Though Lawrence-based musician Heidi Lynne Gluck has served as a seasoned hand in a number of bands throughout her career (Juliana Hatfield’s Some Girls, Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, The Only Children), her recent solo work shows that in addition to being a skilled multi-instrumentalist, her exceptional songwriting chops can steal the show. We caught up with Gluck to discuss some of her music career and what is on the horizon. Enjoy!
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Please introduce yourself. Where do you live and work? Describe your music for new listeners
I’m Heidi Lynne Gluck. I live in Lawrence, KS. I’m a singer-songwriter.
You have played with a lot of different bands over the years, what are some of your favorite collaborations you have been involved with?
My favorite collaborations have been with a few bands out of Indiana: Gentleman Caller, and Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos. I also really love being a session musician for artists like Simrit, and Lily & Madeleine. One of my more formative collaborations was when I was much younger and I played with Juliana Hatfield & Some Girls.
How has your style changed or evolved over the course of your career? Are you surprised at where your sound ended up or has it felt like a natural progression?
During my early years as a solo artist, I was very much more of a folk singer - acoustic guitar and vocs only. Over the years, I have been utilized as a multi-instrumentalist on the recordings I participated in, and have become much more of an arranger because of it. I play most of the instruments on my recordings and I think my favorite part of making music is writing parts. I’m not surprised by it – I just needed to give permission to myself to put down all of the musical ideas in my head, and once I began doing that, everything made a lot more sense to me.
What brought you to the Kansas City/Lawrence area, and what makes you stick around? Are there any local artists you think more people should know about?
I came here for personal reasons – my son’s father is from here, and that’s why I stay. The region has embraced me and I’m grateful for that! I think everyone in the area should own CS Luxem’s album, and everybody should get to hear Katlyn Conroy sing.
What have you been working on lately? Do you have any new releases or big shows on the horizon?
I have been slowly working on my second album – it’s halfway done – and am writing songs for the second half. My next big show is a fun one – I’m part of a one-show-only makeshift band for New Years Eve at the Replay. We don’t have a name yet.
Heidi Lynne Gluck's recommendations from the Johnson County Library catalog:
Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read
The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Pro Tools For Dummies by Jeff Strong
Blue by Joni Mitchell
Comes a Time by Neil Young
