Glitterer

Glitterer represents the creative outlet of Title Fight bassist Ned Russin, who layers fuzzy grunge-pop textures with shimmering synth accents and emo-inflected angst. His initial foray arrived as a fully solo, home-recorded effort in 2017 that leaned heavily into electronics, whereas the follow-up, 2019’s Looking Through the Shades, incorporated additional musicians and shifted toward a denser indie-rock drive. That same emphasis on ’90s-inspired grit carried forward into Life Is Not a Lesson in 2021 and Rationale in 2024.

Born in Pennsylvania, Russin established the emo and post-hardcore outfit Title Fight in Kingston in 2003 alongside twin brother Ben Russin on drums and Jamie Rhoden handling vocals and guitar. Guitarist Shane Moran joined the lineup in 2005, leading to a 2009 compilation of early recordings and the band’s first proper album, Shed, in 2011. Their subsequent releases, 2012’s Floral Green on SideOneDummy and 2015’s Hyperview on Anti-, each charted in the upper half of the Billboard 200.

After moving to New York in 2015, Russin started tracking solo material that combined synthesizer, bass, and drum machine while completing a creative-writing degree. The resulting self-titled Glitterer debut appeared in 2017. Alex Giannascoli, also known as (Sandy) Alex G, produced the Not Glitterer EP and later teamed with Arthur Rizk to co-produce the second LP. Released by Anti- in July 2019, Looking Through the Shades featured live drumming from Ben Russin, a guitar solo by brother Alex Russin, and a more ensemble-oriented, guitar-heavy approach; by then Russin had settled in Washington, D.C.

Glitterer’s third album, Life Is Not a Lesson, emerged in early 2021 under Russin’s sole production during the COVID-19 lockdown and continued the harder-edged sound that recalled indie-rock predecessors such as Guided by Voices and the Pixies. After its release, he formed a live band comprising Connor Morin on guitar, Nicole Dao on keyboards, and Jonas Farah on drums. The group toured first as openers for Tigers Jaw in 2023 before headlining later that year. Songwriting became a collective process, with Russin supplying lyrics and all four members shaping the music. Arthur Rizk rejoined as co-producer for Rationale, which Anti- issued in February 2024.