Following an eventful 2025, Glixen is diving headfirst into 2026 with a brand-new single and plans to take over major stages around the world.
Essential to Modern Shoegaze
In 2020, vocalist Aislinn Ritchie recruited guitarist Esteban Santana, drummer Keire Johnson, and bassist Sonia Garcia to form Glixen. The Phoenix four-piece has since become a critical force in the American shoegaze revival, making a name for themselves with their dreamy and lulling sound, topped by a sort of foggy weight.
2025 was massive for Glixen as they graced the Coachella, Reading, and Leeds stages. They also hit the road with the likes of Scowl, Turnover, Glare, Vs Self, MSPAINT, and Panchiko. “Medicine Bow,” their distortion-cloaked, introspective masterpiece, wrapped up the eventful year.
Unwind
Now, Glixen has revealed their first track of 2026.
“Unwind” immediately immerses you in its atmosphere, which is, in a way, reminiscent of the one that Cocteau Twins perfected in the 80s and 90s. The cloudy instrumental is topped by Ritchie’s ghostly vocals as the slow, deliberate pace allows the song to drift in space. Glixen is highly inspired by the likes of Björk, My Bloody Valentine, Godflesh, t.A.T.u, and Hum. “Unwind” would also fit in perfectly with Cranes on any playlist, along with some of the more modern shoegaze bands that have arrived out of the vibrant scene in the past decade.
“‘Unwind’ is about that feeling of relief when someone comes back to you after they’ve left,” Ritchie explains. “It’s human nature to crave that push and pull—a drug weaned off. Blindingly hard to say no, we succumb to willful ignorance. We recorded this song in Los Angeles with Sonny Diperri producing, and it’s the first song we incorporated different instrumental elements, and it’s a glimpse into our evolution.”
Touring
Glixan kicked off a heavy year of touring last month in Boston during Something In The Way Festival. March will bring the four-piece overseas for their first-ever headlining shows in Japan, then throughout the US in April and May. They will also be taking the stage at Outbreak Festival in Manchester in June. Full tour dates are found below!
MARCH
12 – Nagoya, JP – Huck Finn
13 – Osaka, JP – Pangea
14 – Kyoto, JP – Urbanguild
15 – Tokyo, JP – Nine Spices
16 – Tokyo, JP – Fever
APRIL
10 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger *+
11 – Houston, TX – The Secret Group *+
13 – New Orleans, LA – Gasa Gasa *+
14 – Orlando, FL – The Social *+
15 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade – Hell *+
16 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy *+
17 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *+
18 – Washington, DC – Union Stage *+
19 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church *+
21 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere Hall *+
22 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair *+
23 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Fairmount *+
24 – Toronto, ON – Hard Luck *+
25 – Ferndale, MI – The Loving Touch *+
26 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *+
28 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge +#
29 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall +#
MAY
1 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck #$
2 – Denver, CO – Marquis #$
3 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court #$
4 – Boise, ID – Shrine Basement #$
5 – Seattle, WA – Substation #$
6 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre #$
8 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel #$
9 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom #$
10 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar #$
12 – Phoenix, AZ – Walter Studios #$
13 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad #$
15 – Austin, TX – Brushy Street Commons #$
16 – Dallas, TX – Trees #$
JUNE
26-28 – Manchester, UK – Outbreak Festival
* – w/ Her New Knife
+ – w/ Knifeplay
# – w/ Keep
$ – w/ Money
