Glenn & Oria: A Father-Daughter Soundtrack of New Jersey

From Kansas beginnings to New Jersey stages, the duo reflects on performing together, shaping Shadowland, and inspiring community through music.

Photography Provided by Phyllis McQuillan

Glenn, you’ve been called a true guitar hero on the New Jersey scene and across the country. When did you first pick up a guitar, and did you know back then that it would turn into a lifelong mission of music?

My mother was a pianist and very talented. She got an acoustic guitar and started lessons. I was intrigued and told her I wanted to learn. We couldn’t afford lessons for both so she gave it up for me to learn. I had no idea that music would end up being my profession. Back in Kansas, my father had been a farmer and now had a drywall company with his brother, hanging sheetrock and taping & finishing. I had worked plenty on my uncles & grandfathers farm and did drywall with my dad. I knew that work & life well and it’s a hard way to grind out a living. I realized late in high school that music was my only ticket out of all of that, so I began to work very hard at being that best I could be.

Oria, what were your beginnings in music? When did you start? When did you first begin performing and composing music? Do you have your own songs and recordings out?

To be completely honest, I can’t exactly pinpoint a ‘beginning’ in music for me. Since my dad is a professional guitar player, and has been playing since long before I was born, music has always been part of my life. I started taking flute lessons at age 8, and began recording my first album around age 13. When I was 16, the album was finished, and at 17, it was released. I’m so lucky that my dad could help me do that at such a young age! I have many of my own songs out that I release under the name Oria Aspen (my first and middle name). My first album was titled ‘Yellow Paint’, and after that I’ve released many singles.

You and your daughter Oria recently released a new take on “Mercedes Benz,” and together you’re central to Shadowland—a band you formed in the mid-2010s with longtime collaborators. How does blending your signature guitar voice with her musical sensibility—and anchoring that within Shadowland—shape your creative process now?

Oria and I have been performing regularly together now for maybe around nine years or so. We have had a few different names for our project but have settle on Glenn & Oria for our website and all social media. Amazingly enough we work really well together in all situations. Yes, there are a few tense moments but that is the nature of working in a creative field and trying to be the best that you can. Your question is perfect because that is our goal and what we try to incorporate and blend into our compositions, performances and recordings, a balance of our strengths.

“Getting to make music with Oria is truly a blessing and an honor. Life can be hard and life can be short, so neither of us take any of these moments for granted.”
— Glenn Alexander—

We try and feature my guitar abilities with her vocal prowess and flute playing. Oria is a stronger vocalist than I am and we have different styles and sounds but they work well together. In Shadowland I call Oria my secret weapon. She always closes out the show with a song I wrote for her to sing called “I Had To Go Thru Hell, To Get To Heaven” She nails it and blows the roof off every time. In our other projects “Glenn & Oria and her own “Oria Aspen” it is a total collaboration, both contributing lyrics and music.

Oria, can you elaborate on your role in Shadowland and how that differs from your role and collaboration with your father in Glenn & Oria?

I feel beyond blessed to be part of such an amazing band, and getting to collaborate with such talented musicians is truly a magical experience for me. Originally, my main role in Shadowland was to compose background parts and perform as a background vocalist.

Over the years, I have started singing lead vocals on more and more songs, and I can’t even express how cool it is to sing with a big band of legendary musicians like that.

In Glenn & Oria, I sing lead on most things, and have a lot more to do, so it’s challenging, but also very rewarding. I also play percussion, flute, ocarina, and whatever else is needed in Glenn & Oria, so there’s never really a moment to relax and just take it all in.

I think for my dad it’s probably the opposite, since he is the leader of Shadowland, I get to kind of just sing and take it all in, but with Glenn & Oria, we’re co-leaders, so for me, Glenn & Oria is a lot more work, but that also makes it more rewarding.

The 10th annual Pig Gig is coming up this October in Scotch Plains, benefiting the Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation in honor of your nephew Jay. What drives you to continue this event year after year?

I was there with my brother and sister in law, holding their hands when Jay passed at 20 years-old. Needless to say, it was devastating. I have never felt so much pain emanating from someone I loved as well as trying to process my own pain.

I started this to help my own family heal, to raise awareness to this extremely rare cancer and try and raise as much money as possible to help find a cure and ultimately save lives. The Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation is a very small foundation started by Tucker Davis who passed at 28 years-old in 2010. He and his family started this foundation while he was in treatment. Every penny goes to research. The progress made has been incredible and we are now starting to save lives. That’s what drives me to continue, that and the incredible outpouring of love, celebration of life, laughter, family and community that happens in that room on that particular day every year. This year it will be on Sunday October 26 at the Italian American Club in Scotch Plains New Jersey.

Pig Gig now features high-energy acts alongside Shadowland—like The Weeklings and The Lonesome Pines. How do you go about curating the lineup, and what experience do you hope attendees walk away with?

I call on my friends and colleagues to help with this cause. We are small and don’t have a budget to spend on entertainment and I am so insanely grateful to all performers who show up and essentially donate their time and talent to this cause. It is extraordinary and brings tears to my eyes every year.

Nearly every year in the past Southside Johnny has attended and performed. This year The Glenn & Oria band will perform as well as my band Shadowland that features Oria and The Asbury Jukes horns. The Lonesome Pines will be on board as well as The Weeklings with Glen Burtnik, Bob Burger, John Merjave and Joe Bellia. We are also very excited to have Scotch Plains own funny man and renowned comedian Mike Marino!

It’s gonna be a fantastic time. If you don’t walk out of there touched, grateful for everyone and everything you have in life and infused with love you might want to go straight to the hospital and have your vitals checked.

Nearly every year you perform with Oria at the Pig Gig benefit. What does sharing the stage with your daughter mean to you on a personal level?

I am of course grateful for the experience and for every moment we get to share and make music together. We make great music together. It makes life better. Getting to make music with Oria is truly a blessing and an honor. She is very talented. Life can be hard and life can be short so neither of us take any of these moments for granted. Oria has had a rocky road and mine has not been a walk in the park.

Life is full of challenges, sometimes devastating ones but music is a healer and no matter what is happening in life, when we get to make music together we feel better and hope others do as well.

Oria, what does sharing the stage with your father mean to you on a personal level?

It’s something that can’t fully be put into words, grateful would be an understatement. I’m constantly working to live up to the pressure, but also enjoying every minute of it. My dad is a true icon in my eyes, and I idolize him in many ways.
Sometimes he takes a guitar solo and I’m mesmerized, to the point that I forget to come in singing my part. I always felt like I lived in his shadow, but living in his shadow is one of the best things in my life, I’m constantly trying to improve, knowing how high the stakes are, and I don’t think I would be even half as good as I am if I didn’t constantly feel some level of pressure trying to earn my worth on stage with my amazingly talented and hardworking father.

Having performed with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes—including shared stages and work with members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band—how have those experiences influenced your sound and the way you mentor emerging artists such as Oria?

Those experiences have changed my sound and approach to music for sure. All of my early albums and recordings were all Jazz instrumental recordings and of course getting to work with Southside Johnny and be on stage with Bruce, Steve Van Zandt, Bon Jovi and countless others has really influenced my writing and led to a more rock n roll direction in general.

As far as mentoring emerging artists, I simply offer what I can, which may or may not be applicable or relevant in today’s music world. I find I learn as much or more from all young artists than they probably do from me.

With Oria, she keeps me on track and knows far more about today’s artists and music as well as social media than I do. We share our knowledge and hopefully it collectively makes us stronger and the music better. We have a very collaborative working relationship, listening to each other, sharing ideas but both of us can stand our ground when we feel an idea is right.

Oria do you want to weigh in on your process of working together, writing, recording and performing?

It’s rewarding, it’s beautiful, but it’s also emotional, challenging and trying at times. My dad has so much experience that he brings to the table, but I always want to put my two cents in. I have so much raw emotion that I want to put forward, but sometimes that can be a hindrance. I think my dad keeps the project moving, but I keep it heartfelt (if that makes sense).

He’s more calculated, and I’m more spontaneous, but we’re both equally passionate about our music. I tend to second guess myself a lot, but my dad always assures me that we’re on the right track, stopping me from completely derailing things (which I have a tendency to do at times).

Shadowland released its self-titled debut in 2016 and followed up with Knockin’ on the Door. Where is the band headed next—new recordings, tour plans, or expanded collaborations?

We have many songs written and recorded for a third album but I have changed my approach to releasing music. Since we are not signed to a label, instead of releasing a full album we have been releasing singles. So after we have released 10 or so songs I intend to then put them all out as a collection, an album.

At the moment we have no tour plans. We played few shows this summer in Asbury Park, Red Bank and a few other spots on the Jersey shore. It is challenging writing, recording and performing and balancing time between Glenn Alexander & Shadowland, Glenn & Oria, The Glenn & Oria Band, Oria Aspen and doing sessions for other clients.

You also teach at Sarah Lawrence College while maintaining an active performance and philanthropic calendar. How do you pace your commitments, and how do your experiences—on stage and in the studio—inform your teaching?

Now that I am not touring with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, maintaining my teaching schedule is a little easier. Oria & I have a very busy performing schedule but it is mostly local and all of our recording is done here in our home studio.

I teach what I do and nothing else. Of course I have studied music academically but most of what I teach and pass on to students is based on my experiences and knowledge that I have gathered over my 45 year plus career being on stage and in the studio. I learn a tremendous amount from my students, from Oria and other band mates and hopefully that learning process never stops.

You are both deeply rooted in the Westfield area and the larger New Jersey music scene, what role does community play in your creative journey? What do you hope people take away from Glenn & Oria, Shadowland’s shows and the spirit of the Pig Gig tradition?

We know that community is very important in the process of making music. People around us support what we do and inspire us and we need that.

Oria & I have performed for many years at the Westfield Sweet Sounds Downtown festival and so many people come out to listen and support what we do. It truly is inspiring and brings joy to us to see so many folks from the community out and enjoying what we do.

Making music is collective, it’s energy and we can only continue to put out the energy if we are receiving something back. It is not nor can it be a one way street. Without the support and positive energy from our community, our audiences and those around us it is extremely difficult to perform well and to be inspired to continue writing, recording and pushing ahead. We’re all in this cycle of energy together and again, without strong support from our communities it is so challenging and makes it nearly impossible.

Looking back on your journey—from Kansas roots to international stages, Shadowland, the Jukes, and the Pig Gig—what have you learned along the way in music, and what advice would you give to newcomers stepping onto the scene today?

Much to the probable dismay of many parents, I am a believer of following your heart and following your dreams. Life is short and regardless of how much money you make, if you are not happy doing whatever it is that you do, life can be miserable.

Conversely, even if you love what you’re doing, if you are starving, life can be miserable. If you are truly passionate about what you do it feels a little less like work.

Music is or can be a hard road as a profession and it was certainly much easier years ago to get started and to make a living at it. I do what I do because not only do I love it but it is the only thing I know how to do and the only thing I can do. We must all find our own way and travel our own personal path.

Oria, as a younger artist, what is your perspective on this?

I would eat ramen every meal and sleep on the floor if it meant I could keep doing music. I’m lucky enough to have supportive parents, so that’s not the life I have to live, but I would rather live that life than abandon my soul’s deepest desires.

“Grateful would be an understatement. My dad is a true icon in my eyes, and I idolize him in many ways.”
— Oria Aspen—

I had a teacher in high school who told me that if music is what you’re meant to do, music is what you will do.

I have tried other career paths, gone to college for other things, but the deepest depths of my heart and soul have always pulled me back to music. I can’t be truly happy or fulfilled doing anything else.

People can tell me to do things differently, to live a more conventional life, but that has never worked for me. People have told me that I don’t have what it takes to make this my career, and while those things hurt in the moment, my deep love for sharing my music and all its beauties and imperfections is what keeps me going.

You can’t question your heart’s deepest desires, if you do, misery will follow, and I know that all too well. I cannot see myself doing anything else, and I’m lucky enough to have a father that agrees.

Sites and Contact Information
www.glennandoria.com
www.instagram/com/glennandoria
www.youtube.com./@glennandoria
www.facebook.com/glennalexandermusic