Introducing: Glisz

Glisz doesn’t just make music—he builds worlds. The genre-blurring producer returns with Vertive, a lush, emotionally charged single that channels pain into power and sets the stage for his forthcoming EP NO:MAD (out August 29). Layered with hypnotic synths, grounded by ritualistic drums, and elevated by Cheshy’s haunting vocals, Vertive is both a sonic balm and a battle cry—a track that holds your scars and urges you to dance through them.

As always, Glisz brings his signature fusion of electronic atmospheres and organic textures, weaving downtempo rhythms with global influences to create something entirely his own. NO:MAD promises to be more than a record—it’s a personal odyssey, a meditation on movement, identity, and the quiet strength found in survival. We caught up with Glisz to dive into the darkness behind the light, the meaning of NO:MAD, and how music became both map and compass.

1. ’Vertive’ is described as a “sonic remedy” born from a personal period of  darkness. Can you tell us more about the emotional journey behind this track,  and how music helped you through it?  

Music can be an effective support for various life occasions, as a listener and as a  producer. The creation of Vertive started during the toughest period of my life. I’ve  channeled the emotions of that moment into music production, combining melodies  that could pulling me out from the darkness and to reignite the energy to face each  day. I needed something that could help me feeling better while listening to it. The  interplay between the bass alongside the dynamic keys, creates a wave of sonic highs  and lows, an emotional rollercoaster. The vocals gives the right energy to raise your  head and keep fighting, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is light to be  found. 

2. The title ‘Vertive’ is an anagram of “vetiver,” a plant known for its calming and  healing properties. How did this concept influence your creative process, both  musically and thematically?  

I got to know the Vetiver plant quite by chance. I’ve been gifted a perfume made out of  this plant. The moment I’ve smelled it, it provided a sensation of instant good mood.  I’ve researched more about the Vetiver and found out its properties. I started producing Vertive with that exact feeling in mind. I wanted to create a track  that could trigger the same sensations on listeners, a quick remedy to help going  through tough times. 

3. Your upcoming EP NO:MAD explores themes of emotional volatility, cultural  fusion, and resilience. What inspired this narrative, and how do you see it  connecting with listeners on a personal level?  

The main inspiration for this EP came from a trip I took to Morocco. Being fully  immersed in a different culture, lifestyle, and way of dealing with everyday challenges  influenced the creative process. I met people who face far greater difficulties than most  of us do, yet they still manage to live with joy and embrace their nomadic way of life. The EP explores how emotional highs and lows, and the instability we all feel at times,  can actually be turned into something meaningful. Even in tough moments, there’s an  opportunity to transform emotions into creativity—and that’s a form of resilience. In  today’s world, with so many cultural influences and constant change, we’re all a bit  nomadic in some way. That feeling of navigating instability, is something I think many  people can relate to.

4. Your sound uniquely blends electronic production with organic instrumentation  and ethnic melodies. How do you approach balancing these elements in your  music, and what draws you to this fusion?  

While working in studios in LA, I spent a lot of time recording traditional instruments.  They don’t just reflect the skill of the musician, but also carry the history and soul of the  cultures they come from. Their harmonics naturally balance the sharper, more synthetic  tones of electronic production, making the composition even more alive. I particularly like to work with ethnic instruments because they still hold a raw,  authentic energy. Many are handmade and played in public spaces by local  communities. They tell stories of tradition, strength and persistence.  Blending these organic sounds with electronic elements it’s a way of connecting the  past with the present, bringing the best out of each. It’s about embracing development  and digitalization, without forgetting where it all originally came from.  I hope I’ll have the change to bring this idea on stage one day, synths and keyboards  playing alongside with oud, kora and sintir for an hypnotic sonic experience. 

5. Cheshy’s vocals on ‘Vertive’ bring a powerful emotional depth to the track. How  did that collaboration come about, and what was it like working together on such  a personal piece?  

Vertive was initially meant to be an instrumental track only. However, while listening to it  on repeat, I thought that a version with vocals could also work. The track opens and  closes like an old vinyl record, fading in and out, and as mentioned earlier, its purpose  is to bring energy and empowerment. I realized it needed a strong, soulful vocal to fully  capture that spirit. The moment I’ve heard Cheshy’s voice, I knew she was the right  one, there was a raw strength in her tone that matched exactly what I had imagined.  Working with her was effortless. I’ve asked her grit and power and she came back with  the perfect take. Her vocals and lyrics added the emotional depth the track needed,  and brought the whole thing to life.