Interview: Malia Endres of Glacier Veins

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

My parents are big music fans and made listening to music and going to concerts a big part of growing up. I think I had my own inner drive to write and play music that was inspired by just being around music my whole life. I currently also work at a preschool & daycare, but if I wasn’t playing music, I’d probably be diving deeper into psychology, counseling, and teaching.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Reading and going on walks are two of the hobbies that definitely influence my creativity. Being able to have the space to let my mind flow while walking has helped me come up with lyrics and song inspirations. I actually came up with our album title ‘Lunar Reflection’ while I was walking through my neighborhood. I know finding peace in both of those activities is also working subconsciously to inspire creativity. 

How long has your band been around?

The band has been around since 2015 and started from a few solo acoustic demos. Kyle joined the band in 2017. In 2018, Kyle, Jason, Jesse, and I all went on tour together. Jason officially joined the band after that tour, and Jesse officially joined the band in 2021 when we began working on ‘Lunar Reflection.’ 

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We’re based out of Portland. I’d say that going to local shows and shows with smaller touring bands when I was in high school influenced me to want to be in a band that could play shows with my friends’ bands and also do some smaller-scale touring to connect with different people and experience different places. I think the influence is more about the energy and connection I experienced than genre.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Glacier Veins comes from the fact that I have bad circulation so my hands are always super cold :( lol. I started the band as (and it continues to be) my emotional outlet, so in a way it relates to that self-expression, and I think it just plays on the words “cold hands” in an interesting way. 

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Playing Bled Fest in 2018 will always feel special. The whole tour around getting out to Michigan for the fest was full of funny memories and adventures, being a part of the fest itself was epic, and we got to hang out with a lot of friends that night. Also, some of the shows we played on tour right before the pandemic began are super memorable. The energy was so interesting because we weren’t sure what was going to happen, but they were still some of the coolest shows we’d played, so I was just trying to take it all in and enjoy the moment. 

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Try to find a sense of peace and happiness in the present. Set exciting goals for yourself, but be grateful for and put meaningful energy into the opportunities you have in this moment. Enjoy it now! 

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I feel inspired to write when I’m experiencing some big emotion, sometimes heavier emotions, sometimes more content and magical emotions. I usually like to write the base of a song, expressing those emotions on my own then demo it, then the guys will spend some time writing their parts with the demo. Throughout that process we’ll talk about and try out different ideas until we finalize a song. 

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I like our songs to have optimistic messages. Not a message that everything’s great all the time, but that you are capable of getting through whatever comes your way. I want my lyrics to call in confident, hopeful & creative energy. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We are so excited to release ‘Lunar Reflection’ on March 11th, and then spend the following few weeks on tour!