A Chat with counterglow (09.12.25)
Hamburg-based alt-pop duo counterglow, the collaborative project of indie artists Lauren Goodley and Jonas Grell, are thrilled to announce the release of their debut album, echoes of self, alongside their first headline show on December 18 in Hamburg, Germany.
OSR: How did counterglow come to be, and how would you describe the evolution from your first collaborations to a full band project?
Goodley: We met in college when we were studying music. We found out that we had similar music interests, so Jonas started playing bass in my band when I was still active with my Lauren Goodley project. He even produced my first song, ‘where I begin’. We worked like this for a while, until we had a management that made a lot of bad decisions for us. It was a frustrating time, and it really opened our eyes. We needed a fresh start, and I’ve been thinking of forming a band for a while. So it just felt right to commit to the whole band thing. We wanted that kind of rebranding anyway, and it gave us direction. Everything feels way more aligned and authentic now.
OSR: Your debut album, echoes of self, wasn’t originally planned as an album. Can you walk us through the process that led to creating a full-length record?
Goodley: Yes, we were just playing around like kids. I remember the vocal and synth pattern idea of ‘soon’ came to me when we were on the way to our favourite Asian restaurant. I showed him, and Jonas got so excited. We went home and Jonas immediately recorded it. It was great. I think from that moment on, we knew we wanted to make more, and that’s what we did. Originally, we wanted to make an EP for Lauren Goodley with Jonas credited as the producer. But he has such a unique style and sound. In my heart, I already knew it was a duo band project.
Grell: I remember the moment we saw it as an album instead of just a collection of songs was pretty late in the process, so it really just went its own natural course. Though every song had a different vibe and sound, in the end everything fell into place and made sense. ‘soon’ was the first song we started, but also the one that took the longest to finish.
OSR: The album blends dream-pop, indie-soul, modern psychedelia, and jazzy grooves. How do you approach combining these genres while maintaining a cohesive sound?
Goodley: I think the vocals have a really big impact. The way we use very echoey, washed-out big vocals on top of very wide synth soundscapes makes the record pretty psychedelic. But the harmonies and grooves stayed jazzy, which was a genre we listened to a lot at that time, so a lot of that influence went into the record. Jonas comes from a rock background, whereas I was always very interested in soul and alternative RnB, and I think through our music we combined our interests.
Grell: I’m always looking for something new musically, while also staying true to the things that just work for me, like my trusted resources: physical instruments, e.g. Synthesisers OP1 and Poly D, which fundamentally shaped the sound of the album. I also went through lots of phases, both personally and musically, which shaped the album as well.
OSR: Which track on echoes of self do you feel best represents the essence of counterglow, and why?
Goodley: I think that’s very hard to answer. But for me it’s probably new car, since it starts very lowkey and goes into this weird cool atmospheric part where all the vocals layer, the listener doesn’t really know what’s happening and I wanted it to feel like this part where everything just floats and the moment stands still, like when you’re falling in love with a person right this second and you know it. And then the big outro is just counterglow, full on counterglow. Dreamy, big soundscapes, washy vocal lines, very spacey, lots and lots of layers, like a little journey.
Grell: I would pick a different one every week, but for people who are just getting started: ‘dunno where it’s going’.
OSR: How did you decide which songs to preserve in their raw demo form, like ‘grow’, and what role does vulnerability play in your music?
Goodley: I think in general Jonas already has some unconventional production methods, and honestly, we didn’t record all the vocals super professionally, which led to us just doing, you know, just recording however we thought. You can hear my uncertainty in some of the vocal parts, but we decided to keep them. We figured they convey the feelings and emotions way better than a highly polished vocal production. The vulnerability in our music is something I still have to come to balance with sometimes. Like, what do I want to show and what not? I think all the songs we make tell some kind of story; sometimes it’s a story I carry deep within me, sometimes it’s just a story. But it really depends on the song how vulnerable I want to make myself. And if it’s a deep one, I’ll open up to it.
Grell: To get to the moment and the emotion is more important and authentic to me than to have a perfect recording. Also, when you try to re-record some time later, it’s very hard to capture the initial emotion, even though the recording might be better, it doesn’t feel as real.
OSR: Can you share some insight into your songwriting process? Do you start with lyrics, melody, production, or a mix of all three?
Goodley: It’s always different. I think you need to be open and try everything as an artist. If you stick with one way of writing, you get bored and lose your spark. Making art means discovering and expanding yourself, so why only do one thing? We always change it up. Sometimes Jonas has some kind of chord progression, or I have a melody stuck in my head. The starting point is always changing.
Grell: Some songs started with just the vocals (‘echoes’), but most of the songs started with some kind of musical idea, and then we both go there on.
OSR: What themes or emotions were most important for you to convey on echoes of self?
Goodley: The record is a journey through all the recurring themes of my life. Things I have always faced, from kid to teenager to young adult. It was very important for me to convey that whatever you struggle with, it always has a higher purpose. All the struggles you face lead to growth. In the end, it makes you a stronger person, and eventually everything will fall into place.
OSR: Your first headline show is coming up on December 18 in Hamburg. How do you plan to translate the album’s dreamlike textures into a live performance?
Goodley: We have four keyboards and two synthesizers, and lots of effect pedals on stage. I think that already says it all.
Grell: As soon as you come into the venue, we want it to feel like counterglow, from the stage design, our outfits and the general vibe. We are performing with a full band, so it will be a lot more organic-sounding, less electronic. A lot of people have seen us play the album live before it was released, but not in the setting we’ll be playing it on the 18th. It’s the first time I’ll bring my Analog Synth up on stage, which is heavily featured in the album. I’m super excited to hear it on a proper PA.
OSR: Looking ahead to 2026, you’ve mentioned working on an ambitious concept project. What can fans expect from this next phase of counterglow?
Goodley: Fans can definitely expect a new era. They will receive our music more in real-time, and a lot more visual world-building. A sound that’s very much counterglow but blends synth-pop and alternative rock elements. This time we’re also striving towards a more Hi-Fi vocal production, different from echoes of self’s lofi vibe.
Grell: It’s definitely gonna be the next stage of counterglow. In the next record, we really try to expand our sound while diving more deeply into our essence. Without losing our jazziness, the general sound will incorporate more indie and rock elements. Experimenting with different song tempos, as echoes of self was pretty mid-paced. The next album will feature faster songs. Longer songs, more songs, more conceptual storytelling.
OSR: How do you see counterglow evolving over the next few years, both musically and as a collaborative project?
Goodley: Well, we don’t know where this project will take us. But we live in crazy times right now. I think no matter what happens, we will stay curious with our music. I really see us exploring a lot of genres, not ever sticking to one specific genre or vibe even. For example, I’d love to make a stripped-down acoustic EP one day. And career-wise, I find the music industry incredibly overwhelming at this time, and I don’t agree with a lot of things happening right now. But I think playing live, finishing our second record and expanding our visual world-building is our biggest focus for the next year. Playing live is our greatest passion, and it’s something that will never go away. So yeah, I see us playing festivals and maybe even a Tour in the next year.
Grell: I’m definitely excited for the next album, and I’m really looking forward to playing more shows. Now that the first album is released, the second one is my focus. What comes after that is written in the stars.
Many thanks to counterglow for speaking with us. Find out more about counterglow on their Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Spotify.
