Seth Glier, known for his diverse talents ranging from mushroom foraging to music production, seamlessly weaves the wonders of the natural world into his lyrics. Whether from his recent album "Mammoth" or the eagerly awaited "EVERYTHING," this Grammy-nominated artist elevates music by addressing themes of climate change and scientific awareness. Outside the studio, Seth Glier has used his platform to spread awareness about this global issue and has collaborated with various organizations such as NRDC. Read on to learn more about Seth Glier.

Where are you based?
I live in western Massachusetts. I am from a small town in the hills called Shelburne Falls. I now reside in Holyoke with my wife and dog. I love living here. I can walk to the grocery store. Ride my bike to our farm share and am only a few minutes away from the woods! There is a great community of creatives and family for me in these parts.

What inspired you to start songwriting?
I wrote my first song on September 11th 2001. I was in 7th grade about to watch a movie in history class. When the teacher turned on the tv the class watched the 2nd plane hit the tower. What I remember most about that day was how the adults behaved. When I returned home that afternoon I took comfort in a loop of four chords from my Casio keyboard in my bedroom. I wrote a six minute song with a rap breakdown. I wouldn’t say it was great, but it was the beginning of getting to know my own emotional interior through the language of music, and put words to it.

Can you share with us some of the emotions and thoughts that ran through your mind when you first learned about your Grammy nomination?
I was in Denver staying at a friends house and watching family guy with my friend Ryan when I saw my twitter feed begin to blow up. I first I thought it was a joke. The Grammy’s weren’t even on my radar at the time. I was shocked, excited, and there was a part of me that knew that some part of my life was about to change. The next morning I was on phone for what felt like days doing interviews and calling friends back. A few months later I got to the Grammy’s. It was a first nomination not only for me but also for my record label, Mpress Records.

What is your secret to creating captivating songs?
Well it certainly depends on what someone’s definition of “captivating” is. For me what makes a song captivating is the lyrics. I know that’s not everyone’s take. I want the words to be simple, directly and they should sound like something someone would say to you. I don’t like lyrics that feel to written. I don’t like hearing the craftsmanship in songs. I want all of that ironed out in the editing process so what you have is the least amount of information expressing something directly to your heart. There is an old yip Harburg quote, “words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought”

Is there a person or a group of people who have an impact on your music style? Who, if so?
My brother Jamie is a huge influence in my music and life. He was born with autism and lived his life without the ability to speak verbally. Don’t get me wrong, he said A LOT but it required me to learn a new way of listening. I often refer to him as my greatest non-musical musical influence because when I learned how to communicate to him without words it completely transformed my songwriting and how I communicate with them.

Congratulations on your release, “Mammoth.” What is the story behind the song?
What if you were brought back to life into a world you could no longer recognize? Would you be grateful for a second go around or would you miss your friends and family? What if you could no longer recognize the world you were returning to? What if you were told that the reason you were brought back was to save humanity? Mammoth is my new single about such a resurrection.

Scientist Sergey Zimov and Nikita Zimov of Russia have been picking through the ice and the melting permafrost of northern Siberia for the perfect frozen sample of a Wooly Mammoth. Their hope is to take the DNA and bring the mammoth back to the plains it once roamed. There is some merit to this idea as a climate solution. The Permafrost is one of the largest carbon reservoirs we have. In the grazing ecosystems, mammoths trample snow while foraging during the winter. When the snow is packed beneath their significant weight, it allows deeper freezing of the permafrost and thus protects it from degradation. I was struck by this and how strange it might feel for the mammoth, and decided to write the song from its perspective.

What are your thoughts on scientists' efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth?
I think it’s nuts. The arrogance of human beings is astonishing. We have hundreds of millions of dollars being raised to bring back an extinct animal all the while we completely ignore the very much still alive human beings, communities, and cultures on the front line of fighting climate change and mitigating its effect on their way of life. On a personal note I really just want to sit down with these scientists and watch Jurassic park with them.

Climate change has become a prominent societal issue that requires a collaborative effort to address. How do you think we can approach this problem?
I think we need more stories of how the world would look like if we get some of these solutions right. Far too often our cultural climate narrative leans on fatalism to get folks involved. We have to move beyond that. We are in a crossroad where in many places the natural world actually needs human involvement to begin restoring and healing the land. I believe part of our solutions don’t come from a place where human being simply leave nature alone. We are natural. We must engage with it in mutual restoration where as we heal the land, water, soil, and air around us we are also actually healing ourselves.

We admire how you use your platform to advocate for and collaborate with various organizations. Can you tell us a bit about your work with climate solutions organizations?
I’m lucky to have partnered with NRDC for this whole tour. They do great work in protecting and preserving our environment through litigation and lobbying. Each song that I’m releasing is also connected to a non profit or action oriented climate solutions. The first single “rise” was released in support of Trout Unlimited which helps removes dames and helps rewild our nations rivers and streams. “Finally Home” underscores the Afro-indigenous regenerative farming practices of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton NY. My latest single “birches” includes a series of 8 videos with ecologist Tom Wessels discussing the intelligence & communications of trees.

What are your thoughts on climate change and what the lay person can do to help?
This is about collective action. Sure A single person can do good things, but that narrative has ultimately been pushed forward by the big polluters who have pivoted their own responsibility onto consumer responsibility and efforts focusing on recycling. The term act local think global comes to mind. Find out what your town and city are doing, what your state is doing. You might be surprised at the efforts that are already underway. We’ve been moving at an incredible speed in regard to transforming our future to be more green.

In addition to your work with climate change you are working in collaboration with the State Department to give a writing workshop for 40 Ukrainian refugees in November. Can you tell us a bit about this workshop and your hopes for it?
For the past seven years I’ve been working as a cultural diplomat for the U.S. state department participating in cultural exchange programs with American Music Aboard. The program started in the 1950s with Louis Armstrong. I’ve been around the world and have had the opportunity to make music with people everywhere from Mongolia to Mexico. It’s one of my favorite parts of my job and always so fulfilling.

I helped coordinate a 10 day workshop where everyone wrote a song together about preserving their culture in America and what freedom means to them now. The program finished with a live performance at the Maltz Center For Performing Arts in Cleveland.

We heard that your upcoming album EVERYTHING will be released on January 26th, and we can't wait to hear it. What can fans anticipate from this album? What message do you hope to convey?
Thank you! I’m excited for it to get out there. Yes it’s a concept album about climate solutions but in my opinion it’s really an album about relationships. The album is an acknowledgement of the sacred connections that exist between all living things and is an active questioning of what might be possible collectively. “Everything” is a reminder that the future is something we always have an influence over. I hope this album helps shift the cultural narrative for some people from apocalyptic to one renewed resilience and active engagement.

What is your opinion of the power of music in terms of using it to address issues like change? What roles do you think music can play in fostering understanding and heightened awareness?
I’m a big fan of Woody Guthrie. I go visit his childhood home in Okemah Oklahoma every summer. As a songwriter it’s sort of like visiting the chiropractor. Reengaging with the work of Woody keeps my spine straight throughout the year. I think songs are one of the greatest ways people can change their mind. How we tell a story has the power to change a story.

Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share?
I’ve been producing some projects for several other artists that I have to keep a secret at the moment. I will be announcing many more tour dates for next year very soon.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
I walk in the woods and forage for mushrooms every morning. I also have a daily meditation practice. Both of these help keep me calm and keep my eyes wide open.

What is your motto in life?
It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice.

To learn more about Seth Glier, explore the links below.
Seth Glier
YouTube
Spotify
Instagram: @sethglier
Facebook: @sethglier
Twitter: @sethglier

Photography by Joe Navas.

Seth Glier - Saving Our Planet Lyric By Lyric