Instrumental rock from The Glass Pavilion

Sometimes, taking a new perspective on a project can produce the solution you’ve been searching for. In some ways, this could be used to describe the experience of singer-songwriter Ashley Owens. For years, Ashley had composed music from his bedroom but never felt they had the gravitas for release. In 2017, a near-fatal brain haemorrhage impaired his ability to play guitar and almost forced him to give up on his musical aspirations. In a last-ditch hope, Ashley embarked on a new project, The Glass Pavilion, starting from a tiny MIDI keyboard and laptop.

At first, Ashley primarily sampled ‘rock’ instruments to form his new sound, gradually incorporating synth elements to add depth and draw the music closer to a post-rock genre. His music is fuelled by the events leading up to his ‘fresh start’; with several failed attempts to repair damaged vessels in his brain, followed by the death of his father and then the pandemic struck, Ashley has had a turbulent few years to say the least, but the music he has created emits hope and highlights the ‘fragility of life’.

In his debut album, When the Blazing Sun is Gone, his creations are a powerful feat and a far cry from the electronic music most would expect. Instead, it is a soothing instrumental account and layered with different tones in a beautifully delicate form. This is a tribute to the perseverance and resilience of Ashley and he has demonstrated an incredible strength of character to overcome his physical challenges and find his musical ‘voice’.

Listen to When the Blazing Sun is Gone below