japan Tour Announced (Updated Dec 2, 2025)