Elephante’s “Glass Mansion” [Review]

I initially started listening to Elephante back when this album came out, but I didn’t give his work a good shot. Now that I’ve actually taken the time to lend an ear, I’m surprised I haven’t heard of him before. I was initially turned on to the album when I found that Nevve lent her vocals to the album, which we’ll get to later.

Glass Mansion is the second studio EP by Elephante but it sure doesn’t sound like it. This self-published EP has 9 tracks which all feel somehow unique and tell a story.

Glass Mansion is a story of how Elephante wants the life of an A-list celebrity and how he seeks the life of Hollywood’s finest, but also how such a life is fragile and how something so small could bring that life crashing down.

For this review, I’ll be referencing an interview that Elephante did with Billboard which can be found here.

The album rings in with “Come Back For You (feat. Matluck)” and we’re immediately greeted with an acoustic guitar. Paired with Matluck’s vocals, it almost sounds like a country song which was Elephante’s intention. “This song is about feelin’ like a cowboy and having the world under your thumb. It’s about having that swagger, and knowing that no matter what happens, you’re gonna take on all comers and still come back and get the girl (or boy).” And it sure does sound like he nailed the “cocky arrogance” of someone who has the world wrapped around their finger. Regardless, the country pairing combined with the array of brass instruments backing the vocals makes for an excellent ensemble.

There are many vocalists who I can think of who can make any string of words into the most hypnotizing sounds, but when it comes to Nevve, her vocals on all of Elephante’s tracks are intoxicating. The way she can manipulate melodies into something so beautiful, it’s nothing short of inspiring. In “Have It All (feat. Nevve)” we hear the other side of the story. We hear the concerns of someone who’s sacrificed so much and has struggled with their climb to the top. “ You come to terms with the idea that everything is not always gonna go your way, and you’re gonna get through it somehow.” Nevve vocalizing as she sings the chorus, the synthesizer backing her, the R&B feels during the other verses with the snapping and piano, it all creates a wonderful piece that makes you wanna sing along.

This project is about realizing that no matter how beautiful and strong what we build is, it’s ultimately fragile and one stone could bring it all down. — Elephante

“The In Between (feat. Anjulie)” is just that, what lies between both of the previous tracks. How someone is stuck between making it and wanting to quit and head back home because they miss their friends and family. It’s like when you first move out of your parent’s house. You’re ready to take on the world, but you no longer have the security of your parents. This was the experience Elephante had as he was living his dream. He goes on to explain how this could also relate to missing that one thing that you’ve moved on from, and how you’re so close to falling back to it. What really strikes me about this track is that the main melody starts out with a guitar, you can hear the distortion from it. As the song progresses the melody gets cleaner and louder and evolves into a full synthesizer.

“All Over Again (feat. Knightly)” fades in with the main melody of our jazz friends again. Knightly lends a soft voice to this 1–2 punch of trumpets and synths. Hearing the lighter notes and music backing the chorus along with bridge help set this song apart from the rest of the album. This is the first track Elephante lends his voice to and for good reason. Elephante describes it as “a duet between two lovers who can’t seem to get it right. They keep falling in and out of love, and the universe somehow just won’t let it happen.” I think he put it perfectly here.

The Guitar in “No Room For Lovers (feat. Crystal)” is one of the greatest parts of this song and it’s Elephante’s favorite part of the EP as well because of the guitar solo at the end. Crystal’s voice is mesmerizing in track as well and helps push the theming of the song, which is not needing anyone to be yourself.

It’s about coming to peace with the fact that it all might never be finished, and that’s okay. It’s about realizing that our Glass Mansion isn’t the answer to all our problems, and it’s about the journey of finding grace and happiness in a half-built home. — Elephante

“Red Smoke” is what I think is the weakest track on the album. It’s not a bad song, but it’s very different from the rest of the album. Elephante describes it as the “spiritual sequel” to his previous track “Black Ivory”. This song is very much hard dance and dubstep compared to the rest of the album. He goes on to explain that it’s more of an “apocalyptic, the world is burning” kind of track.

As the smoke clears, “Troubled (feat. Deb’s Daughter)” enters the fray. I’ll let this quote from Elephante speak for this song. “I felt like this was a really beautiful follow up to “Red Smoke.” It’s about finding your way after all the smoke has cleared. You’re walking through the wreckage and trying to find grace in a world that’s left you behind. Deb’s Daughter has a really beautiful performance on this one. It was the first song I had finished, and I’m really glad it fell into place on the EP. It was really important to me that the EP made sense as a whole and had an overarching narrative.”

This next track features Nevve and you already know my thoughts on her. Elephante says it best when he says Nevve “ brought this incredible sense of wistfulness and desire to the vocal” to “Otherside (feat. Nevve)”. The guitar on this track makes you wanna groove to it and you really get the sense of wonder that’s being described, a place worlds away.

The title track “Glass Mansion” rings us out. A story of wanting the lives of celebrities living the Hollywood Hills and how he dreams of that.

You have this beautiful palace that you spent your life building, but it’s ultimately fragile. One stone could bring it all down. You realize it’s not about having the mansion — it was always about the journey. The chase is what gives you meaning. You can’t wait to be happy until you achieve something — you have to find joy in the process. Because we’ll never have it better than we do right now.

The way “Glass Mansion”, both the album and the song close out, it really helps sum up the entire album.

I knew it was the emotional center of the project. It brought together all the emotions and stories of everything I was working on, and it was really important for me to sing it.

Just everything about this track really helps tie everything together and puts that bow on a fantastic album.

Glass Mansion Open House

We’re not done yet. Open House is a mix of the album that Elephante created to celebrate the release of Glass Mansion. Although mixed and produced by himself, the track is a culmination of all of the effort put into the album and shows how much has changed since his previous album. The way each transition from one song to another, how the song both begins and ends with the title track, it’s just a work of art. Each track has a chance to shine and hearing how the vocals work with multiple songs backing it is just impressive. The music video above shows you each room of the mansion that each song describes and it is a trip.

Final Thoughts

Glass Mansion is the journey of someone who wants it all, that extravagant life of living in Hollywood, and their struggles on their way to the top. From having the world in your control, to it crushing you, and everything in between. Glass mansion is a joy to listen to and the journey it takes you on is a treat. I highly suggest reading the interview with Billboard as well.

Elephante Shares & Breaks Down ‘Glass Mansion’ EP: Exclusive

Album Score: 9/10
Favorite track: Have It All (feat. Nevve)

Link