Glass Candy

Glass Candy was formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1996 by vocalist Ida No (born Lori Monahan) and producer and multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel (born John Padgett). The duo met the preceding year at a Fred Meyer grocery store in Portland. Initially, the band’s early work, performed under the name Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre, incorporated elements of no wave, indie rock, and glam rock, characterized as “droney and weird” by No. Their early releases included singles such as “Brittle Women” (1999), “Metal Gods” (2001), and a cover of Josie Cotton’s “Johnny Are You Queer” (2002). They toured with The Convocation Of… in 2001 and released a live album that same year through Vermin Scum.

The band’s debut studio album, “Love Love Love,” was released in 2003 on Troubleman Unlimited Records. In 2006, Johnny Jewel co-founded the Italians Do It Better label, which became a subsidiary of Troubleman. Glass Candy released their second studio album, “B/E/A/T/B/O/X,” on Italians Do It Better in October 2007, which received positive critical reception. In a review of their 2008 compilation album “Deep Gems,” Spin magazine described the band as an “Eccentric Portland pair” that “spook the dance floor.” The band also gained exposure through their music being featured in various contexts, including a Chloé runway show and multiple Chanel fashion shows curated by Karl Lagerfeld.

Glass Candy’s music has been widely licensed for various media projects. Their song “Digital Versicolor” was prominently featured in Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2008 film “Bronson.” In 2010, they released the six-song EP “Feeling Without Touching.” Their track “Warm in the Winter” has been used in television shows, films, and advertising campaigns, including Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2012/2013 fashion show, Lucky Brand Jeans, Red Bull, and notably as the theme song for Air France’s worldwide advertising campaign “France is in the Air.” The band also performed at numerous private fashion events and music festivals globally in 2013, including Pitchfork in Paris and Primavera Sound in Spain. While their third studio album, “Body Work,” was announced in 2010 and teased with singles like “Warm in the Winter” and “Halloween,” its release status remained pending before the band entered a hiatus. They digitally released the “Naked City” and “The Beat’s Alive” EPs in 2019.