Glitter Critters: "Feral Fusion"

Caitlin Billard | Photos: Gee Peralta
Jul 30, 2017
2 min read

Updated: Mar 30, 2022

If we had to describe the sound of Ian Russell in one word it would be: surreal. Something happens when we listen to his music where we have an out of body experience and look down at ourselves and realize we’re pixelated. But then we realize it’s not about us and our now-pixelated bodies, it’s about everything else that’s going on around us - which is a lot, considering how sensorily vivid Ian’s songs are.

Russell, who makes up one half of Orange Doors, will announce his solo project, Glitter Critters, with the release of his first single, Feral Fusion, tomorrow (July 31st). He plans to release a 4 song EP sometime this summer, entitled Caterpillar, featuring songs Berry Jar, Take a Dive, Sunken, and the single, Feral Fusion.

Back in March, when Ian wrote Feral Fusion, he hadn’t planned on releasing it under a new project but he realized it didn’t feel ~Orange Doorsy~. “It takes me to a different place than Orange Doors.” The music of Glitter Critters is simpler and, though he’s still trying to be kinda weird with it, the songs are less complex to play.

Russell describes this EP’s sound as “Scooby Doo pop.” If that’s not enough to intrigue you, how’s about this: he has incorporated a bunch of nature sounds into the tracks. We’re talkin’ birds, bugs, bees, rain, thunder.

Ian recorded the EP himself in his room, half downtown (where he lives with a few other musicians also in the process of recording) and half in Summerville. So far on the record he plays guitar, bass, drums, and vocals - and he may even throw in some tuba ?!?

Lyrically, Caterpillar is more personal than anything released by Orange Doors and, though the melody of Feral Fusion makes it sound like a happy song, the single’s lyrics are a little dark. “But it’s a beautiful sadness kind of thing.”

If we were to liken Feral Fusion to anything it would be to: