W: Billy D Highly

Gluecose is a cross-border duo hailing from Italy and the UK. Their songwriting is a joint effort, with Marco steering the production, synth work, and bass guitar, while Sandi takes center stage on vocals. Operating as a tight two-piece, the band relies on dynamic collaborations with musicians worldwide to bring their studio vision to life.

"We rely on collaborations with musicians from all over the world to bring our songs to life."

If you ask Gluecose to capture their sound for a first-time listener, they describe their sonic universe in a single vivid image: a "psychedelic reflective marshmallow." When it comes to the countdown before stepping on stage, their pre-show routine is built on quiet focus and discipline rather than backstage chaos. Sandi isolates and abstains from eating or drinking in the hour leading up to a performance to keep her voice sharp, while Marco spends that final hour locked in, warming up on bass.

Rather than trying to force themselves into pre-existing industry molds, Gluecose is focused on carving out their own lane. Their goal is to build an organic, global community of musicians, artists, and listeners who share the same vision and values.

"We are trying to create and build our own landscape—a community of musicians, artists, and listeners with the same vision."

Their new single, 'Keep Them In', serves as a raw, atmospheric hymn dedicated to intrusive thoughts and the lingering anxieties that haunt us in our sleep. The track explores the silent internal battles people wage every day, how keeping those fears bottled up often manifests as withdrawal or sudden anger. Gluecose shines a light on that isolation, highlighting how we live in silence without realizing how many others are enduring the exact same struggle. When fans drop the needle on the track for the first time, the duo promises one distinct feeling: pure catharsis.

The band’s greatest strength lies in their fearless appetite for experimentation. That creative freedom requires immense trust in their collective vision and a complete openness to collaboration.

However, being an independent duo split across two countries comes with its share of hurdles. With Sandi based in the UK and Marco in Italy, writing sessions require constant travel, a challenge they transform into inspiration. Being independent also means wearing every hat imaginable, constantly teaching themselves new skills across design, filmmaking, marketing, and networking just to keep the project moving forward.

"Every writing session becomes a travelling experience that gives inspiration to new ideas."

Gluecose’s sound draws from a rich tapestry of alternative and post-punk influences, citing bands like Placebo, Men I Trust, Warpaint, Garbage, and The Garden. Fittingly, Sandi and Marco first met at a bus stop on their way to a Fontaines D.C. concert. Looking ahead, opening the studio doors to acts like NewDad or The Garden sits right at the top of their wishlist.

Driven by an endless curiosity for other artists’ production methods, Gluecose is constantly studying creative workflows to push their own boundaries. Marco is currently working on flipping traditional songwriting structures on their head—aiming to compose tracks where the vocals act as harmony while the percussion and drums carry the main melodic line.

Looking at the horizon, fans can expect a major shift as the band gears up for an upcoming EP release and their next tour. On stage, the band is most eager to unleash an unreleased track titled 'Day Is Gone'. Written from the perspective of a soldier torn between loyalty to their nation and the gradual erosion of their own life, it’s a track built for a packed room.

And as for live shows, they’ve already had their share of surreal fan moments—including an overly dedicated listener who began hunting for hidden prophecies in their lyrics and eventually named his child after one of their songs.