Lisa McGlynn on Her Evolution from Band Vocalist to Solo Producer
Lisa McGlynn’s latest single, “Alien,” is a masterclass in sonic ambiguity. Built from fragmented textures that resist easy explanation, the track draws from a diverse palette of alternative electronic music, post-punk, industrial club pressure, and atmospheric vocal arrangements. For the Scottish singer, songwriter, and producer, the deeper pull of the music lies in what remains just out of reach—a deliberate attempt to translate the untranslatable.
The track, which features a whispered Spanish line and a Morse-code-inspired conclusion, serves as a clear marker of McGlynn’s evolving identity. Her journey from performing with the alternative band Aperture to becoming a Ableton-based solo artist has fundamentally shifted her relationship with songwriting. No longer confined to the role of a front-woman, she now possesses the creative autonomy to build beats, manipulate synths, and weave field recordings into a cohesive, immersive world.
A New Creative Path
Reflecting on her transition, McGlynn notes that the move to solo work was a natural progression. “After performing with Aperture, I realized that music and singing were really what I wanted to do,” she explains. “I learned Ableton and started teaching myself electronic production. That gave me the confidence and independence to take the step into becoming a solo artist. I could take everything I’d learned from being in a band but start building a sound and identity that were completely my own.”
Despite this newfound independence, McGlynn remains committed to the collaborative spirit of her past. She actively seeks out creative exchanges, noting that she still values the “rawness” of her rock background. “I love electronic and dance music, but I don’t want what I make to become too polished or lose that human edge,” she says. “I’m developing more of a hybrid live set-up using electronic equipment alongside live vocals. For me, that feels like the way forward—somewhere between the energy of a band and the freedom of electronic music.”
Mentorship and Atmosphere
A significant part of McGlynn’s growth has been her work with mentor Callum Asa, who has helped her refine her approach to texture and structure. “Callum has been a really important musical mentor, particularly in teaching me to think about mood, texture and the atmosphere surrounding a song,” she shares. “I come from a rock-band background, so instinctively I can approach electronic music almost like a rock songwriter. Callum is very good at identifying where those changes need to happen while still allowing the track to retain its mood and personality.”
This focus on atmosphere is set to be explored further in an upcoming, darker remix of “Alien.” McGlynn views these reinterpretations as essential to the life of a song. “I love the fact that the same song can have another life when somebody else interprets it and brings their own influences and sonic world into it,” she adds.
Embracing Ambiguity
Ultimately, McGlynn wants “Alien” to remain an open-ended experience for the listener. Whether it is the Spanish-influenced field recordings or the cryptic lyrical choices, she prefers to leave the audience with questions rather than fixed answers. “In a strange way, the track itself is the alien,” she concludes. “It arrives, has this slightly confrontational swagger, makes its presence felt and then disappears. I’d rather someone leave the track with a question than have me explain exactly what they’re supposed to take from it.”
