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Trash, the new video from Neon Trees’ lead vocalist/keyboardist Tyler Glenn, premiered on RollingStone.com
Glenn, who had been a Mormon since childhood, came out as gay in a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone. “Trash” takes fans inside the crisis of faith he was thrown into last fall when the church announced a new policy that identifies those in a same-sex marriage as apostates and prohibits their children from being blessed or baptized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) until they turn 18 and disavow their parents’ lifestyle.
The lyrics that Glenn penned for “Trash” are raw and defiant yet ultimately celebrate the elation that comes from reclaiming one’s independence. Glenn, who lives in Salt Lake City, co-wrote the music with longtime collaborator Tim Pagnotta. Sonically, the song is edgily electronic – a marked departure from Glenn’s work with Neon Trees. The video, directed by Mike Harris (Blur), follows Glenn as he gives a blistering performance of “Trash,” making his way down a narrow hallway decorated with modified portraits of LDS founder Joseph Smith (painted by Glenn).
“My entire life and perspective on God, the afterlife, morals and values, my self-worth, my born sexual orientation…all of it had been wired within the framework of this religion that doesn’t have a place for me,” says Tyler Glenn. “They claim it’s the only truth, the Lord’s church, but there have been 40+ suicides within the church as a result of that – men, women and children. I needed to make this statement to artfully show the pain of a faith crisis and the darkness of doubt. But also that there are ways to reclaim what is yours – I’m beginning to reclaim what is mine now with this song, with this video and with this record.”
Glenn has been recording in Los Angeles, finishing up his first solo album, which will be released by Island Records this fall.
Neon Trees are currently taking a break from the road after touring extensively in support of their third album, Pop Psychology (Island Records), which debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200, at No. 1 on the iTunes Alternative Album Chart and within the Top 5 of the Overall iTunes Album Chart. The band has scored such multi-platinum hits as “Animal” and “Everybody Talks.” “Sleeping With A Friend,” the first single from Pop Psychology, was a Top 10 hit at both the Alternative and Hot AC formats and within the Top 15 at Pop radio.
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